If you want the benefits - serve the time. For the wife who not only wants to use the GI Bill, but also living expenses, and payment for books. Sign up and earn them like your husband did. Or better yet - why didn't you save the extra money your husband got every single month because he was married. Greedy, greedy, greedy!
I certainly agree with you 15208739 re the wife wanting living expenses and books. Someone always wants more. Anyone who wants the benefits should serve in uniform. The initial purposse of the Benefits was to help the returning vets get back into civilian life. Many had been deployed up to four years. I don't believe they should be transferrable. That benefit is for the Vet. Incidentally I am a vet, widow of a retired vet, mother of two vets , one still serving.
I tend to agree with many of the comments posted here regarding this transfer of benefits. I was active duty 1973 - 1993. I obtained two college degrees (Master's being the most recent) and only used 2 months of my Veterans GI Bill that time. When I retired I was told I had 10 years to use it or lose it. How unfortunate that I don't have that leisure or luxury of passing on my 42 months of beneifts to a dependent or relative. I agree that if you want the benefits, get out there and serve and quit being so whinny about this. greed sure has gotten the best of some of you. I want my "expired" beneifts to transfer over as "active" to my dependents. What are you doing about that.
Maybe some of our GI Retirees can't read well enough. I thought it said "GI Bill". Don't remember anywheres where the GI Bill read "GI Dependents Bill", or did I miss something? These new veterans want everything. Bet you got your stimulus payment. Us GIs who chose to live overseas, one of the few choices we received, don't qualify that that free gift. One of Obamas gifts to us. Thanks Obie -another one of your ways to screw the older veterans. The government gave us a choice - you can be it wasn't a Democratic Government. You were too young, Thank GOD....
Have you heard of the child that gets a car for their 18th birthday and complains that it is the wrong color?
I applaud the decision to allow GI's to use their GI Bill to help with dependent educational expenses especially when it comes to spouses. Decision makers are playing Santa Clause with this issue. To be able to have the bulk of expenses paid is wonderful. But, to keep smacking the goose in the side of the head to get it to lay more gold is -- let's say -- counter productive.
I retired before the mass murder of 9-11-01. The problem I have with the new GI Bill is that it allows 15 years vs 10 years with the Old GI Bill. I feel that the 15 year provision should have grandfathered to all veterans to use their prior 9-11-01 GI Bill benifits. I still had time left that I had to forfit when my GI Bill passed the 10 year mark last year. Is the new GI Bill the 'Send your kids to college' Bill?
Also, with transferability - what happens when a GI divorces? Does the spouse get half of the potential GI Bill benifits?
If GI dies, does the spouse get the remainder of the GI Bill Benifits?
There are a few bugs and snakes in that bucket of worms.
I'm really sick of this generation of parasites known as Americans. Most of these people who want the benefits transferred to them probably wouldn't even consider serving themselves.
The GI bill is a great benefit. I too got BS and MS degrees from the GI bill but that was while I was in the Air Force. That meant that my tuition was taken care of, period. I didn't get any money for books or living expenses and I was the guy who did the service.
Now I really believe that the spouses of the military member do their own type of serving but the fact is, they weren't in the military, they were never at risk in the same way. They have their own benefits. I don't know who all is now eligible but I am dead against transferring veteran benefits. It wasn't meant to be. If those people want to go to school, go out and get some student loans and go to school or here's an idea, join one of the services and try to get your education on the run.
I want to say that I can see the frustration of people wanting to transfer their benefits. Although you like to say that they are for the military member, sometimes the military member is in no physical shape to use the benefits that they have paid for and will not be able to support sending their child to college or their spouse needs to be the main supporter of the family. The benefits were earned by the military member and who cares who uses them. They are supporting that military member in some way and ALL the benefits should go to someone. I have been fighting as I take a full schedule to get fulltime benefits and I am the member. VA finds loop holes and communicates the wrong information so that don't have to pay when the military member is doing 12 hours in a semester. It's all a messed up system after all but unless we get a job that has the power to change it we have to sit down and take it. I would love to give the benefits to my son as I'm a disabled veteran who served for almost 18 years before my back gave out. I will not be able to make the money that I need to send him to medical school which is where he wants to go. Shouldn't the parent be able to give the benefits to those who are going to support them for years to come???
Greed, jealousy, are a few things that come to mind when I read this article and a couple of these post. This new GI bill should not apply to those that served ten or fifteen years ago, why? because you have your benefits of that time, point blank. This should be for those that served during this mess from the previous administration, and for the future Soldiers to come. Most of us "old timers", I can call myself that now cause...well I am getting old, would love to have had the option of transferring my school bennies to my kids, I didn,t because nobody thought of it at that time. Besides, I don't need it now and my kids don't need it now, because they have already finished college and at my age, I don't see myself going back to college just for the heck of it, I've done my schooling, it's over. These young troops have done a hell of a job under the circumstances and I commend them for it, so whatever this current administration can do to make things better for them and their families is no give away, they deserve it, they have earned it. Most of you will cry for the sake of crying, if it were up to me I would let you cry untill your tears dry up cause these bennies has nothing to do with you, it's about them.
Theres an old saying, "You can't repair the past by destroying the future"
I was not able to use my GI Bill after I retired from active service because I was busy working 2 jobs financially supporting 5 children. My GI Bill expired, went past the 10 year mark. Now my situation has changed, my boys are now old enough to care for themselves and I would like to get back to my education or transfer the GI Bill to my youngest son, can anyone please help, after twenty-two years of faithful service I would like just one person to listen to what I am saying....Thank you, anyone please !!!
