As I wrote in  an earlier piece I gave a brief overview of the post 9/11 GI bill that was recently passed this will be a more comprehensive explaination of the increased benefits and when they go into effect.

Who is covered?

  • Active duty enlisted and officer who have served at least 90 days since Sept 11 2001.
  • To qualify for the full benefit you must have served at least 3 years since 9/11.  If you served less than 3 years since 9/11 you can see your benefits here.
  • Veterans who served at least 30 days of active duty service and were discharged due to a service connected disability qualify for the full 100% of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

How much will the bill pay?

  • It will vary from state to state due to the fact that you will be paid the full tuition up to the most expensive in-State public university.
  • Monthly housing stipend equal to the with depepndants rate for an E-5 in the zipcode that the school is located in as long as you go to school 3/4 time or more.  The housing stipend is only paid if the student is physically attending the school (not online).
  • Yearly book stipend up to $1,000 a year.
  • Up to $1,200 for tutorial assistance.
  • Up to $2,000 for licensing or certification.

Who can I transfer benefits to?

  • A spouse of a service member that has served at least 6 years and re-enlists for for more years (for a total of 10 years) would be eligible.
  • Children of a service member that has served 10 years would be eligible.
  • It may be possible to split benefits between spouse and children or between mutiple children, DoD and the military services will issue policy on use of transferability in the coming months.

How are benefits paid?

  • Tuition will be paid directly to the institution of learning.
  • The housing stipend will be paid monthly to the service member.

What is not covered?

  • Unlike the Mongomery GI Bill apprenticeships, on-the-job training, correspondence courses and flight training are not covered under the new bill.
  • Students not attending a brick and mortar school (taking classes on line) will not recieve the housing stipend.

When do the new benefits begin?

  • Benefits go into effect Aug 1, 2009 and will not be retroactive.

Jarhead’s Thoughts

  • These new benefits are great.  It is awesome that the majority of service members will nw be able to go to school once they get out. 
  •  Also the transfer bit will make it so that alot of kids of service members may be able to get a free education as well. 

Now I just wonder what this will do to retention?

  •  Will more Marines get out after 4 years since they have increased education benefits? 
  • How may  people will get out once they have the oppurtunity to trasfer those benefits (10 years)? 
  • If this bill does in fact reduce the number of Marines that re-enlist after their first term I am sure that SRB’s will go up to even higher amounts as long as the Corps is growing.

For more inforamtion visit www.va.gov