If you are looking to further your education and are attached to the military in any way, make sure you take full advantage of your military education benefits. Don't let it go to waste. There are a few things you should be aware of first. Specifically, there has been some negative coverage pertaining to the new Post-9/11 GI Bill 2.0. This article explains what the controversy is about and gives you tips for avoiding the challenges of this new Bill.
What exactly is the GI Bill?
This is actually a variety if bills in place to help active military, veterans and their family members pay for a higher level of education. This involves financial assistance for education-related expenses such as tuition, books, supplies and housing allowances.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The US Department of Veteran Affairs describes this new Bill as "financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill."
Where does the controversy come from?
Benefits that were left out of the new bill that may have an effect on some of the students currently going to school on the Bill
Confusion about what the Post-9/11 Bill does or does not contain
According to Tom Tarantino, author of New GI Bill 2.0: 400,000 Student Vets No Longer Left Behind,Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) are working to amend the bill to include many of the benefits that were lost and are "fighting to remove the 'payer of last resort' provision that punishes student veterans for receiving academic scholarships, (and) are also working to restore summer and winter break living stipends."
How to Minimize these Challenges
The new Post-9/11 GI Bill will likely still have its challenges. If this is something you would rather avoid, follow this advice:
Check out the traditional Montgomery GI Bill and see if it works better for you.
Make sure you are eligible for whatever benefits you choose to pursue.
Do your research. The more thorough you are, the more successful you will be in your educational pursuits.
Contact your local College or Trade School to find out how to use your military education benefits to your greatest advantage and start your educational path today.