DoD Inches Toward GI Bill Transferability Policy

By Terry Howell

The DoD has taken another step toward clarifying their policy on Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability. Unfortunately the fact sheet they released states "The rules for Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability are in the final stages, but have not been signed. The following information represents proposed policy, which is subject to change."

So just as we start to get excited about the release of the new guidelines, the DoD adds a caveat. DoD Officials decided to confirm policy details before they officially are set because VA will begin to accept Post-9/11 GI Bill application on Friday May 1.

Read the official DoD Post-9/11 Transferability Fact Sheet.

In addition to the release of the so-called fact sheet, the Armed Forces Press Service posted an article which you may find helpful. Read the full article on Military.com.

Remember - Only the DoD and VA can answer your specific eligibility questions. To get the correct answers call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Comments

[SFC CHILL]

I just retired 1May2009 and served Honorably in the Army for 21years. I did serve post 9/11 for 8 years and me and my family did sacrifice during this time. I think it is a disgrace for the Government and Va. to not allow those who have retired to transfer those benefits to their children. It is not a post 9/11 benefit it is a retention benefit do they think were all stupid and for those who say retirees are whinning shame on you it is easy to talk and say things like that when you are not the one it is affecting, when Active duty and Retirees should be fighting for the same benefits, and a lot of benefits you have now on active duty is because there was some retirees who said this is not right, just look at the pay increases some retiree went above and beyond to make sure you receive proper benefits this Post 9/11 retention bill needs to be changed and it will not change unless someone say something.

[Mary Mitchell-Taylor]

what if you are service connected and you want to transfer benefits to spouse or child b/c you can use them yourself

[Darnell Saunders]

I am a MSG currently in the army reserve with over 31 years of combined military service. My daughter wants to attended some online college courses. Can I transfer my benefits over to her?

[M.A]

I retired in 2004 with 21 years.
I don't wish to use the MGB for myself, but I would love for it to go to my daughter. Of course, the gov't. has a loophole, which effects us Desert Storm vets. We can't pass our bill on. Not fair. I earned that and want it for my daughter. Reconsider Uncle Sam.

[Wendy Williams]

My husband has 23 years in the Army/National Guard. Probably 10 years active duty and the rest Ntl Guard. He plans on staying in the National Guard longer too. Is he eligible to transfer his GI benefits to our sons? He is currently on his 2nd tour to Iraq now.

[Dave]

My last "duty' day is 31 July and I officially retire on 1 Aug 09 after serving 30 years. The way I read the "pending" rules I should be eligible to transfer the benifits to my son. Does everyone interpret this as I have or am I outta luck since I am "retired" on 1 Aug vice still being on active duty?

Dave

[mberth]

What is this thing anyways? Is it for educational purposes or a ball and chain on those that already have served to make individuals who do rate this program to serve additional time, why? That is what recruitment is for not for those that have already served.

[Al]

Yes we all knew what we signed up for and what we would or would not be entitled to. But let's call this bill what it is, it is a retention bill and should be named as such. Don't call it a post 9/11 GI Bill if it doesn't benefit all of us who served post 9/11. This is just another ploy by laymakers to make themselves look good by passing a bill, naming it something that it is not and then boasting about how it will benefit those whoit doesn't. So you are telling me that we have hundreds of thousands of servicemembers who servedpost 9/11, deployed, served in a combat zone, suffered a disability, and left their families and who are still not entitled to certain benefits. As the lawmakers do we should not distinquish a sub-group of veterans or servicmembers who deserve something more than another group. Is the service of someone who served for 20 years in peace time any less honorable than mine during war? NO! Let's include all verteans. We as servicemembers only get to decide when to serve, we don't get to decide whether or not we go to war, we simply follow the lawful orders given by our superiors.

