November 6th, 2008
Just throwing this out there, anyone else concerned about this?
The new GI-Bill will become effective August 1, 2009. The new GI-Bill will essentially pay the cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education (paid to school) while your serving on active duty.
For honorably discharged veterans who qualify (not those still serving to complete their obligated service) the New GI-Bill will pay the cost of tuition and fees AND it will also cover a monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as your school (paid to you) and a yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year (paid to you). Seems it is best to use after you get out…
With the budget belts tightening it would not surprise me at all to see the coveted Tuition Assistance benefit go away completely. There are already rumblings from members of congress to cut the defense budget by as much as 25%. Cutting the program will save tens of millions of dollars across all services and it seems to me the New GI-Bill could provide the justification.
I truly hope I am wrong. Time will tell.
Read Comments (3)
3 Comments
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The new tuition assistance bill is one of the best things that passed in recent years, IMHO. It updates tuition benefits to make them more valuable; more like the original bill that was passed for WWII vets. That was one of the best things that was helpful to Vets and helpful to the country. Man….I can think of lots of things to cut in lots of areas before they cut this.
Comment by Pittsburgh Bars (2 comments.) — November 6, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
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Keep in mind the TA benefit is completely separate from the GI-Bill. TA is a benefit used by active members that pays up to 100% of tuition costs, there is no $1200 obligation up front like the GI-Bill and the only requirement is that you get at least a C in the class (yes there are other restrictions but you get the jest of it).
GI-Bill and TA are two different programs.
Comment by Ouch — November 6, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
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One of the drawbacks of this bill (which, by the way, I will be taking FULL advantage of next year) is that it might entice younger servicemen and women to just roll on out.
Not that getting out is a bad thing, but take your choice- 100% free college or head of on another deployment. Had this been MY choice at the end of my first ir second term I would have never retired. How many will get out and how adversely will it affect retention?
Comment by Sean (1 comments.) — November 7, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
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