Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off.

Total Force GI Bill Overdue but too Narrow in Scope

I whole heartedly endorse this new bill, the Total Force Educational Assistance Enhancement and Integration Act of 2007 (HR 1102 and S 644), to modernize GI Bill education benefits for Reserve and Guard members.

Imagine my surprise and disgust, after serving during “Operation Noble Eagle” as a recalled reservist, to learn after I retired that I could no longer apply for the reserve education benefit. It’s about time someone took care of all the troops. Hopefully it will pass in Congress quickly.

I might add that, more decades ago than I care to count, it took a while to get the Vietnam-era GI Bill passed. But it finally was passed and I and thousands like me took advantage of this truly valuable benefit.

Great reporting.

SEAN E. FIELDING
Lieutenant Colonel, USAF-Ret.
Via e-mail

One tragedy of all GI Bills is the time limit they slap on using benefits. How absurd and disrespectful this is to the honorable service we performed, as if the way of life we preserved for our country ended at 10 years.

Many soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen of WWII and Korea and Vietnam had to go to work on leaving the military. And now, when the time limit has been reached, we are encouraging our elderly to return to college, and even bless each one when they get their degree.

Unfortunately for them and all of us, most of these retirees are unable for financial reasons to finish their educations.

Our lawmakers continue to let us down, especially Vietnam era vets. Wise politicians surely ought to address this issue if they have military service members at heart.

Educating the veteran does not cost a dime to the government. It pays. It always pays.

RONNIE WILSON
Horsham, Pa.

How about people in those military year groups who were offered but did not sign up for VEAP [Veterans Educational Assistant Program] and are now out in the cold with regard to GI Bill benefits?

Maybe we made a mistake, but so did the people who were eligible for the Montgomery GI bill and didn’t sign up. Yet they were offered an open season a few years ago.

I will retire this fall with 30+ years’ active duty service and am not eligible for GI Bill benefits. This is an extreme injustice.

The big push now is for improved benefits for the Guard and Reserves and to allow transfer of benefits to dependents. Where do people like me fit in as a priority? Right now we don’t at all.

DEAN FELLER
Chief Master Sergeant, USAF
Ramstein, Germany

GI BILL TRANSFER

I served in the Army for 15 years, finishing my last tour of duty in March, 1999. I have the GI Bill but I have not used it and don’t plan to.

Can I pass these benefits to my children to help them get through college?

CLARK RUNGE
Via e-mail

No. The Army does have a pilot program to allow transfer of up to 18 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to spouses. Soldiers must have completed at least 6 years of service, must be in a critical Regular Army MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and must reenlist in that specialty. Eligible soldiers elect to participate at time of reenlistment by completing DD Form 2366-2, Montgomery GI Bill Act of 1984 (MGIB) Transferability Program. They must reenlist for at least four years and transfer election reduces their retention bonus slightly. Because you are out of service, you would not quality. – Tom Philpott.

STILL PUSHED OUT

The article on higher basic pay and enhanced retirement benefits for members who serve beyond 30 years was quite interesting. But it did not address the issue for Guard or Reserve members of the High Year Tenure (HYT) program, which remains in place.

I have served for 35 years, including two years recalled to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During activation, I served two tours in the desert and one in Germany.

While many senior noncommissioned officers with the Guard and Reserve can still make a contribution, leading and training young airmen, we are being forced to retire under the HYT program.

I fail to see the logic of encouraging individuals to stay longer on one hand and kicking them out the door on the other.

MARTY WINKLER
Senior Master Sergeant
Via e-mail

WIDOWS’ CHECKS

If a veteran is receiving disability, and his wife survives him, does she continue to receive his disability check? 

Karen H.
Via e-mail

No. But a surviving spouse might be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. DIC is available to survivors of service members who die on active duty, survivors of retirees who died of service-related disabilities and survivors of retirees totally disabled for 10 years immediately before their death. For more information on DIC visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website: www.va.gov or call your VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000.  – T. P.

CAP INCREASES

I am opposed to any increase in TRICARE fees for retirees above the amount we receive in cost-of-living adjustment, especially since retiree living near a military base can obtain care with no co-pay.

With the bases closing, many of us no longer reside near a base. I used to have a base within 90 miles. Now the nearest one is 225 miles away and it contracts with a civilian medical center off base.

I don't believe we should be penalized for where we live or what rank we retired with

ALBERT W. BARAW
Staff Sergeant, USA-Ret.
Vermont

Letters may be edited for clarity or length.  Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com