RE: http://forums.military.com/money-for-school/veteran/gi-...-gi-bill-users-guide

I've looked at everything in the new and old and supplementals. All these items of discussion do nothing for me and mine. I retired in August 1991 after 20 years, and there is no benefits available that address us retirees. I couldn't take advantage of the benefits before because I had to feed my family and put a roof over their heads. Now that I have the time to take advantage, there is nothing there.

I am so glad to see the possiblitity of my daughter or wife using my GI Bill benefits. Personnally, I think it is a huge dis-service NOT allowing us to do it in the first place. Most of us "lifers" (19 years here) have used the normal TA to get our degrees and aren't going to need the GI Bill once we get out so it is a waste of money...exactly what the government hopes will happen. I paid my dues into it and should be able to have my child reap some of the benefits (especially since her dad never got to be home), or at least get my contributed money back. Also, there has been so much talk (in the Navy, not sure about other services) about making you obtain a degree before you can get certain ranks, so again, people will use the TA and get the needed degrees and let GI Bill go to waste.

If they want to do it, it should be an option and not touchable by a divorced spouse unless it can be proven that they were not given the chance to complete schooling while married to you (the military). Most military spouses don't just sit on their bums (as pointed out but an apparently scorned member), and do actually contribute to keeping the home fires burning when the member is away (at least mine does and I'm greatful for that) usually at the cost of them maintaining a desired job or furthing education.

Congress needs to give us the option to do what we want with the money we contribute, whether it be get it back or pass it on to our dependents.

I think it is a shame that the government doesn't take better care of their veterans when it comes to schooling. I think they should be a little lenient on this 10 year rule. I have been fighting to use the rest of my funds for my GI bill. Unfortunately when I left the military I could not just go to school. I had a family to take care of. I did get a chance to use some of my funds, but not a lot. I think they owe me this if nothing else. I have received nothing from the government as it relates to me leaving the military and I think I have the right to continue my education while I can but at 1500.00 per 3 hour class, its quite expensive so I can only take one class at a time if I dont want to take out a loan.

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT THE MILITARY AND THE GOVERNMENT I AM SO SORRY TO SAY THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER JOINED.

"IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT THE MILITARY AND THE GOVERNMENT I AM SO SORRY TO SAY THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER JOINED."

What? You would have only served your country IF they did better by you through the GI Bill? I MUST have read that wrong.
Sure, I too had other obligations and would like to now get the GI Bill, but I didnt retired after 20 yrs with the thought that I only joined for an education or the possibility of it. But I sure met some of those kind of people when a male company of mine had 8 guys (nukes) say they were gay when the 1st Persian Gulf broke out 4 days after getting to bootcmp - they too joined for the education - not the desire to be a proud member of the armed service.
I sure do hope I read this post wrong because the image of what kind of service member you were reminds me of too many others that I had to (unfortunatley) work with in my career.

I am speechless. Just speechless. 25 years. 5 deployments. Over 3000 flight hours over the deserts of Iraq. Countless missed events. Tasks completed with bare minimal resources. Countless donations’ to CFC, AER, ARC, etc... And we are being told our wives and children do not deserve respect and benefits? Is this what we are looking at and hearing?

quote:

Originally posted by 10480617:
I am speechless. Just speechless. 25 years. 5 deployments. Over 3000 flight hours over the deserts of Iraq. Countless missed events. Tasks completed with bare minimal resources. Countless donations’ to CFC, AER, ARC, etc... And we are being told our wives and children do not deserve respect and benefits? Is this what we are looking at and hearing?

Not hearing that our wives and children do not receive respect and benfits from the government but from some individuals from the Me First Mentality. No where in anyones enlistment/re-enlistment contracts do you find that you are entitled to benefits for your wife and children. I know as I wrote many a contract during my 16 years as a US Army Career Counselor. I want mine and I don't care about you seems to be the attitude of too many today. I sure didn't join for the Education Benefits. Those who joined strictly for Education Benefits usually served one enlistment and got out and went to college. Knew many of them because I had to counsel all of them seperating from the service as I tried to sell them on reenlisting. I didn't blame them or disrespect them as they were clear on their goals - joined to get the education money - got the money - got out and went to college. I usually worked with these soldiers to make sure they got assistance in applying for their college and had a plan in place to support their families while they attended college using their MGIB. But I did see too many soldiers ETSing and Retiring who had no plans other than getting out. Even had a couple of wives who called me asking me to Make their husbands reenlist as they knew that their husbands had no plan in place - hadn't applied for any jobs or colleges - only goal they had was to ETS. Wives were scared to death of not having a guarented paycheck with little children to feed. All I could do was refer them to the chaplain. I and my soldiers were lucky enough to have a great ACAP program - the counselors there would send soldiers who had no plans after ETSing back over to see us and tell them they needed to reenlist since they had not figured out what they were going to do after they ETSed.

I see alot of people posting in here - asking WHERE'S MINE? Well, no one made you stay in (but we did try, lol) - no one stopped you from attending college within the first 10 years of your seperation - that was a choice you made!

Everyone in the military is taught to make plans - Army calls them Op Orders. I didn't join for the education benefits - I turned down VEAP in 1981 - I was counseled in 1990 (approx.) by the Education Counselor about buying into MGIB - young E6 with wife and two kids - didn't want to contribute $100.00 for 12 months - was alot of money to me then so I didn't sign up for MGIB. BUT I did save up money for college during my last three years before Retirement - I got lucky as I was accepted into the VocRehab program and completed my Bachelors. I'm now using that money to pay for my two sons college tuition.

Sorry for the long post.

I like the new GI bill but to me its not fair to people like me who served in Afghanistan and Iraq who will have used up our benefits before the new rules apply. We should get some compensation for our sacrifice as well.

quote:

Originally posted by rockaelmays:
I like the new GI bill but to me its not fair to people like me who served in Afghanistan and Iraq who will have used up our benefits before the new rules apply. We should get some compensation for our sacrifice as well.

You did get compensation in accordance with the legal contract your signed when you enlisted under which ever benefit you used your 36 month entitlement under to attend college; either MGIB, MGIB-SR or REAP.

The new Post 9/11 GI Bill only applies to those who have not used up their 36 months. No one is getting more than the same 36 months of benefits than you received AND some/many people will probably be better off using MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP rather than using the new Post 9/11 GI Bill depending on their circumstances/ situation. Others will receive slightly more than you did while others will receive slightly less - SO please don't envy/hate those who also served in Harm's Way like you did.

God, please bless America and watch over the idiots in this world.

I thought the plan was to allow retirees with active duty service after 01 Sep 01 and with remaining GI Bill benefits to transfer those to family memebers based on how many months they served after 09-2001.

I dont see anything in this new bill that allows us to do that. As a Vietnam Era GI Bill/Montgomery convertee, I was hopeful that Veterans Advocate groups would keep the pressure on to ensure this stayed in the new bill.

Anyone have information on what happened to this?

quote:

Originally posted by 2376266:
I thought the plan was to allow retirees with active duty service after 01 Sep 01 and with remaining GI Bill benefits to transfer those to family memebers based on how many months they served after 09-2001.

I dont see anything in this new bill that allows us to do that. As a Vietnam Era GI Bill/Montgomery convertee, I was hopeful that Veterans Advocate groups would keep the pressure on to ensure this stayed in the new bill.

Anyone have information on what happened to this?

Since June 2008 - the law says that only those who are on active duty on 1 August 2009 are allowed to transfer benefits to spouse and children.