[Al]

Yes we all knew what we signed up for and what we would or would not be entitled to. So lets call this what it is, which is a retention bill. So change the name and stop trying to make it what it is not. This is just another ploy by the politicians to make themselves look good by passing a bill then playing it up like they are benefiting people they are not. Don't call it a Post 9/11 GI Bill if it doesn't include all of us who have served post 9/11. So your telling me that we have hundreds of thousands of servicemembers out there that have served post 9/11 and for whatever reasons decided to get out of the military and will recieve no additional benefits from a bill that lawmakers are boasting as a great benefit to them and their families. Like the lawmakers I won't go into who deserves it more, those of us who served in a combat zone, those of us who have a disability, those of us who left our families, it is equally deserved of ALL veterans and servicemembers who have served. Maybe when we decide to extend benefits we should include all and not try to distinquish a sub group to make it more affordable. Extend it to all veterans pre and post 9/11. Someone who served 20 years in peace time served just as honorably as I did in war, we (the servicemembers) don't decide when or where we fight we just serve and follow the lawful orders given to us by our superiors.

[anonymous]

This is request to the webmaster. James Hermanson posted a full SSN on May 08 at 0815. I am requesting that the webmaster delete the SSN for James' protection. There are too many identity theives out there. Thank you.

Note from Editor - Thanks. Hope I got it before the bad guys.

[Carlton]

Being forgotten and voiceing your opinion about it does not make you a whiner. April, I don't feel like you understand the sacrifices that was made. Then have it go unnoticed. I served 25 years and my family like many other families made great sacrifices when I deployed. I do not qualified for financial aid, so I am currently paying for daughter college education out of my pocket. I contributed to the MGIB and am eligible to continue my education, but I currently have a MBA. I also qualify for the post 911, but I am not eligible to transfer my benefits to my daughter. I wish I could, because this would lift a great burden from me and my wife. In todays world a college degree is required. So, if us who have proudly served wish to voice our opinion (or whine as April put it) we have earned that right. If April was a retiree, then she would have earned the right to complain about those that are whining. But since she didn't let the people voice their opinion, if you would stop for a moment and really think about it. A retiree who is receiving a retirement check, working and has a spouse that is working; probably don't qualify for financial aid. Being able to transfer your GI bill would be another way of the government saying thanks for the scarifices you all have made and we appriciate it. So much have been taken away from military retirees. Its unsimpathy people that are currently serving that makes it easy to continue to deprive the retirees. April remember one day you will be on this side of the fence. I mean your husband.

[Job Stevens]

I retired from the Army after 20 years.I work for the Government in a defense mode as a civilian. When 911 came we went into over time for a long period of time, I retired in 1994 and i understand that you have 10 years to use the GI bill. I couldnt because of all the overtime, Now do I lose my benifts alltogather, Thas not right because I still had four years of GI bill to use,

[deborah willis]

this is just a ploy to serve those after august 2009 and thats just not right you prople that say "suck it up" dont have any idea what we went through. my husband served 30 plus years and retired july'09 had we known about it maybe for me he would have stayed in but he retired and served in 911 so he should be entitled to these transfer benefits as he gave his time in iraq and we all suffered for it. you are wrong in what you are doing with respect to this gi bill. let us all transfer it to our families do the right thing for a change. retiree's with more than 20 years should have some say and if they served in iraq.

[kenneth willis]

i served in the military for over thirty years and retired july '09. now you come out with this post 9 11 bill and i served my time in iraq and should be able to transfer my benefits to my wife. us veterns should get some priorty vs. these new comer's. you are screwing your veterns and its just not fair. senority should take first place and those of us that served in 9 11 should have the right to transfer even if we retired we gave you our time and our families paid for it over and over again so whats the big deal in giving the post 911 servers a oppotunity to transfer our gi bill we served 911 and that should be enough besides 30 plus years. my wife could use the benefits for her school. you have it wrong by using it just as a tool to get soldiers to relist im to old to relist but be sure if you call me for active duty i will be there!!!!! do the right thing and include the retired veterns who served 20 plus years.

