The new Post-9/11 GI Bill

[Veteran Advisor]

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for 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. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals:

• tuiton & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning.
• a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school.
• an annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
• a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals

This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training, or still in the military, you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

To determine eligibility or find out more, veterans can either go to https://www.gibill2.va.gov/ or call toll free at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.

[Mike C]

Thanks for the info. I just emailed this to my bro in Iraq so he can distribute this to his fellow Seabees.

[DJQuik]

Thanks!

Thanks for the information! Our veterans and current brave men and women in the Armed Forces deserve some educational rewards when they are civilians and I am glad that awareness of these programs are spreading.

Also, there is something called the Yellow Ribbon Program that augments and helps pay for tuition also. I believe this can really help if used with the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Here is another, simpler explanation of the Yellow Ribbon GI Program as well as some participating schools that accept it.

There is also another program of note for those in the Air Force - the AU ABC program that allows you to transfer credits from CCAF, thus helping the student financially and in terms of time when they are trying to earn a degree. An example of a AU ABC program with details explains how it can help (I can't find a government site that explains it)

[RobertStreiferd]

I can't wait to start using the post 9/11 gi bill. It will help a lot!

- Robert Streiferd