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

More Comments, Questions and Answers On New GI Bill

I'll admit I haven't been keeping up with all the details on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but I keep asking myself the same question.

I know a lot of people have expressed the desire to transfer education benefits to their children or spouse. But what will keep family pressure from forcing GIs to give up their own hopes of school and give it to their children?

As a parent, I can't imagine having to choose if I were to go to school or my child.  And what about multiple children and who gets to go?

Also, will this transfer of eligibility be a benefit that ends up part of divorce decrees?

KRISTIN LEE
Via e-mail

While the Webb GI Bill has many improvements over the Montgomery GI Bill, I am surprised that it excludes online-students from receiving the living allowance portion of the new benefit tied to housing costs.

Most online-students are being educated this way because they need to work to support their families. They are concentrating on school while also concerning themselves with the details and costs of family life. Housing support would provide relief while completing this type of degree.

TARA EAGER
Mobile, Ala.

It appears the new GI Bill was primarily designed to benefit the entry-level to mid-career service member.  It is great for a person who serves as little as 36 months and can transfer benefits if they serve 6-10 years.

But many people who have served 20 years already would not retire and go to college. What do they have to gain by going to college? Many will qualify for post retirement jobs with their experience and the education they earned while in service. Also, a monthly stipend based on E-5 housing allowance while attending college would not be enough to live on for many retirees.

The bottom line for many retirees is that they will not use their GI Bill benefits even when given 15 years instead of 10 to do so.

So the issue turns to transferability. You report that by Aug. 1, 2009, a service member who is still in service can transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouse or children if they have at least six years in and agree to serve four more.  But these points are not clear to me:

Does a person with 10 or more years of service by Aug. 1, 2009, who does not reenlist, still qualify for transferability under the new GI Bill?

Does a person who retires anytime after Aug. 1, 2009, qualify for transferability?

If the answer to both is no, then we continue to take for granted the career soldier.

ALLEN W. HAMMETT
Master Sergeant, USA
Via e-mail

The answer to both is no.  Transferability will only be provided in return for additional service.  However, the law does give the Department of Defense flexibility in the way it implements this feature.  Not decided yet, for example, is what to do about the added four-year service requirement for persons facing a high-year tenure ceiling for their skill and pay grade.  But for most members, additional service will be required to earn transferability. – Tom Philpott

I served 20 years on active duty in the Marine Corps and retired in August 2002.  I have been rated by the VA as 90-percent disabled.

Can my children use my Montgomery GI Bill for higher education?

JOSE GONZALEZ
Via e-mail

No.  Transferability is intended to be a retention tool.  It only will be available to persons who are on active duty as of Aug. 1, 2009, and extend their service commitment by four years. – T. P.

As I understand this new GI Bill, eligible participants would have to serve three years in the Post-9/11 military.  I served from May 1983 to May 2003, missing the three-year eligibility by 16 months.

Does that mean that I have to remain under the Montgomery GI Bill?

I have never used any of my education benefits because it wasn't feasible or practical, and those benefits expire for me in 2014.

So what is Senator Webb's plan for the rest of us veterans who do not meet his criteria?

TED GAFFNEY
Via e-mail

Eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill occurs if active duty members or reservists serve at least 90 consecutive days on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.  Thirty-six months’ active duty since 9/11 is only required to qualify for a full 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.  Periods of 90 days up to six months entitles a member to 40 percent of the new benefit.  Longer service delivers a larger percentage.  Your 20 months will qualify you to transfer 70 percent of your MGIB benefits to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  . – T. P.

Will soldiers currently using the Montgomery GI Bill be penalized if they keep going to classes before the Post-9/11 GI Bill becomes available?  Also when do the new benefits begin for current MGIB students?

JASON GONZALES
Naperville, Ill.

MGIB benefits are being increased by 20 percent Aug. 1 of this year.  That should help to discourage MGIB users from interrupting their education to await better Post-9/11 benefits.  However, it is true that the more months of MGIB you use, the fewer months you will have available to transfer into Post 9/11 benefits in August 2009, assuming you qualify.

Every student’s circumstances are different regarding personal finances, education bills, family and career plans.  So individuals will have to decide for themselves whether the higher value of the new GI Bill, which varies geographically, is worth putting their education on hold for an entire year to away the new plan. – T.P. 

My husband is a senior master sergeant stationed in Kunsan, South Korea.  He has been active duty Air Force since March 1982 with prior Army Guard service back to 1978.  He is due to retire in 2010.

Does any provision of the law exclude him from qualifying for this new GI Bill?

CAROLE M. ADAMS
Via e-mail

No, unless he already has exhausted his benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill.  The law bans duplication of benefits.  Thirty-six months of coverage, the equivalent of four years of college, is the maximum allowed any veteran. – T.P. 

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.

Use your GI Bill before time runs out!