Vets Need to Keep the Real Prize in Mind

It seems the GI Bill's incentivisation of education may hurt veterans in the long run.

By Terry Howell

Note: The point of the folllowing article is not to imply veterans are cheating the system or don't deserve the benefits - the point is that vets need to make sure they are ready and focused before they head to school.

Thousands of veterans have headed to school this year. Many had never considered college before the advent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. On balance this is a great thing – if they are going to school for the right reasons.

Over the last few months there has been a somewhat alarming trend - veterans going to school lured by the promise of great benefits and cash in their pockets – not for the promise of an education. Who can blame them, some veterans are being offered as much as $2,800 a month for attending traditional classroom studies.

The concern is that vets, motivated to go to school for the stipends, may find pursuing a college degree more demanding than they expect and realize they’ve gotten in over their heads. Fact is, some schools have already seen a number of veteran students drop classes to reduce their. The downside of this is that when they drop classes, or worse drop out entirely, they will likely find themselves in debt to the VA and/or their schools.

Note: Dropping after the “drop/add” date will result in veterans having to pay out of pocket.

Clearly, vets should take advantage of the Post-911 GI Bill, or any GI Bill program for that matter, but they need to check their motives. Going to school for the living stipend may lead to choosing a school that doesn’t fit their needs. For example, to get the living stipend vets must take traditional college courses, unlike online or distance learning, traditional classroom courses don’t offer the flexibility some veterans need. If veterans select a school based on their needs instead of the cash incentive, many could see a greater chance of success, and after all, isn’t that what they should expect from their college education?

Veterans who want to improve their employment opportunities, open new doors, or simply improve their lives through education, need to select the degree, school, and program that best fits their needs. Vets that do this may not find the school or program that “maximizes” their cash benefit, but maximizes their chances at success.

My advice – don’t use the GI Bill for the immediate cash benefit, use it to pay for the college degree that fits your goals and ambitions. You have earned this benefit, do yourselves a favor, use it wisely.

Comments

[glenn cuneo]

"...the point is that vets need to make sure they are ready and focused before they head to school." I agree 100% on that issue. The issue that most of us are experiencing is not one misguided motives, it is a simple matter of not receiving anything under the plan.

After reviewing the initial article many times I feel that perhaps many of us have latched onto the article as a place to vent, and I don't think that was the original intent of Terry. The original focus of the article was one of making choices which are sound, logical, and realistic, then using the educational benefits which are out there.

Perhaps an updated article which focuses only on veterans who have yet to receive any benefits under the new system is in the works?

Many such as myself have done everything asked: We have a plan, we have done our research, we are starting new, or second careers, we are driving 60 miles each night to get to class, we get home at 1130pm, we stay up till 2am doing homework.

We have spent years away from our families, we have buried our dead, we have made sacrifices that only those who have walked in our shoes can understand.

In spite of all that, thousands of us still have gotten nothing as far as educational benefits are concerned. This is a respectable forum and for many of us it is one of the only places where we can vent, complain, and and realize that there are thousands, no, tens of thousands who are experiencing the same problem.

[lrb]

I don't know why this issue is not making headlines. Instead, society rather know about what Brittney Spears is wearing for underwear today if any.

The fact of the matter is that we have received our $3000 advanced payment to keep us quiet. Most have now received their first three months of BAH and now we wait another 3 months to receive the new payments. Why not write an article about how slow the process is and why! Perhaps the writer can provide a suggestion, on how to make the system more efficient. Then veterans don't have to stress or complain about getting their benefits. Instead, society points the finger at Veterans, they tell us to suck it up, plan better, and no one would return to school if this benefit wasn’t around.

Where is the real reporting at?

[Robert]

Well Terry I can tell you that the vets at my school don’t do it for the money. Its a nice addition, but so far the vets I met switched from chapter 30 and since haven’t been paid (except for the 3k check, thanks VA).

Matt. They made a mistake on my paperwork too. The school official filed under chapter 30, even though my ch 33 certificate of eligibility was right there in the paperwork. So, I did everything early and am screwed thoroughly.

[glenn cuneo]

Over 20 years of active duty service? Check. Multiple deployments in support of OIF? Check. Made a plan before retirement? Check. Retired honorably? Check. Begun Teacher certification program? Check. Received benefits under old GI BIll? Check. Applied and was approved for 100% amount under New GI Bill? Check. Paying for books out of pocket? Check. Paying for classes out of pocket? Check. Receive anything from new GI BILL? Hell no.

[Terry Howell]

Sly - You seriously read this and think I am "castigating veterans about their motives" really?

I am trying to tell vets that they need to look beyond the cash benefit and choose the school and program that fits their "real" education needs and be academically prepared so they get the education that will help them in the long run. I am very sorry if you perceive it as castigating veterans about their motives.

Sheeesh, I am a vet and I am going to school on the GI Bill, I have done both classroom and online and I know the challenges vets face if they don't choose according their education needs.

