Regarding the 6-year and 10-year tenure limit to transfer benefits to a spouse or a child: Does this time start from Sept. 11, 2001, or is it your current time in service?

-- SMSgt Thompson

Under the transferability rules to the new GI Bill benefits, active-duty troops who have served 10 years total in their career can transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent child. Those with six years in can give their tuition benefits to a spouse if they sign up for another four years in the service.

The question that I had was when they say that full four-year tuition to any state university, do they mean the state where you joined the military or do they really mean ANY state university?

-- Paul

It’s whatever state you are currently a resident of. Each of the states have different residency laws, but for active-duty troops it’s typically going to be whatever stateside location you are assigned to.

But that’s just to calculate how much money you get. For example, the estimated benefit in Texas is going to be about $17,500 a year for tuition and housing for 2009. If you’re a state resident there and go to any four-year public university, all your expenses will get paid for.

From the AP:

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a $162 billion war spending plan Thursday, sending to President Bush legislation that will pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the next president takes office.

The package, approved 92-6, includes a dramatic increase of GI Bill college benefits for troops and veterans.