These days with tuitions and cost of living at an all time high, how can a Veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan be able to afford college with the current Montgomery GI Bill, which hasn’t changed and adapted for the newest generation of Veterans. It’s hard for student veterans who are looking to improve themselves and get a college education. It is time for the Senate and the President to make a commitment to the men and women who answer the call.
Just two weeks ago an Enhancement to the GI Bill was supplemented to the Emergency Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. 159 Billon dollars was put up for the funding of this bill. The Enhancement to the GI Bill successfully passed through Congress by a 256-166 vote, and went on to the Senate where the bill passed 73-22. Currently it’s up to the President to either pass and sign the bill or Veto it. If it’s sign it, will be the first time in two decades that any changes have been made to the Montgomery GI-Bill, which gives those who serve in the Military a chance to go to college.
The Current GI-Bill gives about $37,000 to those going to college that’s done in monthly installments depending on your length of service. If you’re on active duty for more than two years you receive the full percent of the GI-Bill, which pays roughly about $1101 per month. If you’re not full time and in the National Guard or Reserve but have been on a deployment for less than two years of service in a row, you receive a lesser amount than if you’re going as a full time student ($860). This is supposed to cover the cost of college and money to live on.
The amount is not nearly enough and most Service members use that up, then have nothing left. Most Student Veterans have to work a full time job, live with family, or both, while attending college just to make it. This is especially true in California where the cost of living is so much higher than most of the rest of the nation. This new Enhancement to the GI Bill is supposed to be more like the full GI Bill given to those Veterans who returned from WWII when congress passed the controversial bill called The Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI-Bill of Rights) passed the Congress and Senate to offer benefits to the returning troops during this time they received:
1. It gives servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training after discharge, or of taking a refresher or retainer course, not only without tuition charge up to $500 per school year, but with the right to receive a monthly living allowance while pursuing their studies.
2. It makes provision for the guarantee by the Federal Government of not to exceed 50 percent of certain loans made to veterans for the purchase or construction of homes, farms, and business properties.
3. It provides for reasonable unemployment allowances payable each week up to a maximum period of one year, to those veterans who are unable to find a job.
4. It establishes improved machinery for effective job counseling for veterans and for finding jobs for returning soldiers and sailors.
5. It authorizes the construction of all necessary additional hospital facilities.
6. It strengthens the authority of the Veterans Administration to enable it to discharge its existing and added responsibilities with promptness and efficiency.
The proposed Enhancements for a new GI Bill (GI Bill of Rights 2008):
1. Increase Payment: Increase the amount of the GI bill and increase the amount per month.
2. Make Payments Upfront: Since colleges don’t take month to month payments why should Veterans only get month to month payments for tuition cost and have to figure out how to pay tuition before their payments arrive.
3. Pay living expenses: Veterans would like a Basic Allowance for Housing while attending college or a Stipend.
4. Cover Book Cost: With just the GI bill going for most veterans they have to take out book loans to cover book costs then go with out by using what little of the monthly payments of their GI Bill to repay book costs so why not include a book payment through the GI Bill. 5. Allow Transfer of benefits: If a veteran doesn’t use their benefit they would like to transfer it to their child or spouse. It was paid for by the service member he or she should be able to transfer it to a dependent.
6. Repay Student Loans: Even with the above possible changes there maybe the possibility of student loans a repayment of student loan would be a benefit to help Veteran students.
7. Allow late enrollments: Allow more time for veterans to use their GI-Bill Benefits.
8. Provide more admin support: Provide more direct support to help with problems or issues.
About the Author of this Article: Christopher Mulrooney is a Specialist E-4 in the Army National Guard and has served for 7 years as an Unit Supply Specialist. He served in Iraq 2003 to 2004, helped in rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina for two months in New Orleans 2005, and nine months service on the Border Security mission in Yuma, Arizona as part of Operation Jump Start. He currently serves in the California Army National Guard.
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