Which GI Bill is best for you
As the Aug. 1 enactment date for the Post-9/11 GI Bill draws closer, service members and veterans continue working to understand the new benefit and decide which version of the GI Bill best suits their educational needs.
No easy task, given the complexities of the different programs and the differences in how they apply to individual service members.
It’s a well known fact that education benefits like the GI Bill are a primary reason many men and women join the military.
Also well known is the disturbing statistic that, too often, education benefits go unused by many service members. I recently spoke about this trend with Dr. Charles Sidell, president of the Florida Advisory Council on Military Education and program coordinator for Southern Illinois University’s Workforce Education and Development Program.
“A large portion of (service members) leave their education benefits because of unfamiliarity with the rules,” he contends.
One group is doing its part to make sure men and women who have served understand the new GI Bill and can make educated comparisons about which GI Bill program will best suit their education needs.
Check out Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s GI Bill 2008 Web site. It contains a benefits calculator for the new GI Bill, as well as a detailed section of frequently asked questions on everything from eligibility for the benefit to the merits of the different versions of the GI Bill. It’s an easy-to-use tool from a trusted source.
