Nope.
What the new GI Bill does is completely SCREW the guys who were the first ones in Iraq. So many guys just like me went in the Corps in Sept 2001, did our combat tour of Iraq, got out in 2005. Some of us took a year off and others went right into school. I took year off and started in august of 2006. This means I have 1 year left on my GI Bill in which the benefits won’t fully come into effect until 2009, right when my benefits run out, completely screwing guys like me who have paid their dues on the battle field and now we have to pay our dues in school. I should be used to the Marine Corps/federal government screw jobs; after all, that’s why most people get out. Nonetheless, this new legislation is b.s. and leaves a ton of Iraqi veterans out in the cold.
Respectfully,
Don Kershaw
Even supporters of the new GI bill benefits have pointed out that it does nothing for the thousands of troops who have already put themselves through school and collected student loans debt. The stated goal behind the legislation was to help servicemebers get the education “owed” to them for their sacrifices, but not necessarily to go back and make whole the slightly older veterans who performed the same duty.
In addition, Defense officials have voiced concerns about retention rates, as outlined by columnist Tom Philpott earlier this year. And VA officials worry they won’t have enough time to get everything set up by next fall.
What’s your take? Do the improvements outweigh the shortfalls with this new plan?
Does everyone love the new GI Bill?
There are still veterans who entered the service under the VEAP (Veterans Education Assistance Program) who have NO GI Bill and don't qualify under this program because they got out before Sept 11, 2001. They spent entire careers in the service of America, didn't have money in VEAP because it was a terrible program, were told they had until the day they retired to contribute, were not told by their education offices that they needed to have a paltry $50 in VEAP to get the MGIB, and consequently still have no GI Bill benefits.
I was one of those but because I served after 9.11 I am now eligible for the new GI Bill at the 90% rate. Unfortunately for me it won't kick in until 09 and I finish my Masters at the beginning of 2010 (which I am paying for out of my own pocket, by the way). So now I have to decide whether to continue what I've worked ***** or quit and wait until the new GI Bill stands up.
Leoshane, you aren't the only one getting screwed and you haven't been screwed as badly as some. I think screwing a veteran who has served a long and honorable career by denying them the GI Bill is dishonorable to our nation.
RE: Love the GI Bill?
Adrasteia, I think you meant to say Don isn't the only one getting screwed -- I'm just here to answer questions.
But the rest of your point is well taken.
Earlier this year, I found
Earlier this year, I found out that I was due to lose my benefits as of Sept of this year when I applied to attend school in September due to the 10 year window. After the new GI Bill was passed on Monday, I was told BY THE VA, that this new bill had extended my benefits to 15 years instead of 10 years. I immediately reapplied and paid tuition/admission fees to my originally intended program. Today, after seeing a new "brochure" that stated that you were only eligible if you were Chap 30 eligible on Aug 1, 2009, I called the VA. After a 20 minute phonecall, they made it clear that you are "ONLY" eligible if you served a minimum of 30 days after Sept 10, 2001. Now they have updated their brochure once again to reflect this new stipulation. I have a letter from Sen Webb's office dated in May of this year, assuring me of my benefits being extended if "His" GI Bill legislation passes. I feel this is a slap in the face to not only me, but all of the people who were led to believe that this new legislation would help Veterans of recent history. Once again, we have been mislead by our elected Representatives.
RE: Only 10 years
I know that provision changed several times between the first draft of the bill and the final draft -- I can't tell you who to blame for that.
But you're most recent discovery is true, I'm sorry to say -- only the new Chapter 33 benefits will be extended to 15 years. The old GI Bill benefits will only last for 10. See this post for more details.
I'm not sure it's going to help me either.
I joined the national guard a couple months after 9/11. A 6yr by 2yr IRR contract. After returning from basic, I began to use 1606 before my first deployment. After returning from OIF3, I returned imediately to school using 1607. I have 2 1/2 years of school completed. We redeployed this January a month before I ets'd. When I finally get home, hopefully before Christmas, i'll have been on active duty for 38 months.
I've been taking every opportunity between deployments to do a quarter of school. Such as taking a quarter a week after school started the day after returning from our first deployment. Also, each quarter of school before both deployments my unit made us go to an extra week annual training in October both years, but I still took classes. Not to mention each of those years we had three week annual training in the summer instead of the usual two week which eliminated the possiblity of summer quarter. So by the time this new GI BILL goes into effect I'll have 3 quarters of school left. Is all i'm going to get one year of school?
I have alot of friend that I was with during our first deployment and this deployment who didn't bust their butts to go to school or didn't go to school at all. It looks like they will reap the benefits of it.
RE: Hard worker
Your assessment is pretty much on -- It looks like you'll get three semesters of benefits, not the full four-year ride that some of your peers will get.
On the positive side, you will be getting more money than you did last semester, so that means a little easier financial path for you.
And while I can't tell you that it's fair that other less motivated folks will end up with a better benefit than you, it's worth noting that you'll be done school and starting your career ahead of those folks. So I wouldn't worry too much -- sounds like your hard work will get you exactly where you wanted to be.