[kenneth willis]

IM THE WIFE OF A NEW VETERN AND I THINK THE SYSTEM IS WRONG THEY HAVE IT ALL WRONG IF THEIR ONLY GOING TO ALLOW FISRT COMERS AND INCENTIVES TO STAY IN LONGER IN ORDER TO GET THE TRANSFER THIS IS WRONG. MY HUSBAND SERVED OVER THIRTY YREARS AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS WITH HIS GI BILL HE SERVED YOU FOR 30 PLUS UEARS AND WENT TO IRAQ FOR HIS COUNTRY AND YOU DO THIS TO HIM. YOUR NOT BEING FAIR WITH THIS TRANSFER OF THE GI BILL. AT LEAST CONSIDER THE ONES WHO RETIRED RECENTLY TO APPLY EVEN THOUGH ALL VETERNS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THEIR BENEFITS. THE MILITARY HAS THIS OPTION TO DO WHATS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE AND NOT USE IT AS A TOOL BUT AS A GIFT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME AND FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY. YOUR MAKING A BIG MISTAKE IN LETTING THIS GO TO NEW COMERS CAUSE BASICALLY THATS WHAT THAEY ARE. GIVE YOUR VETERN'S SOME BENEFITS LIKE THAT. DON'T OVER LOOK US AGAIN AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST. I DEDICATED MY TIME TO THE MILITARY WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS SERVING ESPECIALLY WHEN HE WAS IN IRAG I THINK ALL WHO SERVED IN IRAG SINCE YOU CALL IT POST 9 11 SHOULD BE ELEGIBLE FOR THE TRANSFER OF BENEFITS.

[kenneth willis]

I SERVED MY COUNTRY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND WENT TO IRAQ AND RETIRED WITH DIABILITIES LAST YEAR JULY '09 AND I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THESE BENEFITS. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AS MY WIFE IS IN SCHOOL NOW AND ITS COSTING US A SMALL FORTUNE. I GAVE THE MILITARY ALL MY TIME AND THEN THEY ONLY ALLOW THESE FIRST COMER'S TO GET THE TRANSFER ABILITY? US VETERNS SHOULD HAVE FIRST SAY THOSE OF US THAT DID OUR DUTY ESPECIALLY 30 YEARS OF IT AND I CANT USE MY BENEFITS THEY ARE OF NO USE TO ME BUT MY FAMILY COULD USE THEM. ITS NOT FAIR THE SYSTEM IS WACKED OUT AND DOESN'T GIVE ANY PRIORTY TO LONG TERM VETERNS WHO JUST RETIRED. THIS GI BILL TRANFER IS DONE WRONG VETERNS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THEIR GI BILL NOT NEW COMERS AND INCENTIVES TO STAY IN LONGER. VETERNS ALWAYS GET SCREWED AND FORGOTTEN. WE SHOULD START A BILL AND HAVE EVERYONE SIGN IT TO CHANGE THE WAY ITS BEING DONE.

[Toye]

First April this doesn't have anything to do with you. Your not the serves member. Stop wearing your husband rank. If we served 8 years or 18 years we thank all who have served and left with honor. This last past years have been hard for anyone in the military and nothing can give them all the time back they miss with their family and friends. Hope they can find more to do for us and our family. And My question is I want to know why the people who got out before 1 Aug09 can transfer their 9/11 benefit to their depends.
PS don't put parent SNN out.

[Jerry]

What about me. I got out of the service in 1999 and feel like the veterans that got out before our 9/11 are being looked over. My GI BILL runs out this year and still have some money left. Do I get some it back?

