The Army has been working to improve the Army IgnitED portal for requesting tuition assistance. In spring 2023, it incrementally released the capability to automate payment processing.
Army IgnitED is the portal that allows soldiers to create their education path, request tuition assistance (TA), and upload their EDP. To use Army IgnitED, you will need access to military email, a CAC Card Reader, and reliable internet. To begin using Army IgnitED, you will first need to create a student account.
While many Soldiers have complained of problems with the Army’s online portal for requesting tuition assistance, Army officials say that they are working to fix the system’s issues. IgnitED is currently functioning at about 95% capacity for tuition assistance, according to a program update released by the Army’s Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) earlier this week. The remaining problems are related to backend data links to personnel and finance systems.
The system also needs to be linked to the new Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army, which was rolled out by PEO EIS earlier this year. Until that happens, IgnitED won’t be able to offer the full range of functions required by law to support military-connected students.
At Camp Zama, where IgnitED is being tested, Education Services Specialist Patrick “Mr. Pat” Smoak has been trying to get Soldiers on board with the new system. He’s asking new users to attend a briefing, and current ArmyIgnitED users at the base to complete an Education Degree Plan document and upload it to their accounts.
How to Log in to Army IgnitED?
To use Army IgnitED, you must first set up your account by creating an education goal and a degree file. To create a degree file, you must obtain a copy of your Army Education Plan from the Office of the Registrar or DegreeWorks pdf from AP One-Stop. Once you have this document, upload it to your Army IgnitED eFile. You can access this eFile by clicking the My Student Record tab in Army IgnitED and selecting the eFile option.
What Happened to the Army IgnitED?
The Army IgnitED is the virtual gateway for soldiers to request TA online, anytime, for classroom and distance learning college courses. It automates many of the paper-based processes Soldiers historically conducted with their Army education counselor, and it enables students to pursue their post-secondary educational goals while serving in the military.
The system has had several problems since it launched in 2021. Thousands of soldiers began complaining about the service on social media, and issues ranged from login difficulties to the site not having their colleges or degree programs available. The system also had payment failures that led to at least 20,000 soldiers having to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. These problems drew scorn from members of Congress and forced senior leaders to set up reimbursement programs for soldiers.
Now, the Army is shifting from the IgnitED platform to a new technology provider called BAM Technologies. The Army will continue to work on identifying and developing product enhancements with the new vendor, but it is expected that the system will not be ready for full deployment until late in 2023. In the meantime, soldiers are being told by service leaders to keep their schools updated on any financial or registration hurdles they may face because of IgnitED’s continued problems. A number of schools have specific rules against forcing late fee debts onto veterans and service members using military benefits.