Leo Shane is currently on assignment in Iraq and will not be updating the GI Bill Mailbag until he returns.

As a soldier preparing to separate, I was very interested in the proposed (and ultimately enacted) Post-9/11 GI Bill. That is, I was interested until I crunched the numbers. The new formula would only pay me $1,141 per month based on the ZIP code where I would be attending class, while the old GI Bill will pay $1,321 per month - the difference being more than $2,000 annually in favor of the "old" GI Bill. The difference is reduced to $1,000 when the yearly book stipend is added, and the value of the new GI Bill does exceed the old when the tuition payments are calculated, but that money is sent directly to the school.

Tom Philpott has another good column here in our weekend editions about how the new GI Bill benefits could boost recruiting for the services, as they compete to attract high school seniors plotting their future.

Just a few months ago defense officials were insisting that the four-years-free benefit would hurt retention more than it would help recruiting, saying that it offered little reason for troops to stay in past their initial service date. The transferability options added this spring were a reaction to that criticism, giving troops an incentive to stay in longer.

Big news for Buckeye fans not living in Ohio -- you're now considered a state resident.

Last week Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order allowing all out-of-state veterans coming to Ohio for college to qualify for the in-state tuition rate as "honorary Ohioans." That means that, starting next fall, any veteran who wants to attend a public school in the state can use their GI bill for a free four-year ride, regardless where they actually live.

The Department has put up it's own question and answer site here -- I think this mailbag has covered most of these already, but I wanted to put the link up so you can read the official word on the issues.

One thing I did miss: The new bill includes a one-time payment of $500 for moving expenses for certain individuals relocating from "highly rural areas." The bill spells out that the money is available for anyone who lives in a county with less than seven people per square mile, and either:

-- must travel more than 500 miles to attend their college of choice, or

I just separated from the military after completing 5 years active duty and my husband is still active duty. I am currently receiving my GI Bill benefits to pay for my education (which is barely enough). What about the veterans that are married to active duty personnel, will we also receive $1,000 monthly for housing and living expenses?

-- S. Aylor 

In case you missed it on our site, columnist Tom Philpott has a good interview with Keith M. Wilson, director of education service for the VA, that tackles some more questions related to the new GI bill benefits. You can read it here.

Among the highlights, Wilson said he believes the Pentagon will agree to offer the transferability benefit to "anybody who will qualify.” That would be big news to soon-to-be retiring servicemembers, who might not have to re-enlist to give their benefit to a spouse or child.

We've covered a lot of questions this week, but I wanted to leave open a thread for anyone who thinks I'm missing some big ones. If you've got issues I haven't tackled yet, post it here and I'll track down the details.

Just to recap what we've had so far: