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Army Tackles G.I. Bill Questions

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

In response to the Post-9/11 GI Bill which went into effect on August 1, Soldiers in the Army's Enlisted Policy Division have been flooded with questions from the field, often up to 100 inquiries per day. The Army's G-1 recently launched a new GI Bill Web as a resource for finding answers to frequently-asked questions as well as to obtain the latest updates regarding the Bill (www.armyg1.army.mil/post911gibill.asp).



Under the Post-9/11 Bill, eligible soldiers can apply to use their benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (www.gibill.va.gov). Since it does not replace any existing VA education program, be sure to explore your options before deciding which program is best for you and your family.

One of those most commonly asked questions, according to Lt. Col. Thomas Erickson, chief of G-1 Enlisted Professional Development, is "How do I transfer benefits?"

All requests to transfer benefits to a spouse or child are handled by the Department of Defense on the official DOD Transferability of Education Benefits (TEB) web site at www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB. Once the application is submitted electronically, processing should be complete within 48 hours. Since e-mail notifications are not sent out, soldiers will need to go back to the web page to find out whether or not their request has been approved.

In order to receive benefits, the service member must be on active duty or in active reserve at the time. Regarding children, they must be dependents on the date the benefits are transferred and can then use it up until the age of 26. Following approval of the requested transfer, dependents between the ages of 18-26 can sign up for GI Bill benefits on the VA Web site.

After a soldier submits his or her application for benefits to the VA, explains Erikson, they need to notify their career counselors at battalion or higher level since they are the service-certifying officials for the active-duty applicants.

One of the issues addressed on the newly launched web page is how opting for the Post-9/11 GI Bill affects benefits under the old Montgomery GI Bill or the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). In short, while soldiers can qualify for multiple programs, they may only receive benefits from one at a time.

Key benefits of the Post-9/11 Bill:

- Provides for tuition and fees up to the highest in-state undergraduate tuition at a public higher education institution in the state where the student will attend school. (If the benefits are used while a soldier is serving on active duty, the full cost of tuition is covered even if attending a private graduate school. While this is also applicable to spouses who utilize transferred benefits while the soldier is on active duty, it does not apply to dependent children.)
- Monthly housing payments equal to the military's basic allowance for someone at the E-5 rank with dependents, adjusted to the cost of living in the area where the soldier or family member is attending school.
- Up to $1,000 annually for books and supplies.

Who Can Use the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

Any soldier who has served on qualifying active duty service on or after September 11, 2001, may be eligible. Spouses and children may also be eligible to receive transferred benefits under certain conditions. However, G-1 experts strongly recommend that soldiers consider and weigh the benefits of GI Bill programs carefully before making a decision to change.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 9:09 AM • 0 comments

Marine Corps Family Education Programs and Scholarship Opportunities

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Here are some of the Marine Corps Family Education Programs and scholarship opportunities offered to military spouses in this branch of the armed services:



SOCMAR (Service Member's Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Program): This is a network of colleges that offer associate and bachelor's degree programs on or within close proximity to Marine installations worldwide. Each college in the group accepts credits from the others. SOCMAR guarantees that you can continue working toward completion of your degrees even if the Marine Corps transfers you several times. Distance learning, which requires no classroom residency, is also available.


STAP (Spouse Tuition Aid Program): The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offers this assistance to spouses of service members who are on active duty and stationed overseas. The spouse can be a full or part-time student working toward a vocational certificate or college degree.

    Amounts granted are as follows:
  • Undergraduate level: a maximum of $300 per semester/$1,500 per year.
  • Graduate level: a maximum of $350 per semester/$1,750 per year.


VADM EP Travers Scholarship and Loan Program: Applicants must be married to an active duty member and be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university. A total of 1,000 grants in the amount of $2,000 are awarded each academic year. Those who apply are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan up to $3,000. The application deadline is March 1st of each year. Late applicants will not be eligible for scholarship consideration but will be evaluated for a loan.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability: According to a special provision of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, education benefits are offered to spouses of service members. Under the new law, individuals with a minimum of six years of service in the armed forces who agree to serve at least four additional years are able to transfer unused GI Bill entitlement to their spouse. In fact, when the service member reaches their 10th year, they have the option of transferring the benefit to their spouse or other dependents.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MYCAA): This program was designed to provide assistance to spouses trying to obtain the skills and credentials they need to begin or further their careers. Through these accounts, the costs of training and education are covered, giving participants the chance to get a degree or credential in portable fields that are in demand across the country. MSCAA can be used to pay up to $3,000 in fees for one year and may be renewed for an additional year for a two-year total of up to $6,000.

Spouse and Dependents Education Assistance: This program offers up to 45 months of education benefits to eligible dependents which can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-site training.

Military Spouse Scholarships: Allied also offers in-house military spouse scholarships that allow military spouses to enroll in a career training program who are not eligible for MSCAA.Military spouses can get their tuition waived when they train at Allied Schools. Military spouses pay nothing out-of-pocket for training that will prepare them for careers.

Like every branch of the military, the Marine Corps wants to help you, the military spouse, pay for your education. You'll likely find one or more programs that will meet your needs.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 3:01 PM • 0 comments