Alright, here it is, the new GI Bill. Been a long time coming and I believe it has everything they said it would. Question now is will it encourage guys to come in, and then split? Or, better yet, will it discourage otherwise career minded guys from staying in? That seems to be the argument. Personally, I believe it won't change a thing. The right guys, the ones we want anyways, will still be drawn into the service for all the right reasons and not just for their college benefits. Perhaps the same percentage of these will make a career of it as well. Lets hope at least. :confused:
Additionally, I’m of the old VEAP era and had no GI bill, now I will. While I won’t need much since I’ve completed my BS and some of my masters, and my two oldest kids are already in college, I can now give it to my youngest daughter. Great but, hmmmm............
Some how it just doesn’t feel right. Feels Kind of like welfare must feel I guess. Should I lighten up or what?…..jd
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview
AngelsSix
06-24-2008, 20:41
Alright, here it is, the new GI Bill. Been a long time coming and I believe it has everything they said it would. Question now is will it encourage guys to come in, and then split? Or, better yet, will it discourage otherwise career minded guys from staying in? That seems to be the argument.
Okay. I did not join for the GI Bill, it was something I was offered (and I chose to take it) when I enlisted, so it made no determination in my decision to enlist. I suppose today we need to "lure" some folks to join the military. To be honest, I would rather they didn't join. I do not enjoy working with the folks who "just joined for the college money". Most of them, IME, have bad attitudes and spend more time trying to get out of work than doing their jobs.
Additionally, I’m of the old VEAP era and had no GI bill, now I will.
I am not sure how this will affect vets, I belief that this will only be for current enlistees, perhaps I am not understanding how the program works??
I am not sure how this will affect vets, I belief that this will only be for current enlistees, perhaps I am not understanding how the program works??[/QUOTE]
I'll be retireing in Feb 2010 with 31 total but 25 active yrs. Otherwise, vets who did participate in the wars since 9/11, but retired or just got out, will also qualify based on time after 9/11 that they served. 36 months qualifys you for 100% coverage and it decreases from there with less time.
I also did not join for the GI bill. I did pay into the VEAP but was told to take my money out, which I did. Then, I got out of the army. Later, after I came back in, I didn't qualify for the GI bill untill now. I never really had a problem with that since I was working on my education for all these years and have done OK. Now, if I wanted to I could be a freakin professional student if I wan ted to but I think I'll give it to my kid. That seems a bit awkward to me but I'll take it. I know I deserve it if anyone does so giving it to my youngest will be OK except, it does feel strange. I'm just not used to a handout....jd
one-zero
06-26-2008, 15:37
I was at the press conference on Capitol Hill this morning w/Senators Webb & Hagel...the bill should be signed within the next few days - President said he was on board with it as well. Excerpts from www.GIBill2008.org listed below...
After overwhelming bipartisan votes for a new GI Bill in the House and Senate, the White House has reached a compromise with House leadership to pass a new GI bill, modeled after Rep. Mitchell and Rep. Brown-Waite’s H.R. 5740. This WWII style GI bill will renew the social contract with our men and women in uniform and their families. This new GI Bill will not only fully fund the cost of an education; it will also allow service members who stay in the military the opportunity to transfer their education benefits to spouses and their children.
The best news is that the basic benefit structure of HR 5740 is still completely intact; the only substantive changes involve transferability.
The White House’s included proposal for a permanent transferability program breaks down like this:
• Six years of service, coupled with an additional service agreement of at least four years grants up to 36 months transferability. This 10-year commitment is similar to what our transferability amendment would have required for full 36-month transferability.
• Spouses would be eligible to receive transferred benefits after the service member has reached six years.
• To transfer to children, the service member would need to serve 10 years before transferring.
• The Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs may prescribe regulations changing the years of service required.
• There are no reporting requirements to Congress as our pilot program amendment had required.
• They have included language to create similar transferability programs in the three existing GI educational benefit programs as well: Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Select Reserve (1606), and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (1607).
• This transferability program has apparently been scored at $10 billion over 10 years, bringing the cost of the total package to $62 billion.
• There is no offset for the GI bill, tax or otherwise.
Benefits Start Date
This new GI Bill is set to go into affect on August 1, 2009 – (if it passes all hurdles). However, as with any new legislation, it could take some time for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to begin paying benefits.
