I can't determine if this means any benefits for myself. I served 24 years active duty, June 1979 to June 2003. I never used or enrolled in the VEAP or Montgomery GI Bill programs. Any joy?

-- Mark McClintock

I served 6 years in the Army, paid my $1200 into the GI Bill, was deployed twice and was honorably discharged. However, from everything that I've read, since my ETS date was in June of 2004, it looks like I don't get the full benefit of the new GI Bill. Is it true that I am only going to get 90% of the new GI Bill or is there something that hasn't been printed yet for others in my situation that fell just short of the 3 year mark yet served for longer than the 3 years required?

-- Justin Framstad

The new “Chapter 33” benefits under the GI bill guarantee some level of new coverage for anyone who served at least 90 days on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.

To get the full four years of college classes paid for, troops will have had to served at least three years on active duty. But the VA has already released a sliding scale for those troops who served less time:

At least 30 months, but less than 36 months

-- 90 percent of the full benefit

At least 24 months, but less than 30 months

-- 80 percent of the full benefit

At least 18 months, but less than 24 months

-- 70 percent of the full benefit

At least 12 months, but less than 18 months

-- 60 percent of the full benefit

At least 6 months, but less than 12 months

-- 50 percent of the full benefit

At least 90 days, but less than 6 months

-- 40 percent of the full benefit

In addition, troops who served at least 30 days on active duty and were discharged because of a service-connected disability will receive the full benefit without any percentage reduction for less time served.