[J.PARCELL]

I WAS IN THE ACTIVE USMC/USCG FROM 1980-1991. I ENTERED THE PA. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IN 2001. I HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, SINCE 9-11-01 3 TIMES: BOSNIA, IOF 2 AND PRESENTLY TO IRAQ. I WAS PLANNING TO RETIRE IN 1YR-4 MONTHS AFTER RETURNING HOME IN SEPT.09 AND EITHER USING MY EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OR ROLLING THOSE BENEFITS ,I HAVE EARNED, TO MY WIFE AND YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. NOW I SEE THAT I HAVE TO REELIST FOR MORE YEARS IF I CHOOSE TO ROLL THE BENEFITS OVER!! THERE IS ALWAYS A CATCH WITH THE POLITICIANS, AND THEIR WORDING----- JUST LIKE THE REDUCTION OF YEARS,FROM AGE 60 AFTER SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY AFTER 2001, TO QUALIFY FOR A EARLIER RESERVE PENSION- THE BILL WAS APPROVED BUT NOT GRANDFATHERED PRIOR TO THE SIGNING OF THE BILL IN EARLY 2008.

WHAT A CHOICE-TO REENLIST AND STAY LONGER AND CHANCE ANOTHER DEPLOYENT OR TWO- WHICH I DONT WANT TO DO OR WALK AWAY AND WASTE A CHANCE TO USE A BENEFIT I HAVE EARNED FOR MYSELF OR ROLL THEM OVER FOR THE GOOD OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS? THE POLITICIANS ALWAYS USE THAT 'GRAY' AREA IN WHATEVER THEY DO!!

IF I WAS TO RE-ENLIST HOW MUCH OF A PERCENTAGE WOULD I ,OR MY FAMILY, BE ENTITLE TO?

SEMPER FI

[April]

Me! Me! Me! let Me have some money!!! Everybody is whining about who should be able to get what. Well my husband this and that and I should be able to get that..it's not fair..blah blah blah. Maybe this is a recruitment, retention tool. Who cares! Someone on here said they deserve the same thing that retirees deserve after only serving 8 years and I say..no you don't. You chose to get out after only 8 years and my husband served 18 and is still serving and will for as long as the Army will have him. You knew what was going on when you got out. This GI bill is a new perk that you unfortunately missed out on. My husband could have waited to take his 15 year bonus when he was in Iraq to avoid the taxes but he didnt because of the fact that the program could have no longer been available when he got there. Programs come and go with the Army. Everybody knows that nothing is garanteed. I am sick of hearing about service members and their families being victums and that they can't get ahead because they can't get their husbands GI Bill. There are so many programs out there that help Servicemen and their families it's crazy. Everybody should be thankful that this new policy is being made available. So you missed out on it. My grandfather whom served in WW2 made 73 dollars a month and had the worst health care and living conditions that
I could imagine. He would have loved to have had what is available today and been happy with it. He said he would have never got out if he had what we have. We have turned into give me more, gimme gimme people. Those who don't qualify should just suck it up and pay for your own education like the rest of us.

[Matt]

Probably should omit the SSN next time you post in a public forum. there are enough ways for identity theives to get info, without making it easy.

[Janes Michael Hermanson]

My father is retired with over 26 years. His SS#XXXXXXXXX. Does this tranferability apply to me? It sure would be nice to continue my schooling. James Hermanson

[Jorge Timog Jr.]

Our lawmakers are forgetting a group of veterans who have served and re-enlisted after 9/11. I understand that this New GI bill is primarily a retention tool, but some of these veterans have retired recently after serving our country for more than 20 years. They have given more than the 10 year requirement of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. They were veterans of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. If we will study the bill carefully, they have rightfully earned the transferability benefit for the New GI bill. Can it be possible that our lawmakers allow a special provision to this bill for the recently retired veterans who met those requirements?

[tamdod]

Let us call it what it is, A retention tool. This does not honor the service people who served during and after 9/11. It is a tool to keep service people on active duty now. You want to transfer your benefit to your spouse or children then sign up for 4 more years. I'm sorry it is a slap in the face to our recent retiree's.

[David Jinks]

I am 32 years old. I served fr 9 years, pre 9-11 and post 9-11. I am medically retired after serving my 9 years. I'm not going to college. Nor do I have the desire to go. My wife will be going to nursing school. I want her to have what I paid for. If I'm not mistaken, I paid for the GI bill, I should be able to use it how I see fit. Why does congress control this?

