Over the past decade, paying for college—and everything that comes with that education—has become a nearly astronomical undertaking.
Qualifying members of the U.S. Armed Forces, however, will no longer have to worry about the financial burden associated with a diploma.
Effective this month, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will provide money for a college education to active and veteran members of the military who have served at least 90 consecutive days since Sept. 11, 2001.
Servicemen or women who were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-related disability are also eligible for funds. Those individuals are required to have served at least 30 consecutive days, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The money is available to all service members for up to 15 years after they leave the military, and can be used for everything from a college degree to tutorial assistance or a license or certification exam.
Similar to the Montgomery GI Bill of 1944, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits for college and other training courses. But unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill also allows benefits to be transferred to service members’ spouses and children.
“The transfer [of benefits] is what makes the two stand out from each other tremendously,” said Amanda Jalomo, education technician at Vandenberg Air Force Base. “For your spouse and child to get the benefits—you can’t beat that.”
But like everything in government, there are plenty of eligibility clauses.
To receive full benefits, veterans and active duty members must have served at least three years in a military branch. Disabled veterans, however, are exempt from that requirement. Plus, benefits belonging to a service member who died in the line of duty are transferable to his or her immediate family members.
Qualifying individuals are awarded the cost of tuition and fees paid directly to the school of their choice. The amount is equivalent to the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public university in the state they’re attending school.
Veterans also receive a monthly housing stipend based on the school zip code, and a yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000. The housing and books stipends are not available to active duty members, or to individuals studying less than half time or in distance learning programs.
To transfer benefits, an individual must have served at least six years and commit to an additional four years of service. People who have at least 10 years of service are excluded from that requirement.
Spouses of active duty members aren’t eligible for housing or books stipends, but children of both active duty individuals and veterans are.
“If a child moves out and lives on their own and can’t afford housing expenses, it’s not their fault,” Jalomo said. “They’re still eligible.”
However, children of service members can’t use the benefit until they’ve earned a high school diploma or turned 18. And the benefit must be used by the time they reach 26.
“It’s true what they say, ‘Nothing comes for free in the military,’” said 1st Lt. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for Vandenberg Air Force Base. “We have to sweat out the money they give us to use for college.”
But that doesn’t mean Geoffroy and his family aren’t grateful for the option.
“The fact that I could put a kid through college for free—that’s amazing,” Geoffroy said, adding he plans to earn his master’s degree as well.
The money can be divided into percentages among family members, so everyone can get the financial assistance they need for a better education.
“I can’t imagine saving up for college for kids right now,” added 2nd Lt. Guin Cummings. “College is so expensive right now, and it’s going to be even more expensive in 20 years. But I don’t have to worry about that, and that’s a blessing.” m
Contact News Editor Amy Asman at
aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 13-20, 2009.
