Word to the Wise... Be Patient

By Terry Howell

Servicemembers and veterans are excited and anxious about the New Post 9/11 GI Bill, they want to know - “am I eligible?” “where do I sign up?” “can my wife use my benefits?” “can it be used over seas?” “which GI Bill is best for me?” "should I put off school and wait for the new GI Bill?" and more.

These are all very good questions; in fact they are the questions you should be asking. The problem is that many of the details of this new law have yet to be finalized and the answers you get may be vague and subject to change.

I have posted several articles since July that help explain what we know so far. But the truth is, until August 1, 2009, every thing is subject to change and/or further clarification. Here are three quick examples of things that remain to be clarified:

1. The DoD has yet to determine the process and eligibility requirements for transferring GI Bill benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
2. Congress has plans to make “technical corrections” to help VA administer the program for over seas students, the “Yellow Ribbon” program, and more. (See Bill s.3339)
3. The VA still needs to determine exactly how this new benefit will be charged against your 36 month benefits account.

And those are just the tip of the ice berg. Issues like the payment rate for online programs, vo-tech and trade schools, and the On-the-Job/Apprenticeship program all still need to be worked out, either by Congress or VA.

The fact is that the Department of Veterans Affairs has until Aug. 1, 2009 to work this out and we need to be as patient as possible. Remember, if there is something you don’t like about the New Post 9/11 there is still time to press congress to fix it. If there are still areas that are unclear, VA has time to clarify them.

Until then, keep reading, watching, and asking questions – but remember that every answer is subject to change. I strongly suggest that if you have specific questions about your GI Bill, call 1-888-GIBILL-1, the VA is the only place that can answer your personal and specific benefits questions.

Suggested Reading:
- Head to Head Comparison of the Old and New GI Bills
- New Post 9/11 GI Bill Overview
- Top 20 Post 9/11 GI Bill FAQs

About the Author:
A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.

Foundation Awards Veteran Scholarships

By Terry Howell

This week I had the honor of attending the Imagine America Foundation’s 2008 LDRSHIP Awards ceremony in Washington D.C. The award ceremony celebrated the accomplishments and exceptional academic performance of six deserving young military veterans. Not only did all six serve their country with honor and distinction, they also maintained 3.5 or higher grade point averages and perfect attendance. Each of the six honoraries will receive up to $5,000 toward their education.

The ceremony was held in a House of Representatives Committee room overlooking the U.S. Capitol - a great venue for honoring the hard work of commitment made by the students who had once served to protect our nation. Family members, school representatives, and several congressmen were present to pass along their congratulations and thanks to the young veterans.

The scholarships were presented by the Imagine America Foundation (IAF), the Career Colleges Association (CCA) and Military.com.

The IAF established the Military Leadership Award in 2004 to recognize and honor exceptional career college students who have served their country honorably in the military and decided to further their education at Imagine America participating institutions. The scholarship is open to active-duty, reserve, retired and honorably discharged military personnel attending career colleges. To qualify for consideration, eligible students must also maintain a minimum of 3.5 GPA and 95 percent or higher attendance record.

This is only one of hundreds of such scholarships available to servicemembers and veterans each year. There are two ways you can learn about these scholarship opportunities – ask your school and visit the Military.com “Scholarship Finder.”

About the author:
A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.

10 Quick Facts About the New Post 911 GI Bill

By Terry Howell

Over the last month I have received hundreds of questions about the new GI Bill. The answers to many of these questions can be found in the form of “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) in other places on Military.com. Instead of simply posting a link to the FAQs I have decided it may be helpful to list some basic facts that may help answer the most common questions and misunderstandings.

Note: The following facts are all subject to change. I will be sure to continually update you on any changes as they occur.

1. The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is not going away and the rules governing MGIB have not been changed.

2. If you left active duty anytime before September 11, 2001, your GI Bill benefits have not been changed and you do not qualify for the Post 911 GI Bill.

3. The new Post 911 GI Bill does not go into effect until August 1, 2009. Any classes taken before that date will be paid under the MGIB payment plan.

4. The New Post 911 GI Bill is NOT retroactive. It will only cover courses taken after July 31, 2009.

5. Using the MGIB now will not disqualify you from switching to the Post 911 GI Bill later.

6. If you elect to switch to the new Post 911 GI Bill, your remaining months of MGIB benefits will be switched to the new program.

7. Once you switch to the new Post 911 GI Bill you cannot switch back.

8. The ability to transfer your MGIB benefits has not changed. If you were unable to transfer them under the old rules (Army and Air Force) then you are still not eligible to do so.

ONLY those still in the Armed Forces will have the ability to transfer their benefits to their dependents. This means current veterans and retirees do not have the ability to transfer their benefits under the new Post 911 GI Bill. Under the new GI Bill transferred benefits will be paid in the same manner as the MGIB.

In addition, the rules for transferability are being determined by the Dept. or Defense. So stand by for more details.

9. Several factors determine how much of a benefit you will receive from the VA under the Post 911 GI Bill.
• The current in-state undergraduate (bachelors) tuition rate for the most expensive “publically operated” school in your state of enrollment.
• The number of classes or credit hours you are taking.
• The number of months you served on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.

