A Corner of Hope: New GI Bill Answers the Changing Needs of the Military Student

Posted by Jim Hardiman on August 25, 2010

Jim Hardiman is a licensed clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor. Prior to joining DCoE, he served as a regional care coordinator for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. He has provided mental health services for patients and their families for more than two decades. Hardiman writes a monthly post for the DCoE Blog on various psychological health conditions affecting our service members, veterans and their families—offering encouragement or “A Corner of Hope” for our readers.

Since the original inception of the GI Bill in 1944 (my dad took advantage of this one), the face of the military undergraduate student has changed. According to a 2009 study by the American Council on Education (ACE), during the 2007-08 academic year, military undergraduates were:

Long Range Education Counselor Available

Priscilla Hardiman, a WWMP volunteer and long range education counselor, will be available to counsel WW's by appointment 9:00 to 3:30 hours on Mondays in the Ed Center, Room 3-08, Delano Hall (Bldg 11) beginning Jan 26 and each Monday thereafter.  Her PH at the office is 202-356-1012,  Ext 20425. 

Have You Ever Dreamed of Startiing a Busiiness?

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is an educational program providing world-class training in entrepreneurship and small business management, to post-9/11 veterans with a service-connected disability. The EBV is a program specifically for veterans, and is designed to develop your competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. The EBV program is offered by six world-class business schools across the U.S., including Texas A&M University, Florida State University, Purdue University, University of California Los Angeles, the University of Connecticut, and Syracuse University. The EBV represents an opportunity for those who have sacrificed for our freedom, to take an important step toward realizing their own economic freedom in the most American way possible - through entrepreneurship.

New GI Bill The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008

(Effective 1 Aug 2009)

Monthly GI Bill Payment Rate Increased

As of October 1, 2009 the monthly GI Bill payment rate increased 3.6% to $1,368. This money is not a loan, but a benefit you've earned to help pay for a degree or professional certificate.

The first step in using this money is to Find Military Friendly Schools who value Veterans by offering college credit for service. Military.com works with hundreds of accredited schools that can save you time in the class room and are familiar with the GI Bill. You can also request free information from Schools Who Offer Credit for Service in the Air Force.

For more information, please visit
http://edu.military.com/gibill/?ESRC=091005SOL_airforce_v.se

GI Bill: Use it or Lose it

Montgomery GI Bill

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act

Post-9/11 GI Bill Application Form Available Online

Starting May 1, 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  The application form is available online. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Benefits

DoD recently set rules for transferability of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents.   These rules are for those service members who have qualifying Post-9/11 service in the armed forces – active duty or in the Selected Reserves.  Note that military members who retire before 1 August 2009 are not eligible to transfer benefits.  

To be eligible to transfer benefits to a spouse or child, a member who is not retirement eligible must have 

·     Served at least 6 years in the armed forces on the date of election and agree to serve 4 additional years from that date or;
·     Served at least 10 years on the date of election and be precluded from committing to 4 additional years by law or service/DoD policy 

For those are eligible to retire on Aug 1, 2009, no additional service is required 

For those eligible for retirement after Aug 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, 1 year of additional year of service is required 

For those eligible for retirement after Aug 1, 2010 and before July 1, 2011, 2 years of additional service are required 

For those eligible for retirement after Aug 1, 2011 and before July 1, 2012, 3 years of additional service are required. 

References:
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12762
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/agentsso/LoginSelect.jsp?gotourl=%2FTEB%2Findex.jsp&modules=DFAS,FAM,CAC

This link is to a film on this subject.

This page will contail details of Tuition Assistance Education Benefit.

Tutoring for Active Duty Service Members

CAP's Wounded Service Member Initiative team would like to share the following information:

The Department of Defense is now offering unlimited access to certified, professional tutors 24/7 through partnership with Tutors.com.  The services provided are available to all active duty Service Members and their dependents. Homework help and study guidance are available for all those returning to school or for their spouses/children.  Test preparation courses offer a systematic approach to taking on standardized testing; writing skills can be strengthened through one-on-one proofreading and editing.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

This page contains Websites and other sources for Education Benefits information.