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How The Post-9/11 GI Bill Has Fared So Far

July 21, 2010

The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 became the effective education benefit for service members entering the military as of August 1, 2009. Furthermore, this bill, which is more commonly referred to as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, gives veterans and members of the military that were serving on or following September 11, 2001 the option to switch from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post-9/11 GI Bill in order to take advantage of the new benefits that this bill provides. These new benefits include a housing allowance and the transferability of the benefit to dependents.

The Department of Defense has acknowledged that the bill's implementation has been great for recruiting and retention efforts. It is no secret that securing the finances to earn a college degree and earning a steady paycheck are among the top reasons why young people choose to enlist in the United States Military. Continuing to offer security in the form of great benefits and decent pay will help to draw more and more young men and women to the service, especially considering the state of the global economy.

As great as these new provisions to the GI Bill have been, there have been some glitches. For example, there have been problems reported concerning the underpayment of living stipends. In some cases, the stipend has been underpaid by hundreds of dollars a month. Veterans Affairs officials have stated that retroactive payments will be made to the students affected, but there has been no indication as to when this will take place.

Also, there is speculation that the bill is going to be subject to further revisions. These revisions may include making it easier for National Guard and Reservists to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The VA has urged Congress to delay this action until it is able to institute its new computer system and correct the issues that have already surfaced.

The bottom line is that, even though there have been some issues due to lack of preparedness, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has had a positive impact on the lives of our service members. That is all that really matters.

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