Upgraded GI Bill Opens Vets' Job Prospects

DALLAS TWP. -- The "Yellow Ribbon" provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill approved by Congress last year means a lot of different things to many different people.

For Jessica Pugliese, it meant going to a college that offered the major of her choice. For Joseph Frank, it meant going to school full time. For David Gates, it meant going to a four-year school instead of a community college.

All three veterans said the provision, which allows veterans to attend the college of their choice -- regardless of whether they're public or private -- has made a world of difference in their life's path. Prior to the latest bill, veterans could only use G.I. Bill funds to attend public colleges. Now, as long as the school enrolls in the program, they have thousands of new options. Welcome to Wilkes, say hello to King's, make memories at Misericordia.

That last one is what Pugliese, Frank and Gates hope to do. The three are in their second week of classes at Misericordia University and had a chance to take part in a discussion with U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, during his visit to the campus Tuesday.

Gates, 23, of Edwardsville, said he specifically entered the Marines to capitalize on the G.I. Bill, but the newest provision is better than he had hoped for. Pugliese, 26, of Scranton, said that allowing her to attend Misericordia instead of Lackawanna College where she was going to get a two-year associate degree in medical sonography will be better for her career.

Frank, 24, of Kingston, noted that when he was in high school, college didn't interest him; but, once he was in the Navy, he and others were taught and encouraged to get an education and a degree once they were discharged. Now he and others can, almost wherever they want.

The bill gives veterans 15 years after discharge to take advantage of the program and gives the veterans the option of having a dependent use the program in their place.

Carney voted in favor of the bill and can benefit from it himself or have his wife or children benefit since he's an active Navy reservist. He stopped at the Dallas Township campus to see how the bill has been received and to thank the school for being one of about 100 in the state that are participating in the program. And Carney said he believes that number will grow.

He said he envisions more schools participating and more veterans coming back stateside and using the funds. No local school has reached the maximum of what it has promised to fund this semester.

Misericordia had agreed to allow up to 25 students to be funded through the program. Only three, to date, have done so. King's College agreed to fund up to 100 but only 4 have registered. The University of Scranton has six enrolled but never placed a ceiling. Wilkes University has enrolled 18, and set a max of 75.

The program allows degree-granting institutions to voluntarily enter into a formal agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state undergraduate rates. This year the rate is $886 per credit hour. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and the VA will match this additional funding for eligible students. This program is reserved for those who have served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged because of a service-related injury since Sept. 11, 2001.

Misericordia will pay $4,500 per student per semester with a limit of 25 students. Veterans Affairs will pay the rest.

Carney said though health care reform seems to "have taken all the air out of the room," he considers education funding a front-burner issue, too.

He said he sees training and educating the next generation of America's leaders and workers as a must-do.

Carney heaped praise on the original G.I. Bill, created to fund education for veterans returning home from World War II.

"If you have to point to one single government policy that made this country great, it was tapping the talents of the men and women coming out of the military in World War II."

He linked the current health care crisis with the need to educate more people in the health care field to fill shortages of qualified workers.

It was pointed out that 42 percent of Misericordia's students are enrolled in health sciences, including Pugliese and Gates, who are looking at degrees in medical imaging.

"If we can only help some of our brightest and driven men and women succeed, we only succeed as a nation," Carney said.

Carney said though health care reform seems to "have taken all the air out of the room" he considers education funding a front burner issue, too.

He said he sees training and educating the next generation of America's leaders and workers as a must-do.

Carney heaped praise on the original G.I. Bill, created to fund education for veterans returning home from World War II.

"If you have to point to one single government policy that made this country great, it was tapping the talents of the men and women coming out of the military in World War II." He said linked the current health care crisis with the need to educate more people in the health care field to fill shortages of qualified workers.