Eligibility for the New GI Bill
If you have served a total of at least 90 days on active duty in the Armed Forces you’re eligible. However, the amount of benefits you receive under this program are determined by the actual amount of accumulated post 9/11 service you have.
To be eligible for the full benefit, you must have three years of active duty service after 9/11 or have been discharged due to a service-connected disability.
If you are an officer who graduated from a service academy or received ROTC scholarships, you also qualify for the new GI Bill benefits. However, your ROTC/Service Academy associated obligated active-duty service time does not count toward the three years necessary to qualify for the full benefits.
Note: You didn’t have to opt-in for the Montgomery GI Bill to be eligible for this program.
New GI Bill Payment Rates
The Post 9/11 GI Bill will provide up to 100% of your tuition. In addition, the program provides a monthly housing stipend a stipend of up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. If you attend less than full-time will receive a portion of the payment based on the number of units of study. Your 36 month benefit entitlement will charged for each month you use any combination of the tuition and stipend benefits.
The amount of tuition and stipends paid under the Post 9/11 GI Bill will vary depending on your state of residence, number of units taken, and amount of post Sept. 11, 2001 active-duty service. Here is a quick reference showing the percentage of total combined benefit eligibility based on the following periods of post 9/11 service:
100% - 36 or more total months
100% - 30 or more consecutive days with Disability related Discharge.
90% - 30 total months
80% - 24 total months
70% - 18 total months
60% - 12 total months
50% - six total months
40% - 90 or more consecutive days
Tuition Rates
Under the new GI Bill you will be provided tuition at a rate equal to the highest established charges for full-time undergraduate students charged by the public institution of higher education in the State in which you are enrolled.
One of the added features of this tuition payment plan is that the tuition will be paid directly to the school, relieving you of the responsibility. This is similar to the process used for military tuition assistance.
Monthly Housing Stipend
If you attend a traditional college program, you will be paid a monthly housing stipend equal to the monthly amount of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. The average housing stipend will be approximately $1,400 a month. However if you attend distance learning programs such as correspondence courses and online you will not qualify for this stipend.
Book and Supply Stipend
You will receive a lump sum payment the first month of each quarter, semester, or term. The payment will help cover the cost of books, supplies, equipment, and other educational fees for that academic term. The payment amount will be equal to either a quarter or half of the annual $1,000 cap for that academic year, depending on how the academic year is divided – quarter or semester terms.
Benefits Expiration Date
Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the new GI Bill will allow you to use this benefit for up to 15 years after your last discharge or separation from active duty.
Licensing and Certification Payments
This new GI Bill will provide up to $2,000 to cover the cost of one licensing or certification test. This benefit is not charged against your 36 month entitlement.
Tutorial Assistance
Like the Montgomery GI Bill, the new GI Bill will provide up to a maximum of $1,200 for tutorial assistance. The program will pay up to $100 per month, for a maximum of 12 months. This benefit is not charged against your 36 month entitlement.
Benefit Transferability
Although the details have yet to be worked out, the new GI Bill will enable you to transfer a portion of your 36 month benefit entitlement to a designated dependent. This will likely require you to re-enlist to take advantage of this feature.
Affects on Existing GI Bill Benefits
If you are already enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill and also meet the criteria for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you have the option to transfer your remaining MGIB benefits to the new program.
For many veterans this will be a good option. However, due to the tuition limits set by this new GI Bill, many veterans who are pursuing a post-graduate degree may find the MGIB betters suits their needs. This is also true for those students pursuing an online degree, as this new benefit will not pay the housing stipend to students enrolled in distance learning programs.
Further Eligibility Details:
You qualify for 100% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 36 months on active duty in the Armed Forces. This includes service on active duty for entry level and skill training.
You qualify for 100% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 30 continuous days on active duty in the Armed Forces; and after completion of service were discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces for a service-connected disability.
You qualify for 90% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 30 months, but less than 36 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(including service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
You qualify for 80% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 24 months, but less than 30 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(including service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
You qualify for 70% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 18 months, but less than 24 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
You qualify for 60% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 12 months, but less than 18 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
You qualify for 50% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 6 months, but less than 12 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
You qualify for 50% of the benefit if you have a total of at least 90 days, but less than 6 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces.
(excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)