[Matt]

Terry,
I was certified back on the 5th of August. The point of contact at my school certified me for August 08 instead of August 09. "I know how stupid that sounds but thats what she did". I didn't find out that she made that error until the end of September. So, she went back and re-certified the right "year" but the VA told me that because of the error and the re-certification I am now at the back of the list. What the hell am I suppose to do now? I got the Advance payment but I'm not going to make it much longer on those funds. Do you have any advice for me or a POC at the VA? Cause I'm not getting anywhere with the guys on the phone. They just say that it is the Schools fault and that I just have to wait.

[Sly]

I can see both points of view. One should go to school for the right reasons, not for financial gains instead. However, as a veteran, I/we put our life on the line for this country and we are receiving only what is owed to us! Therefore, to castigate veterans about their motives for returning to school is out of line and over the top.

[BahHumbug]

Waited..nothing...Complained..nothing..Wrote in...Nothing. 11/11 still broke going on 3.5 months. F this worthless failure of veteran service. I bet congress taking blame is really going to help.

[MSG (Ret) Tom Esparza]

The Issue: Failure of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to Provide Educational Benefits Arising from Title 32 Active Duty Service

Immediate Action Required: Contact your Representatives and Senators and urge them to support an immediate correction to the Post 9/11 GI Bill that will allow the Title 32 Active duty service members of the National Guard to qualify for educational benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

http://www.ngaus.org/tier2.asp?bid=13613

[Angela]

i just found out AGR's on Title 32 don't get the post 9/11 like the title 10. they need to revamp this post 9/11 and give us the same as title 10.

[Andrew Rizzo]

Write about why the new bill still hasn't paid out several thousand people yet and how the VA needs to fix it. This is utterly ridiculous that my paperwork was submitted early yet I still haven't received my BAH. I also thought that it was 1st come, 1st serve. I know someone whonput their paperwork in late yet they got their money already. The whole 9/11 GI Bill plan is becoming a joke and obviously wasn't mapped out well. Thank you, U.S goverment and VA for adding onto more stress for students!

[Julio E.]

I got with an online school called american college of technology that really helped me with my schedule. I am using chapter 30 because they are 100% online and i knew i wouldn't get BAH benifits. Their tuition for a Bacholor's was around $249 per credit/hour and all of my books, software was included. They even provided me a laptop to keep. I got to keep around $600 a month and have my tuition paid for with no student loans. One class is considered full time so i got my full benifit, plus the class were live interactive. I would highly recommend this or any other school that is online and can provide this benefit.

[B]

Oh, I still have not gotten my benefits yet. Anyone else still waiting?

[B]

Got out in August. Enrolled in 4 classes. Midterm grades? 4 A's.

I guess it may have to do with fact I got out with a Bachelor's degree paid for with TA.

Good luck to everyone going to school for the money. But you are taking classes toward a career you love to do than you will make it.

[ABEtype]

Im set to start school on Jan 11, 2010. Argosy University's "blended learning" program, allows me to go to class on Mondays 6 - 10pm, and the remainder is online, it's considered full time. I just want to make sure I'm eligble for all the benefits. If Im not mistaken, I think I am. Can somebody reassure me that Im good. Thanks...

[sammytki]

You can still take at least one on-line course and get the stipend. My school also offers hybrid courses - go once a week and "meet" once a week on-line. I only have to take 7 hrs to get the full stipend - 1 math class and one other class and I'm good to go.

Math classes are worth 4 hrs.

Or I can schedule all my classes (3) on 1 night.

I'm done next semester, so I didn't get to work the system for very long. Just kidding. i love school and have a 3.95.

Good luck vets

[Erik]

I am using the MGIB (Chapter 30) because I am taking online classes, and I like the flexibility of going to class when I want vice when I have to. I finished my Bachelors Degree while on Active Duty.

Here is my story:

I take a 3 Credit Hour class every 8 weeks that cost me $275/cr. This is considered 3/4 time for GI Bill purposes.

So....

I pay $825 + books (est $100 a class...some more, some less)

I get $1026/mo for each class.

So....

I get $2052 for each class that costs me $925. Therefore, I get $1127 (or $563/mo) back in my pocket for each class!

If you use the GI Bill smartly, and to your advantage, it will pay off in the long run!

It has helped me in my expenses, as well as my future! It's great basically going to school for free and getting paid to do it (along with my retirement check, my coaching stipend while coaching middle school basketball and high school baseball, and working part time at the local AFB Golf course!

Use the GI Bill smartly folks!!!!

[Terry Howell]

Hater? Really?
Did you read the article?

I am a vet and work everyday looking out for vets. I am not saying they don't deserve the benefit. I am saying they need to go to school for the right reason. If they drop they will end up in debt and have nothing to show for it.
Hater? Really?

[radartech]

Bitz ... your way out of line ... they are called education benefits for a reason. same goes for VA home loans .. its for home loans!! yes we do deserve the benefits, but we all knew what they are to be used for. Some veterans play the system and attend schools just to get their money and drop .. professional students. but most of us use it to get educated and seek great jobs.

[bitz]

Talk about haters already! These Vets pay a price to get these benefits. They put their lives on the line to just get "some" benefits unlike the bankers who took billions of taxpayers dollars and did NOTHING. Why don't you go write or whine about them instead? Vets deserved to use their benefits in anyways they wish, it's none of your business! Many of them died each year in exchange for these kinda benefits dope! Get a life.