I joinged the Army in 1996. I chose an MOS that had the Army College Fund kicker. Apparently, the NCO at MEP's did not fill out the paperwork correctly and I have been denied my full scholarship. The NCO at MEP's just scratched out the amounts of the GI Bill and handwrote the amounts for the ACF. Obviously, this is incorrect but what did I know as an E-nothing private. What is even more obvious is that every single soldier that entered my MOS at that time had the ACF. Why wouldn't I?
I guess I want to know if anybody has successfully battled the VA under similar circumstances and won. Also, how did you go about it?

It's really not the VA that you will have to battle, it's the Army. How long ago did you apply for MGIB education benefits? The reason why I ask is that the VA has to verify all Army "kickers" with the Army with very few exceptions. Due to the Army's understaffing this could take some time. In the mean time the VA will pay you the basic rate until the kicker is verified. Technically the Army pays all thier kickers while the VA base you your base rate. It's pretty much splitting hairs. A budget thing I think.

Now if you were sent a letter denying you that kicker or the VA told you over the phone that you were not entitled to a kicker, then you can explore a few different avenues.

1) Contact the Army and get them to check into this for you. If you qualified for a kicker and your MOS was getting a kicker when you signed the dotted line or entered on duty, then I believe you are still entitled to that kicker.

2)Contact your US Congressmen's or US Senator's office (local office usually works) and have their office do a congressional inquiry to the Army.

3) Send the VA a Notice of Disagreement along with a congressional inquiry with that.

Good luck and don't give up until all means at your disposal have been exhausted.

Thanks for the info KB325. I have only been collecting my benefit for about 3 months now. I was told over the phone that I wasn't going to get the kicker (from VA). I will contact my congressmen and send VA a notice of disagreement...as far as contacting the Army, where do you start?

I find the entire program to be a joke and that it works against the soldier. It's like what ever can be done to screw the soldier is done, rather than what can be done to assist them. It has taken me to write a letter to a congressman to get assistance with my issues. Having served a tour in Iraq already, now trying to go to college, after 13 consecutive years of Service to my state and country. I am only being given $440.40 a month for my education. To me as a veteran, this is a slap in the face. Along with the care we veterans receive from the V.A., seems the answer for them is medication. Don't get me wrong as a Soldier I am proud to serve my country, but I am wondering when will the country serve the soldier. If you want to know more - julian27t@yahoo.com

I am beginning to feel the same way. It looks like I am going to have to deal with the politicians, as well. Thanks for the input, Brother. Your service is appreciated by most of us.

As far as only getting $440 per month for education benefits all I can say is that amount sucks. But VA can only pay as much as congress has allowed by law. I have a feeling that that amount will go up quite a bit when the new GI Bill makes its debut. At least I hope so. In the mean time I guess everyone will have to follow the news and see what they do to the GI Bill. At $440 a month I'm pretty sure you are a Chapter 1607 (aka REAP)and when congress created chapter 1607 they made it retro to 9/11/01 so I think they will make the new dollar amounts retro to that date also. If they don't then the people on capital hill need to be replaced.