Here is a quick reference showing the percentage of total combined benefit eligibility based on the following periods of post 9/11 service:
• 100% - 36 or more total months
• 100% - 30 or more consecutive days with Disability related Discharge.
• 90% - 30 total months
• 80% - 24 total months
• 70% - 18 total months
• 60% - 12 total months
• 50% - six total months
• 40% - 90 or more days

Note: Each school has the authority to determine how many credits are considered full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or part-time, etc.

10. The Post 911 GI Bill housing stipend is only payable to veterans and members of the Guard and Reserve who are taking classes on campus and are considered by the school to be three-quarter or full-time students. This means that as the law currently reads, active-duty military students, students taking less than a three-quarter load, and online (distance learning) students do not qualify for the housing stipend.
Remember, only the Dept. of Veterans Affairs can answer your person and specific benefit questions. Call them at 1-888-GIBILL-1 if you have questions about your GI Bill eligibility.

If the previous facts and past FAQs do not answer your questions, I strongly suggest that you contact the VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL-1 for assistance. They are the only resource that can answer your specific eligibility questions.

In addition, DO NOT rely on the answers given in the comments below. Although answers given may be factual at this time, there is no way to verify the credentials of any persons posting comments in the forum and many of the details are still subject to change. Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 for assistance.

About the author:
A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.

New GI Bill Opens Some Doors - Closes Others

By Terry Howell

For good reason, many veterans, educators, and politicians are excited about the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. The new benefit will undoubtedly open new doors for many military veterans. However, there are some areas of concern. This new Post 9/11 GI Bill may have some unintended consequences. To better see what I mean, we need to do some head-to-head comparisons between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

View head-to head comparison table.

On the surface the new Post 9/11 GI Bill seems to answer all the short comings of the MGIB. However, there are some severe limitations, especially in the area of tuition payment rates and housing stipends.

Tuition payment rates for the new Post 9/11 are based on the undergraduate in-state tuition rates for the most expensive state-run college or university in the state where the student is enrolled. But don’t let the term “most expensive” fool you. In Florida the most expensive in-state tuition rate is about $85 a credit hour. This translates to about $255 a class. A typical online course at a privately run college or university can easily run more than $750 per class, most exceed $1,000. This could mean more than $500 out of pocket per class. And, since distance learning students don't qualify for the housing stipend, this could limit their learning options, especially for those considering going to grad school.

Those of us who qualify for both the MGIB and Post 9/11 can choose the program that will best suit our education and training needs and we can fall back on our MGIB to cover the vocational programs and OJT not covered by the Post 9/11. However, once a servicemember or veteran chooses to take the Post 9/11, their choice is irrevocable.

Looking ahead, our concern should be for those young recruits that may choose to decline to pay the $1,200 MGIB enrollment fee because they are counting on using the “free” Post 9/11 benefits. Without the MGIB to fall back on, the next generation of veterans will likely feel cheated when they find the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not cover most vocational training, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training programs and will not provide adequate benefits to cover the cost of online education, private colleges and graduate school. This will likely leave the next generation of veterans wishing they had paid the enrollment fee and taken the MGIB.

In a time when most working adults are looking to online education because it offers the flexibility needed to complete a degree while raising a family and holding down a full-time job, the new Post 9/11 GI Bill effectively closes that door by limiting the tuition rate to the in-state undergraduate rate and excluding online students from the housing stipend.

Word of caution – choose well.

Remember, only the Dept. of Veterans Affairs can answer your person and specific benefit questions. Call them at 1-888-GIBILL-1 if you have questions about your GI Bill eligibility.

About the author:
A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.

Perspectives - How the new GI Bill will shape education

By Terry Howell

In the recent American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) "Perspectives" circular, author Lesley McBain offers an in-depth look at the history of the GI Bill and veteran education programs, the role of government in veterans education, and how these programs benefit more than just the veterans they serve.

McBain's well written report concludes with the following summary:

Higher education is facing a new influx of veteran students utilizing the GI Bill to further their educations and move up the economic ladder. These veterans, as a population, have certain unique educational and cultural needs in order to make a successful transition from the military to the civilian college environment. Some bring with them physical and other challenges.

These veterans’ needs require the investment of finances and other resources on the part of colleges. Given the precedent of post-World War II adjustments by the higher education establishment to veterans enrolling en masse, colleges and universities are well equipped to handle this specific task. Colleges and universities have made adjustments for student demographic shifts on campuses over time; veterans may have different needs than other cohorts, but can be accommodated just as they have been in the past.

Educating veterans also makes good economic sense from both the national and state point of view. Given the fierce competition in the global market and recent studies (including the Spellings Commission) warning that America is in danger of losing its pre-eminence in higher education, having more Americans earn college degrees is a national economic imperative. Many veterans possess technical skills that can be adapted to a civilian job market by way of majoring in a subject that utilizes those skills in a civilian environment. On the state level, states benefit economically from educating more of their residents, who then are in a better position to find higher-paying jobs and bring more money into their states’ economies through both taxes and the purchasing of goods and services.

Quite simply, America owes its veterans a debt of honor for their service to their country. Expansion of the GI Bill, as well as state and institutional programs to assist them in entering (or re-entering) college, will begin paying that debt of honor and give this new generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans the same chance the World War II veterans received to attend college. These measures also offer a chance for both civilian and veteran students to learn from each other and enrich the entire higher education community—and their surrounding communities—by so doing.

My hat's off to Lesley McBain for a great article. The complete article can be found in PDF format at http://www.aascu.org/media/pdf/08b_perspectives.pdf

About the author:
A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.