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.

Now that the deal is done, Philpott is saying the Pentagon is more optimistic about how the benefits will help the entire force.

Officials from the Department's office of accession policy told him they expect more college-bound students delaying their degree plans for a tour serving the country, and more agressive in-service education programs to keep troops in the ranks while allowing them to share their GI Bill benefits with spouses and children.

So go read the column -- Philpott knows his stuff.