RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,162064,00.html

The question on my mind about this bill is; Which of the candidates for Prez will support it, should they become President in Nov?

It will have to wait until then if they want to pass it in it's current form, because our current Prez will never sign such a bill.

As an old-timer under the VEAP, they should do something so that those of us that were restricted and limited under VEAP can reap the benefits of continued education with better benefits under any of the new GI Bills.

If this gets supported and signed it will help a lot of troops get the education they need. As a Iraq War veteran and receiving the GI Bill was not enough to help pay for my education. I am paying student loans now for $30k. It was not enough to help pay for school and live.

Yet my tuition and books were paid for in their totality, in the 1970's. 48 months worth.

I agree that the GI bill needs to be used as a reward for Honorable Service and should provide cost free benefits just as the original GI bill did. Contemporary Service Members are giving no less for their country than Vets of WWII and Korea gave. To many are left behind because being fresh out of high school they decline to enroll. They are tired of school and seeking adventure. Make it free to all who serve honorably!

Next, I believe it is time for those states that don't provide a GI education benefit to step up to the plate. It isn't a wellfare program but an invesment in the future.

Third, the colleges and universities that view and treat active duty and Veteran students as a 'cash cow' need to review their policies and provide subsidised and lower cost services to these students and their families.

I am a viet-nam vet and I remember every time I went to use my GI bill to help get a home I was told by the realtors that the point system or credits were to low.after a while I just gave up using the GI bill. I Questioned the veterans Administration and they said they'ed have to check in to it. thats about as far as it went. I my self think alot of the programs that is suppose to help former GI's get back in the grove in society after servicing.and receiving a honorable discharge is like a magicians hat trick now you see it now you don't.kind of like smoking mirror's

I think that it is about time that our country supports our Veterans but what about Vietnam Veterans who were unable to use their benifits due to one problem or another, could it be revised to cover them as well??

It used to be that we all had 10 years from the date of release from active-duty to sign-up for those educational benefits, and extensions for many reasons were granted, regularly.

If you are a disabled Veteran, then the time frame was even wider, and there is no time limit to use the VA Mortgage benefits as long as you pay it off totally before you use it again. I have bought and sold 3 homes over 30 years using the GI Bill's mortgage guarantee. Never had any problems at all.

I know this isn't always the case, and I wonder if it depends on what area of the country you live in?

I would prefer my tax $ go for a good GI bill
instead of to some foreign governemnt to use against our next generation.
Having said that, I also believe that a good bill will have a good provision for close oversight-just to make sure ALL concerned use it properly-the vets who need it. The Schools, etc; that get the funds.
The troops who serve serve me.
My sincere Thanks to them.

I paid into the G.I bill and did not receive any help, wake up America the politicians rob it,the gov should pay the people it owes instead of handing out money to countrys that Hate Us ,

Two things need to happen here.

1) G.I. Bill needs to be raised around 15-20 grand

and

2) The out of state tuition fee that a lot of colleges and universities have if you don't live in that state needs to be waived for vets. Sometimes that fee is twice the amount tuition is for someone that lives in that state

I just hope National Guardsmen and Reservists get the same benefits that active duty gets considering National Guardsmen and Reservists are doing the same roles in the war zone as they are and with the same regularity.

I'm all in favor of granting the returning men and women a GI bill that would pay for an education. We can thow away billions on other nations, why not our veterans?
Unfortunatly when I returned from Korea after 14 month there in 1950-51 all I was offered was $110 a month. I was told it was only to "help" not pay the entire cost. I was supposed to work to make up the difference, which I did.

I agree with many of the comments expressed: Those of us who served during Vietnam got shortchanged, but if we can learn from history, let's not repeat that "mistake."

A full GI Bill for all regulars, and reservists, serving now is simple justice.

quote:

2) The out of state tuition fee that a lot of colleges and universities have if you don't live in that state needs to be waived for vets. Sometimes that fee is twice the amount tuition is for someone that lives in that state.

Now that's a constructive suggestion ... and one I haven't heard before. Thanks ... hope you sent it to your congressional representatives. I've just sent it to mine.

quote:

Originally posted by 19Robert28:
I'm all in favor of granting the returning men and women a GI bill that would pay for an education. We can thow away billions on other nations, why not our veterans?
Unfortunatly when I returned from Korea after 14 month there in 1950-51 all I was offered was $110 a month. I was told it was only to "help" not pay the entire cost. I was supposed to work to make up the difference, which I did.

Which we ALL did. In 1976 I was paid about $240 a month, but that was enough to pay my books and tuition costs, which is all they EVER promised any of us.

It wasn't supposed to be something that made you fat, just educated. It did work well - until the 1980's.

The original GI Bill was not intended to pay for your education but to help you and your family survive while you pursued and education. That is why the rate varied with your dependancy status and the number of hours enrolled. It was a "leg-up" not a handout.

Also, colleges and universities had housing built for veteran families while in school. Then it was concidered an investment in AMERICA.

And as far as a bill passing, congress doesn't care. Servicemen don't vote, they only bleed.

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:

quote:

2) The out of state tuition fee that a lot of colleges and universities have if you don't live in that state needs to be waived for vets. Sometimes that fee is twice the amount tuition is for someone that lives in that state.

Now that's a constructive suggestion ... and one I haven't heard before. Thanks ... hope you sent it to your congressional representatives. I've just sent it to mine.

That is already the case in many states. Each state will have to work out those details for themselves. Congress won't have much to say about augmenting the costs or waiving fees.

But you can still write to them, wish them a Happy Valentines Day, perhaps?