Post-9/11 GI Bill Goes Into Effect

The new and improved GI Bill, or the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, was signed last month and goes into effect early in August. Under this new plan, post military service members will receive more educational benefits than ever. The real question, is whether those new benefits are going to make a difference in which schools veterans choose to attend after the service. How the GI Bill Has Changed With the new GI Bill, veterans with at least three years of service can receive money to pay for tuition and fees at the most expensive public university in the state for up to 36 months. It applies to active duty members and veterans with service on or after September 11, 2001, and must have served a minimum of 36 months. If you received a discharge due to a disability accrued in the service, you must have been in at least 30 days of continuous active duty. The benefits are available for 15 years from the last period of active duty. Taking Advantage of the New GI Bill Supporters of the new bill have stated that this revised version of the bill creates new opportunities similar to those awarded to veterans returning from the front lines in World War II. Back then, a $500 yearly stipend was enough for a veteran to earn a degree from practically any four-year university in the country. Additionally, the old bill offered less money, which meant less financial opportunity for veterans to enroll in an expensive public university. Today, the Post-9/11 GI Bill doubles the amount of money veterans can use for school. Drawbacks to the GI Bill Opponents of the bill deemed it too costly, asserting that it would simply give money away to wealthy schools and discourage reenlistment. However, it seems soldiers may be pouring that money back into local schools or profit-only schools instead. Online schools have made education more accessible to service members, which mean that they may not want to attend an expensive school that drains their resources. These schools often have programs designed for military students, with brick-and-mortar campuses, as well as the flexibility of online classes. Moreover, many veterans who go straight from the military to attending a big university have trouble transitioning back to civilian life and need counseling that only some schools offer. Community colleges are sometimes a good starting point, since they help veterans familiarize themselves with civilian life again. No matter how veterans use their military educational benefits, it will give ex-military personnel the chance at a new career. Comments (0) Show/Hide comments Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name Email Website Title Comment Add Comment