If I use the GI bill to pay for a college level course while on active duty can I still use it to go full time after I ETS?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 02:00:59 -0500

My back is pretty severely injured and I need surgery to correct the issue. My biggest problem with this is that I don’t think I have enough time to get the surgery before my ETS (I’m thirteen months out). I’m thinking of taking a class at Syracuse to get my foot in the door and decide what my major is going to be, because if I have to be medically discharged I want to continue my education. My biggest concern is that if I take the one class, I won’t be able to use the GI bill to pay the rest of the way through a good school that I want to go to.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2020 2:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 02:15:42 -0500

Get the surgery while you are on active duty. Thirteen months is enough time, and if it's not, you extend long enough to get the surgery and recover. If you don't recover, you get medically discharged and receive disability. If you separate and then get the surgery you will possibly receive no disability and definitely not receive any separation pay or medical retirement.

While on active duty you use tuition assistance not your GI Bill. You can use your GI Bill but that would be very foolish and no education counselor will allow you to do that while you have unspent TA waiting to be used.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Mar 5 at 2020 5:26 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 05:26:38 -0500

Also, instead of GI Bill, look at Tuition Assistance.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 5 at 2020 2:49 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 14:49:53 -0500

Why would you waste your GI Bill on Active Duty? Use TA.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Mar 5 at 2020 3:23 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:23:13 -0500

If you're getting medically discharge, you would qualify for a VA rating. A VA rating of 30% and higher will qualify you for Voc-Rehab, Chapter 31. However, in order to use Ch 31 benefit you have to exhaust your GI Bill e.g. Ch 33.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Mar 5 at 2020 4:29 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 16:29:47 -0500

Yes

Response by Mike Chaison made Mar 6 at 2020 1:26 AM

Mike Chaison — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 01:26:45 -0500

erm