GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — There's also a fourth, very common reason many join ... education benefits.
For those on active duty, the Tuition Assistance Program is one of the main ways for service members to pay for their classes.
For those who've done their time and moved on, or for drilling Reservist/Guard members, the main educational benefit is the Government Issued Bill. In addition, Guard members have a multitude of state-sponsored education benefits.
Officially titled the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, the G.I. Bill was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. Over the years, the G.I. Bill has been revamped multiple times, and there are multiple versions. The main two in use today are the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.
Expanded in 1984 by Mississippi Congressman Gillespie V. Montgomery, the Montgomery G.I. Bill was the poster child for veteran's educational benefits until the coming of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill in August 2009. Even with the Post 9/11, the Montgomery still stands strong due to the flexibility of its benefits.
The Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill, for veterans who served on Active Duty, pays $1,368 (as of Oct. 2009) each month directly, to the individual for full time student status. The Selected Reserve Montgomery G.I. Bill, for those who have at least a six-year obligation to serve in the Reserves/Guard, the payout is $333 a month. This information and more can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill pays, directly to the school, 100 percent tuition based on the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational institution in the state where the school is located. On top of this, individuals are given a housing allowance of an E-5 with dependents. The actual amount is based on zip code. Individuals are also given a book stipend of $1,000 once a year.
Which G.I. Bill a person uses is based upon the situation, such as chosen school or current military status — some states pay tuition for veterans and guard members. Service members and veterans should definitely do their research before committing to either option.
For example Marshall University, in Huntington, W.Va., has 140 students going into the Spring 2010 semester using the Montgomery and Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.
"We currently have 73 students using the ADMGIB and 67 using the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill," said Lora Varney, Marshall University veteran certification official. "We also have 54 students using the National Guard and Reserve Select G.I. Bill."
Telford Simpson, a former Soldier working for Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Joint Intelligence Group, said the number one reason he joined the Army was to serve his country, but as a veteran he didn't miss the opportunity to use his benefits. He says the G.I. Bill is a great thing, but wants service members to remember that it's not always quick and painless.
"Make sure to save some money," Simpson said. "It can take a while before the money starts to flow through the system."
The Department of Veterans Affairs does it's best to make sure the money gets to the veteran, or the educational institution, in the proper time, but sometimes an administrative mistake can happen or things might simply get lost in the mail. To provide assistance in these situations, as well as to give general information and answer any questions a service member or veteran may have, the VA can be contacted through their toll free number 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or their Web site, http://www.gibill.va.gov.
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