As a nation we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our veterans and active duty military personal. The sacrifices they have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms are immeasurable. Beyond our bountiful appreciation, 
there are practical benefits that can and should be shared with these noble heroes. One of the most expansive and beneficial programs is the G.I. Bill. This program has been helping vets for over sixty years. And now a new Post 9/11 G.I. Bill has been enacted to offer a new generation of service men and women tuition payments and training opportunities.
The first G.I. Bill was formerly known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 and was signed into law by then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The first phase of this bill ended in 1956. By then over 7 million WWII vets put the bill to use to pay for college and training in addition to low interest home loans. Many credit this version of the G.I. Bill with creating the country’s flourishing suburbia.
The last revamping of the benefits package occurred in 1984 and was sponsored by Congressman Montgomery. This current version is known as the Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB) and was geared towards providing assistance to our all volunteer military force. Since 9/11 there has been a new wave of active duty and discharged service men and women who have earned these benefits. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill is geared specifically to help those vets pay for a college education or apprenticeship training program. And it doesn’t matter what your course of study might be or what trade you might choose to learn.
As a vet you’ll need to decide which program you would like to elect to receive benefits from. Know that by choosing one option you negate the other. You should make your decision based on your specific needs and location. For instant, some state colleges already provide free tuition for veterans and therefore you might just need housing and book stipends. There are also different tiers of benefits based on the amount of time you served.
You can find comparisons of the MGIB and 9/11 Bills here. Keep in mind that processing and payments for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill won’t begin until August 1st, 2009. If you’re a vet and have any questions call the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to speak with a benefits counselor at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). They’re standing by to help you navigate through the application process and help you pick the best benefit package for you.
Taking advantage of these benefit programs will allow you to explore fresh career paths and develop new trade skills. No matter which program you opt into, you’ve certainly earned them and much more!
– Meyer
2 Comments
My son left the Marine Corps in February of this year. He waited to enroll in school until the new GI bill came into effect since he was told the new bill would pay for tech schools. Unfortunately, when he applied at the auto tech school in our area, he found out the new GI bill does not pay for tech schools. My son went ahead and took out a loan and began his training in September. He loves it. Shame on the “powers that be” for not recognizing the value and need for vocational training.
I got out of the marines years ago and did trade school my self and the G.I. bill payed for it. I thought that the new bill was better not worse. Did you try the state you’re in and see if they offer any monetary reimbursement like employment benefits. Check out some other things – sometimes they have Grats for this.
– Your fellow VET.