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Active Duty Benefits

Education Benefits

Military Enhanced Recognition, Incentive and Tribute ("MERIT") Scholarship Program.
MERIT Scholarship program makes scholarships available to military personnel, their spouses, children and financial dependents for military personnel who are residents of New York State and have either died, been declared missing or become permanently and severely disabled during active duty. Applies to personnel injured or disabled on federal or state active duty; however, death or disability of a service member must have been incurred in a combat theater or combat zone of operations or while training in preparation for duty in a combat theater.POC: NYS Higher Education Services Corporation at 518-474- 3552 or www.hesc.org

Educational Leave of Absence to Perform Military Duty.
Students are entitled to a leave of absence from institutions of higher education during periods of military service and for one year after completion of service. During the leave of absence, a student's educational status and financial resources are preserved and the student has the option of requesting a refund or credit of tuition and fees. Applies to federal or state active duty.POC: NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), Programs, Policy and Institutional Review at 518-473-3986

Constructive Credit for Military Training Towards Civilian Professional Accreditation.
Programs and training offered by the military are to be recognized as equivalent training for the purpose of professional licensing. Applies to training received through both military service with the United States or military service with the state.POC: Applicable service education office / NYS Education Department, Division of Higher Education at 518-473-9847 or email to lake@mail.nysed.gov.

Renewal of Temporary Teaching Certificates.
Fees waived for the renewal of a temporary teaching certificate or license that lapse while the applicant is deployed. Applies to personnel called to federal active duty if deployed to a combat theater or combat zone of operations.POC: NYS Education Department at 518-473-9847 or email to lake@mail.nysed.gov

Right of Dependent Students to Continue to Attend Public School Attended Prior to Relocation Caused by Military Service.
A child who is relocated due to a parent or guardian's active military service will be allowed to attend the public school that he/she attended prior to the relocation. Applies to personnel on state or federal active duty, other than for training.POC: Superintendent of local school district

State Tuition Scholarship Assistance.
New York Education Law is amended to define two equally privileged classes of "Persian Gulf" veterans: (1) those who served there from 19 Aug 2001 to 10 Sept 2004; and, (2) those who served there from September 11, 2001 through the end of such hostilities; all of whom must have a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions.POC: NYS Higher Education Services Corporation at 518-474-3552 or www.hesc.org.