Teacher aide applicants must have an associate's degree to enroll. Military applicant not meeting education requirements at the time of separation may qualify by earning a degree within five years of separation. Civilian must face employment termination from the drawdown or a base closure. This includes not only DoD and Department of Energy employees, but also displaced scientists and engineers of defense contractors. They have 60 days following termination to apply.
Payments are annual and designed to help pay a new teacher's basic salary.
The placement program augments schools needing teachers. However, program participants cannot replace teachers already employed, and there is no guarantee of further school employment. That activity looks for applicants strong in mathematics and science, but will not reject applicants from other educational specialties. This stipend must offset teacher certification costs. In return, the participants must agree to accept five year employment in a school serving low-income families.