GI Bill

Sorry for the delay Frat.

I am currently on terminal leave for retirement. After 20 years in the Army I figured I had better decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. Having grown up around drivers and the industry it has always been something that interested me so I decided I would give it a go.

Initially I planned to stay with the Mont. GI Bill because VA swore that the Post 9-11 wouldn't cover a CDL course or an apprenticeship program. The problem this caused is that the course is one month long and the tuition is around $5,000. Under MGIB I could only collect about $1,300 for the month course.

So my quandry was I could switch to the Post 9-11 and VA would cover the entire tuition (because its offered at an Institute of Higher Learning) but VA said they wouldn't cover an apprenticeship program. Not liking those options I went to my ed. center and asked what other options I may have, like active duty tuition assistance. The good folks at the ed. center set me straight, that the VA coounselors were wrong. As I was fully eligible for the MGIB I could in fact switch to Post 9-11 to get the full tuition covered and still participate in an apprenticeship program.

Of course VA signs the checks so I began searching for the correct answer and repeatedly calling VA to get them to acknowledge that I was eligible to go this route. My search found "Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) 09-003: Post-9/11 GI Bill" from the under SECDEF dated 22 Jun 2009.

Attachment 2, Paragraph 1.b.8 states:

"Additionally, individuals who were eligible for Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, or Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), and elect to use benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be eligible to receive benefits for programs approved under those provisions that are not authorized for those individuals under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, such as on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, correspondence courses, flight training, preparatory courses, and national exams at the benefit rate for MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP, as appropriate.

Armed with this I called VA again and read this to the counselor and got her to acknowledge that I was indeed eligible to use Post-9/11 to pay for the tuition and still participate in an apprenticeship program. Of course the apprenticeship program has to be VA approved but there are companies that have this approval. Werner and TMC are two that I know off the top of my head.

As for "Top Up," I didn't get into that as Army TA will not pay for the course because it doesn't lead to a higher degree.

On a side note, the $600 buy up offered to MGIB participants does NOT transfer to the Post-9/11. If you have paid the $600 for increased benefits and switch to Post-9/11 the money becomes a donation to the VA as your benefit will not increase and you won't get your money back. Found this out at the last minute as well and nearly ended up making a donation. Caught it in time though.

Of course this little episode of discovery took 3-4 months. That is 4 months longer than it should have but the counselors at VA simply have very little knowledge of MGIB versus Post-9/11 and what happens when/if you switch.

If you Google the DTM I mentioned above you will find quite a bit more useful info that you can use when "discussing" your situation with VA.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I don't have all the answers but I'll help where I can.

 

Oknavy,

As the rules are written we are not eligible to receive the BAH stipend for an apprenticeship program. All we can receive is the amount equal to the monthly payment for apprenticeship programs under the MGIB.

Currently an apprenticeship program participant receives money on a percentage over time basis. Something like this:

The current MGIB monthly benefit is approximately $1,300/month. For the first six months of the apprenticeship you receive 75% of that amount. For the second Six months the benefit pays 55%, and 35% for the remainder of the program or until your benefits run out, which ever comes first.

Also note that there exist some recommended legislation that would change those percentages to the better for us but it has gone without being proposed yet. I sense there is pretty strong support for this change but as we know Congress isn't necessarily the quickest of animals. I don't remember the bill numbers at this time.

To TRICARE prime vs standard I think that with the family staying in one place vs you traveling around, prime would be the way to go. They stand to get health care at a cheaper price, less of a copayment. Plus even under prime you will have access to health care no matter where your load takes you. Emergencies are always covered and you can call and get approval for situations that need attention but may not be considered an emergency. Simply because the family will be stationary I will choose prime.

Hope this helps a little. Let me know if you can think of any other questions. I am certain you will encounter situations the rest of us haven't and it may prove helpful to us.

Greenfxd

 

I went thru VA Vocational Rehab for a school and CDL; all paid. Won't owe anyone anything when I start w/ May on Monday. Plus they'll pay a stipend to help w/ expenses.

 

OK....

Like Green stated earlier.... in order to qualify for the living stipend you would need to be enrolled in class more than half time and take at least one class in a "brick and morter" college. I would not qualify for the living stipend as I am taking classes through American Military University....unless I enrolled in at least one class through a local college.

 

No apologies necessary.

I appreciate your willingness to share your experiences with us. I in-turn can use this to educate my sailors in hopes to ensure they make the right decision as to whether they want to switch from one program to the other.

Yours is a prime example of "if you want something done right you must do it yourself".

What I find amusing is the various rules the different services use with regards to Tuition Assistance. Case in point... I was told by a member here that I could not use TA to go to CDL school....after I had already done it..... his branch would not allow it...mine did. As of earlier this year, the Navy pulled the plug on any courses that are "clock-hours". Why the big deal with "clock-hours" is beyond me.

I never did kick in the $600 and now I am glad I did'nt. I am still undecided as to whether I will switch to the Post 9/11 Bill or not.

Best of luck to you.

R/

Frat

 

No problem Frat. I have quite a soft spot for service members and vets as I am certain you do, and I will do what ever I can to help.

TA can seem funny until you realize it is controlled by each individual service and they tailor it to suite their needs.

The VA on the other hand is entirely too frustrating! I understand they are going through quite a change with this Post 9/11 Bill but I wish they would spend a little more time training their counselors. Everyone I spoke with had no idea what the actual rules are. Even the GI Bill website lacks any clear answers concerning benefits when us old timers convert. I appreciate that GEN Shinseki is putting a lot of effort into changing the prevailing wisdom at the VA, but it's still frustrating.

Best of luck back at you and remember to take care of the ones that take care of you.

Greenfxd

 

One additional suggestion. I would definitely find the DTM that I mentioned earlier and provide it to your Sailors. It provides a lot of very good info and will better prepare them to make an educated decision concerning their benefits.

Greenfxd

 

Good to hear this has worked out for you Volunteer. This is another option for Vets to explore.

Can you give us some description of your situation and how you went about getting the voc rehab through the VA?

Greenfxd

 

Green,

I will do that. Thanks for the tidbit of info.

Stay connected around here and let us know how things go for you.

R/

Frat