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:

§  Younger than most veterans (85 percent were age 24 or older)

§  Women (27 percent of all military undergraduates)

§  More likely to be non-white than most veterans and traditional undergraduates

Military students face numerous challenges, such as:

§  Balancing school with marriage and raising children

§  Working while going to school

§  Cultural barriers in adjusting to college and campus life

§  Dealing with individuals who have no idea what military service entails

Additionally, with the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some military undergraduates may be experiencing psychological health and traumatic brain injury conditions.

However, these challenges or others shouldn’t stop you from succeeding. The Post 9/11 GI Bill, passed in July 2008, offers many new benefits. Check out these facts to help you make the best decision for you and/or your family. Under the new GI Bill, you can receive:

§  College credit for military experience

§  Educational benefits without having to contribute money

§  More money than what the 1984 Montgomery GI Bill provides

§  Housing allowance based on local housing costs and a yearly allowance for books and supplies

§  Entire coverage of your college education paid directly, up to the total cost of the most expensive program of study at a public university in your state of residence

§  Benefits for 15 years vs. 10 years under the current Montgomery GI Bill

§  Benefits for not only you, but for your spouse and child also

Read more about the benefits and eligibility requirements for service members and veterans on the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov. Also, ACE’s “Serving Those Who Serve: Higher Education and America's Veterans” initiative provides updates and changes as they are implemented at www.acenet.edu/stws.

According to the ACE study, characteristics of military students have also changed over the years:

§  Most favor public colleges and universities

§  43 percent attended two-year colleges

§  48 percent were married and 47 percent had a child

§  Nearly half of military undergraduates at four-year institutions received veterans benefits

No matter where you fall, your military experience coupled with a solid college education will make an impressive resume in the workplace. I hope you and your family take time to reflect, investigate, ask questions and pursue these great opportunities.

*Data obtained from the American Council on Education’s Military Service Members and Veterans in Higher Education: What the New GI Bill May Mean for Postsecondary Institutions report.