[Scott Michael]

Why are those if us that served the 3 years post 9/11 and retired being penalized and not allowed to transfer our benefits? I have the 10 years they want and the 9/11 service. Someone please relook the policy on this. We have done everything the policy asks for except we retired before Aug 09.

[David.V.Grass]

Hello, Iam in the Guard, deployed 2 times and looking at the 3rd mob. I have 27 years in and at 55.5 iam looking at retiring in 2013. I have not used the GIBill but would like to transfer it tom my daugther? How do i go about it and who do i contact, please help point me in the right direction.

Dave..

[Sheila Younger]

With the current economic situation I think that if I am not going to school at the time because i am working full time to support my family that this money should not go to waste. Where does my share go anyway, when I do not utilize it? Now I got out of the military in 2006 as a SSG. I completed an 8 year contract so therefore I qualify for the new bill. Well, this should be extended to my children Here it is I can go and sit in any class for free but, then I have to tell my daughters that they are going to have to pay for college or tech school the best way they can because I cannot afford it. I served my country just like the active duty and retired I should be entitled to the whole program and not just the part where it benefits me. If a person desires and needs to go to school our government should not deter them from going. I served a full contract of 8 years. And right now this program should not be just for active duty, retired etc... Who can I write to so that I can express this concern. Because I am positive that I am not the only person with this problem.

[Adeyemi]

Hello,

I separated in 2007, and i have 18 months left for my MGIB. I am thinking about going for my masters degree and am contemplating whether to use my remaining GIB or transfer to the post 9\11 bill. Because the GIB might not cover the total cost and am not sure whether the post 9\11 will cover it as well. please advice on what to do.

Thanks.

[David]

Hello,
I am currently at the tail end of my career, 1 December is my official retirement date. I kind of need to go ahead and get out because of health problems so I can't serve another 4 years. I was really hoping to transfer my GI Bill to my children because I already have my Bachelors Degree. I keep looking for a policy that will allow those of us in this situation or those that have gotten out recently to transfer benefits to our children. If I don't need something that I have already earned, LET ME TRANSFER IT!! Very Frustrated!

David

[gary]

is the post 9/11 gi bill going to include any transferability of benefits to spouses, if the soldier served active duty, but are currently in the national guard, and who have served in iraq, oif 1? or is this only toward active duty military.

[Karen York]

My late husband and I were together since 4/1/66 (high school), 33 years minus three weeks legally. He was a native Californian, as well as Navy retired. I have been told that I may ask to have his benefits transferred to me. Help, please. Thank you. His SSN was 570-82-7766, and defunct service number B84 13 14.

[Dee]

I am trying to figure out, why my husband can not sign over his 9/11 GI Bill to me to help with my schooling unless he signs up for four more years. he is acvtive right now over seas. he would have been out if not for the stop- lose program. He got his 20 year letter. Sorry just don't think this is a fair deal for our soliders and there families. So now i am stuck with around $20,000.00 for schooling, cause i am not eligible for any financial aid at all. How are people suppose to get ahead when they get shoved back all the time. Something need to change.

[Scott]

Cinda,
Your husband is eligible for the post 9/11 GI Bill since he served after 9/11 but he is not eligible to transfer those benefits as that is only available to people on active duty after the program begins on 1 Aug 2009.

[Cinda Robbins]

Greetings,

My husband served in the Air Force (20 plus years) and during the Gulf War. He retired 2 years ago. Is he eligible for the GI Bill and transferability or is this simply a recruitment tool? I understood that this was a way to honor those serving after 9/11 or is it a way to serve those serving after August 2009? Thank you for your assistance. I am a former DoD Education Counselor and am getting several conflicting versions of the proposed policy. Thank you for your assistance.

Respectfully,

Cinda K. Robbins