By Terry Howell

Over the last year hundreds of articles have been written about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. Some have been more accurate than others. As with any new benefit, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. The following are some of the less than factual things you may have read or heard about the new GI Bill.

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By Terry Howell

For nearly a year I have been telling our readers that the decision to switch to the new Post-9/11 GI Bill is irrevocable and since the program is so personalized and confusing they should avoid rushing into the Post-9/11 GI Bill without weighing their options very carefully.

To quickly summarize the differences; the Montgomery GI Bill monthly payment rate of $1321 is generic — one size fits all, while the Post-9/11 benefits are more personalized, they do not fit every one’s needs.

This week Elizabeth Redden of Inside Higher Ed​.com posted an article, GI Bill Math, which adds yet another reminder to veterans to choose wisely. In the article Redden explains the importance of doing the home work before making the choice between the Montgomery GI Bill and the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. The article highlights several examples of how the new GI Bill benefits differ from person to person and why understanding the details of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill is so important.

In one example Redden tells how Derek Blumke, co-founder and president of Student Veterans of America, worries that some veterans are making the irrevocable choice to switch without figuring out which is the better deal for them. In the article Blumke tells of a student he recently counseled that found that due to his circumstances, the older Montgomery GI Bill program was worth an extra $20,000 to him.

For many veterans the personalized fit of the Post-9/11 GI Bill will meet their needs, especially if they are seeking an undergraduate degree in a classroom setting at a state operated college or university. However, for veterans seeking a degree online at a privately operated adult student oriented college or university it may be another story. That is why it is so important for veteraqns to the homework, ask questions, and weigh their options before making the switch.

Get more than $49,000 a year for school. Request info about GI Bill approved programs from military and veteran-friendly schools and start earning your degree today.

At the risk of being redundant, I’ll say it again, do your homework — read the articles found here, visit the VA’s GI Bill website at www​.GIBILL​.va​.gov and if you need further assistance don’t hesitate to call the VA at 1–888-GIBILL-1.

Read the full article at Inside Higher Ed​.com

By Terry Howell

A recent article written by Military​.com contributor Tom Philpott, brought to light an eligibility limitation which many have overlooked or ignored. In his article Tom reports about a flaw in the law which excludes certain active duty service time served by members of the National Guard.

Tom writes: “Those activated under Title 10 to serve under the command and control of the president for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are eligible for the new GI Bill after 90 days’ deployed. If they serve 36 month cumulative months under Title 10, after Sept. 11, 2001, they get full GI bill benefits.”

“But the time Guard members have spent activated under Title 32, — responding to domestic emergencies or to homeland security missions, or serving fulltime under the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) program — will not count toward Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.”

According to the article, this means Guard members who protected the homeland after the 9/11 attacks, responded to Hurricane Katrina, and helped bolster border security in 2007–2008 could be excluded from the Post-9/11 GI Bill if they don’t have 90 or more days under Title 10 orders serving in “contingency operations.”

Seems wrong. Maybe its time to contact your elected officials and let them know how you feel.

Read the full article…