(a) The Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver is available to all soldiers and airmen:

1. (1) Currently serving in the Arkansas National Guard; and
2. (2) Considered at the time of application to meet all eligibility criteria.

(c)

1. (1) A soldier or airman must have completed initial active duty training (basic training or credit for a basic course through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps).
2. (2) Soldiers and airmen with an exigent circumstance that warrants a temporary waiver of the initial active duty training requirement may request an exception to policy in accordance with 6 CAR § 530-308.

(d)

1. (1) A soldier or airman must not currently hold a bachelor’s or higher degree.
2. (2) In the event a soldier or airman possesses a credential or degree awarded from a foreign entity, the soldier or airman must first seek evaluation of the degree’s equivalency at the institution of higher education.
3. (3) If the institution of higher education determines, in accordance with its policies and accreditation requirements, the foreign credential does not equate to a bachelor’s degree or higher, the soldier or airman may use the National Guard Tuition Waiver in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
4. (4) If the institution of higher education determines the foreign credential meets the equivalency requirements of a bachelor’s degree, however, the soldier or airman may not use the National Guard Tuition Waiver.

(e)

1. (1) A soldier or airman must be accepted and enrolled in an undergraduate degree-producing program or postsecondary credential or certificate program at an Arkansas state-supported public institution of higher education, a private institution of higher education that is a private, non-profit two-year or four-year college or university with its primary headquarters located in Arkansas that is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid funds, or an institution offering postsecondary credential or certificate programs of study recognized by the Division of Higher Education.
2. (2) See Appendix A.

(f)

1. (1) A soldier or airman must have:

   1. (A) Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
   2. (B) Completed the Arkansas Scholarship Application Management System financial aid application; and
   3. (C) Applied for grants and scholarships with the institution in which they are enrolled.
2. (2) Neither selection nor nonselection for receipt of institutional grants and scholarships shall disqualify a soldier or airman from receiving the National Guard Tuition Waiver.

3. (3)

   1. (A) In determining whether a soldier or airman has met the application deadline for institutional grants and scholarships, the application deadline date shall be compared to the soldier’s or airman’s date of admittance to the institution and the soldier’s or airman’s date of entry into the Arkansas National Guard.
   2. (B) Institutional grants and scholarships with application periods closing prior to the latter of these dates shall not disqualify a soldier or airman from receiving the National Guard Tuition Waiver.
   3. (C) The soldier or airman must submit federal, state, and institutional financial aid applications in accordance with the timelines established for each of those programs.