Upgraded ArmyIgnitED Portal Launching on 29 August

Date Published: 24 Aug 22

The upgraded ArmyIgnitED portal is launching on 29 August!  When launched, Soldiers will be able to request tuition assistance for Fiscal Year 2023, courses starting after 1 October 2022 using the upgraded portal. The web address is changing from www.armyignited.com to www.armyignited.army.mil. 

The Army is upgrading ArmyIgnitED to make it a reliable, smoothly functioning system, and a better experience for Soldiers. Our people deserve a reliable system that allows them to continue their education, and the Army is committed to getting this right.

Improvements to ArmyIgnitED will come in three phases, the first of which will help Soldiers to efficiently receive TA.

Phase One of the ArmyIgnitED system upgrade will be launched on Aug. 29, 2022.  This initial upgrade will be focused on improving the TA process for Soldiers and includes the following capabilities: 

        -  Soldiers can submit education goals and TA requests

        -  Educational Centers can create and update counseling notes

        -  Academic institutions can load courses, degree plans, grades, terms, submit invoices, verify tuition assistance requests, and submit refunds

Phase Two of the ArmyIgnitED system upgrade will be launched before the end of November 2022. Phase Two will provide additional capabilities, including: 

        -  Soldiers can request credentialing assistance

        -  Soldiers can apply for Army Personnel Testing

Phase Three is expected in the third quarter of FY23 when the system will achieve its full operational capability.

1.  What should Soldiers do now in preparation for the upgraded ArmyIgnitED?
Evaluated Degree Plan:  Soldiers should contact their Academic Institutions and request an Evaluated Degree Plan.  An evaluated degree plan shows the school’s name, your name, degree pursuing, the total number of hours required to complete the degree, the total number of hours already completed with the school, the total number of transfer hours that were applied towards the degree program and the total number of hours that remain (need to be completed in order to graduate from the degree program).

2.  What do Soldiers need to do once ArmyIgnitED is released?
Create an Account:  Visit the ArmyIgnitED website, www.armyignited.army.mil, and click on “Login.”  This will register your CAC to the upgraded ArmyIgnitED.  You will only need the URL and your CAC. (Login.gov will not be used to access the site.)
In some cases, Soldiers may need assistance creating an account in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED system. Please visit or contact your local Education Center if you need assistance.

Submit an Education Goal:  Each Soldier will need to submit an education goal through ArmyIgnitED even if he/she is close to completing their degree.  The goal will be sent to your Education Center, and an Army Education Counselor will review and either approve, disapprove, or request additional information about the goal.  Contact your Education Center if your goal is disapproved.  You must have an approved education goal to apply for tuition assistance.

Follow this pathway for a tutorial that outlines how a Soldier can create an Education Goal: Login to ArmyIgnitED > Click on the Question Mark Located at the Upper Right Corner > Documents & Links > Tutorial- Creating an Education Goal- SM

Follow the steps below to submit an Education Goal. 

        Step 1 – Click on “Education Goals” on the left side menu or “Create New Goal” near the bottom of the homepage. 

        Step 2 – Select your education goal type.  If you see N/A by the goal you are trying to create that means you are ineligible for that degree level. Soldiers can hover over the goal and they will see the reason why they are ineligible. If this is in error, please contact your S1 to get your civilian education level updated in your record. In the meantime, Soldiers could contact their Education Center, provide correct documentation (transcript), and request that an Education Counselor do a one-day update of the civilian education level.

        Step 3 – Select your Academic Institution.  Enter your Academic Institution name and select from the drop-down list. You may need to enter your Academic Institution Student ID if known, click “Next”.

        Step 4 – Select a Degree Program.  Academic Institutions are required to input the degree programs they offer.  There is a keyword search to help find your degree program.  If you do not see the degree program you are pursuing, contact the school to have the degree program loaded to the Academic Institution (AI) Portal. Select the Degree Program from the drop-down list, click “Next”.  

        Step 5 – Upload your Evaluated Degree Plan.  An Evaluated Degree Plan is specific to you and lists transfer credits if you have any.  If you do not currently have an Evaluated Degree Plan, check the box that states, “No Degree Plan File”, click “Next”. (If you did not attach an official Evaluated Degree when you created your Education Goal, you will need to provide the Evaluated Degree Plan in PDF to your Education Center to be added to your account to continue using tuition assistance after completing two classes). 

        Step 6 – Enter total required credits for your degree level if not already loaded.  Most Academic Institutions have already loaded the number of credits required for the degree.  If you are uploading an Evaluated Degree Plan, you can update the transferred credits in the “Previous Credits” field.  If the credits you enter are in Quarter Hours, check the “Yes” box.  Click “Submit Goal”.

        Step 7 – Review & Approval/Disapproval.  Once you submit your education goal, it is sent to your Education Center for review.  Once approved or disapproved, you will receive a message in your student message section.  Once your education goal is approved, you may apply for tuition assistance. 

