Other than traditional college programs, what other ways have you used your GI Bill?

2017-06-02T13:45:49-04:00

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Jun 2 at 2017 1:47 PM

2017-06-02T13:47:07-04:00

Maj Private RallyPoint Member -Gave mine to my wife and was able to enjoy seeing her complete her degree. I think that's a cool way for me to use it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 1:47 PM

2017-06-02T13:47:36-04:00

Maj Private RallyPoint Member, I really want to look into using my G.I. Bill toward a PhD from Old Dominion University if it's authorized.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 1:54 PM

2017-06-02T13:54:46-04:00

I'm familiar with the normal uses, BA, MA, PhD, pass to wife/kids... anyone use it on anything else? I ask because I found a few dozen veterans using it on 1-2 week short courses here at Harvard and wish I had known about that a few years ago.
I'm wondering if there are other schools/programs that take the GI Bill that I don't know about.
Thanks!

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Jun 2 at 2017 1:58 PM

2017-06-02T13:58:12-04:00

My brother-in-law used his to get a pilot's license. I gifted mine to supplement my kid's college pursuits.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 2:06 PM

2017-06-02T14:06:01-04:00

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

This is what's covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Education and Training

The GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and their dependents.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 2 at 2017 4:58 PM

2017-06-02T16:58:18-04:00

Maj Private RallyPoint Member - Sir, I used mine to pay for EMT and Paramedic schools. Still have a little left over to take some "traditional" classes.

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Jun 2 at 2017 5:19 PM

2017-06-02T17:19:41-04:00

I used some of mine for my CISSP exam, but for the most part have personally used it for traditional college programs. In my current position one of the things I assist veterans with is applying for Federal and state education benefits. I've had several use Apprentice and OJT programs through approved companies and organizations for their Post 9/11 GI Bill. These include carpentry, piledriver, and electrician apprenticeship programs, CDL and heavy equipment operator courses, pilot licensing, and OJT programs through several different companies. We currently have 135 companies in Wisconsin that have active participants in OJT programs receiving a combination of pay from the company and GI Bill money.

Response by SPC John Parmenter made Jun 2 at 2017 8:57 PM

2017-06-02T20:57:10-04:00

In about 1972, G.I. Bill paid for a correspondence course (Institute of Applied Science out of Chicago). The comprehensive scientific crime detection home study course cost about $200 (everything was a lot cheaper in those days) & took about a year to complete. The following year I began a master's program at the Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado. As a full-time Peace Officer, I was eligible for education assistance from Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP, part of LBJ's "Great Society"). I turned down LEEP because I was eligible for G.I. Bill but was told, as a professional Peace Officer, I had to accept LEEP funding. I then went to the VA office & told them I wouldn't need G.I. Bill because of LEEP. The VA Representative said as a Veteran I was required to accept G.I. Bill! So my Master's Degree in Public Administration was paid for twice -- by the Veterans' Administration & the Justice Department. Not too many folks make money attending graduate school.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jun 3 at 2017 1:36 PM

2017-06-03T13:36:12-04:00

The vast majority of my GI Bill is transferred to my kids. I used some of it for training for a CDL.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2017 7:23 PM

2017-06-03T19:23:29-04:00

Maj Private RallyPoint Member I had a friend who graduated culinary arts school.