MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- A new education bill for service members, which has been in the works by the government and Veterans Affairs, is now set to begin payouts this year. However, changes are still being made and questions are still going unanswered as to what the bill entails.
One change made to the new education bill will take away granted living stipends to service members who elect to take solely online or distance learning courses, he said.
“To qualify for BAH [Basic Allowance for Housing] benefits, students have to take at least one class at the desired institution,” Fourier said. “Students obtaining a strictly online degree will forfeit the BAH.”
Another addition the VA made to the bill is the ability for service members with six years of active duty time who reenlist after Aug. 1 to be able to give their G.I. Bill to their spouses, said Jeff Fourier, the Combat Center’s Marine Corps Community Services education services officer. Those who have completed 10 years and reenlist after Aug. 1 will be allowed to transfer their benefits to their children as well.
Another new feature if the bill is the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows for a reduced tuition at private institutions, according to an April 27 Marine Corps Times article. The VA will match the reduced tuition dollar-for-dollar. Although there is no current list of Yellow Ribbon schools, the VA hopes to have one available later this year.
According to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Web site, http://www.gibill.va.gov, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will take effect Aug. 1 for all service members who have completed at least 90 days of active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001.
For those who served more than 90 days, but less than six months after Sept. 10, 2001, they are only eligible for 40 percent of total payout. To qualify for a full payout, service members must have served at least 36 months after that date, or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged due to service-related disability.
The VA began accepting applications for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill today. Those who are eligible for the bill will be covered for 15 years after their EAS or service-related separation date. Applications and additional information are available online at the VA Web site dedicated to the new G.I. Bill.