*Important Notes: 

1.      There will be no more blanket ETP for FY23 courses and beyond (course start dates of 1 October 2022 and later).  All TA requests must be submitted in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED. 

2.      With the new ArmyIgnitED, Soldiers must apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) in the system no earlier than 60 days and no later than 7 days prior to the class start date.

3.      Soldiers must accept the TA User Agreement (formerly the Statement of Understanding) when submitting a TA Request.

4.      All TA requests must be approved prior to the start date of the course.

5.      Eligible Soldiers must enroll directly with their Academic Institution after a TA request is approved in ArmyIgnitED. 

6.      Soldiers will be solely responsible for all tuition costs if TA is not approved prior to the course start date.

7.      TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Soldier requests.

8.      Soldiers must drop or withdraw from a course with their school and process all requests for recoupment waivers for withdrawals in ArmyIgnitED.


            Soldier Tip Sheet: Upgraded ArmyIgnitED Launch 29 August!

1. Using the System

        * New website with a new layout!! This is a more reliable system with faster response times to Soldiers’ inquiries.
        * First, Soldiers must create an account by visiting the upgraded ArmyIgnitED website, www.armyignited.army.mil, and click on “Login.”  This will register your CAC to ArmyIgnitED. You will only need the URL and your CAC. (Login.gov will not be used to access the site.)
        * Soldiers will login to the upgraded ArmyIgnitED Student Portal with a dashboard containing a snapshot of their record.
        * The Student Portal dashboard will describe a Soldier’s Tuition Assistance (TA) funding remaining, credits remaining, any holds, messages, approved education goal, Ed. Center contact info, and more.
        * Soldiers should update personal information by going to My Profile at the upper right of the dashboard.
        * Education Counselors and Academic Institutions (AI) will have their own ArmyIgnitED portals that will communicate with the Student Portal.
        * Soldiers should review the “Explore My Options” section on the dashboard to search degree programs, academic institutions, and explore careers using the Career Path Decide tool.
        * After exploring your options, creating an Education Goal in ArmyIgnitED and getting it approved by your education counselor is critical before TA requests can be submitted. 
        * Soldiers will have over 14 user tutorials in the site to assist with searching institutions, creating an education goal, creating a TA request, and more. Use this pathway to access system tutorials: Login to ArmyIgnitED > Click on the Question Mark Located at the Upper Right Corner > Documents & Links > Tutorial
        * Soldiers will be able to request TA for FY23 courses. Requests for Credentialing Assistance (CA) will be available at a later date. More information will follow regarding CA. 
        * Soldiers will receive system messages and emails when TA requests are approved or if more information is needed from an education counselor.
        * More guidance will be provided on the creation of historical TA requests for FY21 and FY22 once data migration is complete in the upgraded system. This process will allow Education Counselors to create TA requests for previously completed courses as long as Soldiers can provide course completion documentation.        

2. What's Staying the Same?

        * Eligible Soldiers may use up to 16 Semester Hours (SH) or $4000 total per Fiscal Year (FY) for TA and/or CA combined.
        * Soldiers must maintain a GPA of 2.0 after completion of 15 SHs toward an undergraduate degree and 3.0 GPA after 6 SHs toward a graduate degree.
        * Soldiers’ TA requests must be approved in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED before the start date of the course.
        * Soldiers must have an approved Education Goal to request TA.
        * Soldiers must acknowledge the TA User Agreement (formerly the Statement of Understanding) when requesting TA.
        * Soldiers must request TA within the upgraded ArmyIgnitED and register for the course with their Academic Institution (AI).
        * When Soldiers earn an unsatisfactory grade OR there is no grade posted, The Army will recoup the tuition assistance. Soldiers will be recouped for TA when a grade of D or below is earned on an undergraduate course or a grade of C or below is earned on a graduate course.    

3. What's Changing?    

        * Soldiers must submit their requests for TA no earlier than 60 days and no later than 7 days prior to the start date of the course.
        * Soldiers must drop or withdraw from a course with their AI.
        * A course end date must be more than 14 days prior to ETS or retirement.
        * If a grade is not posted prior to ETS/Retirement, recoupment actions will be initiated.  Work with your AI for timely grade posting in the system.
        * Soldiers must ensure their grades are posted to the system by the AI within 60 days of the end date of the course and prior to ETS/Retirement to prevent recoupment of TA. Work with your Academic Institution to get your grades posted in a timely manner.
        * Soldiers will not be refunded for grades changed after a recoupment is processed. 
        * Soldiers must initiate a Request for Recoupment Waiver within 30 days from the date the withdrawal (W) grade is posted.
        * Failing or unsatisfactory grades no longer qualify for a Request for Recoupment Waiver. The AI must post the withdrawal (W) grade for the Soldier to be eligible to apply for a recoupment waiver.

We are excited about the launch of the upgraded ArmyIgnitED!  Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.



Army Credentialing and Continuing Education Services for Soldiers (ACCESS)
Army University
Combined Arms Center