I don't get some of the responses such as I didn't have the option to transfer benefits, so you shouldn't either. OR maybe your spouse should have served and so on....why the frustration? I have over 5 years sea time (24 yrs total svc), and when I was not underway, I only had approximately 6 days off each month b/c of duty. The result, less time with my family and young son....isn't that a sacrifice of sorts made by our families? Other member's families have experienced more time away then mine; are they not deserving either? Maybe the policy makers should stop playing games! Isn't this money really supposed to be set aside already, or are they just hoping that we don't utilize this money as we see fit?...I know, the government is far better off using this extra cash for things like paying farmers NOT to plant crops.
Understand the frustration from many of you and points are well taken, but to call folks greedy and parasites is not the answer. Especially from those of you who have served. I served 22 years and retired Feb 2009 and am entitled to this new GI Bill. I spent much of my career overseas or in isolated areas. I also ran accross folks who were able to spend much of their active duty time stationed stateside and going to school nightly/daily. I wouldn't mind passing this to my daughter who I think derserves it for the times I couldn't be there for her. Think about it, I'm not looking for handouts....currently working two jobs.
For all of those that forgot those of us who had NO benefits that came in between VEAP and MGIB I gon't remember you yelling to help us. If you retired early then you retired under the plan in effect at that time. Stop whining or go back on active duty. The wife isn't in the service so you can pay for her education like I did mine!
I agree with those who said, sign up to get your own beenies; some of us are being greedy. The benefits are primarily for the Vet then the family members under the Post 911 Bill; the fact that you have some benefit at all and can pass them on should make you grateful. If they're paying for that $400 course and you pay for the $100 book, I'd say you're only $100 down and not $500. This a Benefit and not a requirement. And to grandfather or waiver the 10yrs just because the new bill is 15yrs, nonsense. I suppose if your bennies expired a year before your kid graduated high school you'd want them to waiver you for five more years to cover college. Here's where signing up for your own beenies come into play. And let's put things into perspective. Don't complain about a $3-4 co-pay for meds; my father (AF 1949-52) pay $70 for ten pills and my uncle (Korean War) pays $200 a month for a single shot and both are vets just not retired. I'm happy with it and I know changes are on the horizon but that another issue.
Life is sometimes like a sale, sometimes you get there to late to get what you want.
First and foremost, the military knows full well that the majority of GI Bill benefits are NEVER used. If every veteran used their GI benefits, out gov't would go broke. It is a con game we (recruiters) use to lure people into the military, most serving overseas in combat will never use the educational benefits. Also, by the time you get out, you are too busy finding a job to use those same benefits. Our educational package is the worse program ever. World War II benefits were great! Secondly, Who is crazy enough to use the VA hospital (been there, done that) after the recent discovery of poor care (HIV and Hep. exposure(shocker))?
If you want the benefits - serve the time. For the wife who not only wants to use the GI Bill, but also living expenses, and payment for books. Sign up and earn them like your husband did. Or better yet - why didn't you save the extra money your husband got every single month because he was married. Greedy, greedy, greedy!
Reference the transfere of GI Bill benefits to our children. I retired in 1986 after serving 23 yrs in the US Army, with two tours in Vietnam. We were told by congress that if you don't use our GI Bill benefits by Jan 1990 we loss them, Which we did. I wounder how many military members retired during that time who had families to feed and homes to buy had the time to go off to school. So as they say, " If you want the benefits wear the uniform". Reference the spouse who wants expenses added, I understand your feeling, My wife was also active duty and an Army wife for 15 years. The only thing she wanted from the Army was to bring me home safe oh and alive.
I was in the Air Force 1955 to 1975 and 3 years National Guard from '52. When I retired I went to work on a second carrer to continue to raise my family. I was able to use part of my GI Bill for On Job Management Training but after that the rest was lost. No benefits transfer for us earlier term GI's. The VA is useing monies that should be used for Veterans who need help for themselves but instead useing funds to support other mens family education? Come on boys and girls, lets get back on trak..
Just wait. One day this war will be over and our beloved congress will cut your education benefit. I was in college in 1990 and had only been retired for 6 years. Then the Washington DC cesspool voted to stop all benefits.
I agree with Tankersmom42. You want the benefit, serve. But be prepared to be shafted out of it by our fine leadership.
9917286 said it correct, the military knows that most don't use the benefit. I'll take what is offered and move on. It's impossible to compare benefits from WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Gulf War, Iraq.....all are differant times. Heck, a high school diploma wasn't always required. Benefits come and go, it is what it is. Make the best of things....
Since I used my GI Bill Education Benefits to the max, it makes me appreciate what we had back in those days. I used my education to get me to where I am now, which is assisting my fellow veterans obtain the entitlements and benefits veterans deserve.
Over the past 31 1/2 years as a veterans service officer, I have watched more benefits dwindle away, than new ones come on the scene. Since dependents are the absolute major part of the veterans life, I have no objections to the family receiving what the veterans transfers to them. After all the benefits are in my opinion earned by the veteran and should be used as the veteran deems best. If a veteran is awarded VA compensation the money is usually spent for family needs, so be it for the education benefit.
My 2c
I will cast no stones. Another proud member, Derelict Veterans Group. “OF MUNERIS UT TOTUS”
I totally agree that if anyone wishes to recieve the benefits that a SOLDIER earned through blood sweat and tears that they too should earn them by serving IN UNIFORM. Too many exwifes enjoy the luxuries of the retirement checks of our retirees. It's ashamed that a soldier can spend 20 years in the military while his wife gets the sweet benifit of sitting at home and watching "thier children" grow. What a sacrifice for a soldier just to have ones spouse divorce him or her and loose 1/2, yes 1/2 of their retirement to some spoiled spouse. If congress wants to honor those who served then I suggest they honor them by securing what they were promised at the time of thier initial entry date and not rewarding greedy exwifes and exhusbands the opportunity to literally take what they earned from them. If there is a petition to stop this, where do I sign???????
