Posted on Aug 18, 2020
VetXL: Back to School – live Q&A with VA and community partners. What are your questions?
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Join us on RallyPoint, August 27th from 3-4PM EST, for a live Q&A focusing on Back to School resources, GI Bill, learning options, and virtual tools. You can ask questions in writing now or during the live event. Please note that there is no audio or visual component to this Q&A event.
You can ask questions, on this page, to the following people:
LTC Tony Davis, Veterans Experience Office - Veterans, Family and Community Engagement
MCPO Eric Faulkner, Veterans Experience Office - Veterans, Family and Community Engagement
Charmain Bogue, Director, Department of Veterans Affairs - VBA Education Service
SGT Lauren Augustine, VP of Government Affairs - Student Veterans of America
CPL David Muir, SVP Veteran Staffing Network - Easterseals
LCDR Bill Ashton, Acting Division Director, Strategic Initiatives and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison - Department of Agriculture
CPT Christine Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer - Service to School
Check out resources from Department of Education, Military Child Education Coalition, YMCA, and Cohen Veteran Network!
http://rly.pt/EdGov
Militarychild.org - https://rly.pt/2EsmUOR
YMCA - http://rly.pt/YMCA
http://rly.pt/MGHMilitaryFamilies
Veterans Experience Office-
https://rly.pt/VEO
To enable VA to be the leading customer service organization in government so that Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors Choose VA. VEO implements solutions based on Veteran-centered designs and industry best practices while aligning VA services with the secretary’s priorities. The Veterans, Family and Community Engagement Directorate supports Veterans through coordination and integration of local VA and non-VA services Veteran Friendly Communities Initiative working with the Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) and leading federal advisory committees.
VBA Education Service-
http://rly.pt/EducationService
Administers VA's education programs that provide education and training benefits to eligible Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Service members, Veterans, and dependents.
Student Veterans of America-
http://rly.pt/SVA
Since 2008, Student Veterans of America has worked to inspire tomorrow’s leaders. With a community network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters, SVA is committed to transforming the current skills and experience of student veterans. Every day, these dedicated chapter leaders work to ensure that yesterday’s warriors have the resources at hand to succeed in their academic journey and beyond.
USDA-
USDA wants to ensure that veterans looking to return home, or start a new career on a farm or in a rural community have the tools and opportunities you need to succeed.
USDA’s veterans website serves as a one-stop navigator for veterans looking to learn more about employment, education, and entrepreneurship on or beyond the farm.
Easterseals -
Easterseals makes profound, positive differences in the daily lives of people of all ages with disabilities, special needs, military backgrounds and their families. Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network (VSN) connects veterans and military spouses to employers using a veteran staffing agency model. We work with employers to fill temp-to perm, contract, and direct-hire positions.
Service to School-
Service to School (S2S) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free college and grad school application counseling to military veterans and servicemembers.
Our goal is to help veterans gain admission to the best college for them while empowering each veteran to make informed decisions about their education.
RallyPoint Answers and Discussion Conduct: https://rly.pt/33ySsg0
You can ask questions, on this page, to the following people:
LTC Tony Davis, Veterans Experience Office - Veterans, Family and Community Engagement
MCPO Eric Faulkner, Veterans Experience Office - Veterans, Family and Community Engagement
Charmain Bogue, Director, Department of Veterans Affairs - VBA Education Service
SGT Lauren Augustine, VP of Government Affairs - Student Veterans of America
CPL David Muir, SVP Veteran Staffing Network - Easterseals
LCDR Bill Ashton, Acting Division Director, Strategic Initiatives and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison - Department of Agriculture
CPT Christine Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer - Service to School
Check out resources from Department of Education, Military Child Education Coalition, YMCA, and Cohen Veteran Network!
http://rly.pt/EdGov
Militarychild.org - https://rly.pt/2EsmUOR
YMCA - http://rly.pt/YMCA
http://rly.pt/MGHMilitaryFamilies
Veterans Experience Office-
https://rly.pt/VEO
To enable VA to be the leading customer service organization in government so that Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors Choose VA. VEO implements solutions based on Veteran-centered designs and industry best practices while aligning VA services with the secretary’s priorities. The Veterans, Family and Community Engagement Directorate supports Veterans through coordination and integration of local VA and non-VA services Veteran Friendly Communities Initiative working with the Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) and leading federal advisory committees.
VBA Education Service-
http://rly.pt/EducationService
Administers VA's education programs that provide education and training benefits to eligible Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Service members, Veterans, and dependents.
Student Veterans of America-
http://rly.pt/SVA
Since 2008, Student Veterans of America has worked to inspire tomorrow’s leaders. With a community network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters, SVA is committed to transforming the current skills and experience of student veterans. Every day, these dedicated chapter leaders work to ensure that yesterday’s warriors have the resources at hand to succeed in their academic journey and beyond.
USDA-
USDA wants to ensure that veterans looking to return home, or start a new career on a farm or in a rural community have the tools and opportunities you need to succeed.
USDA’s veterans website serves as a one-stop navigator for veterans looking to learn more about employment, education, and entrepreneurship on or beyond the farm.
Easterseals -
Easterseals makes profound, positive differences in the daily lives of people of all ages with disabilities, special needs, military backgrounds and their families. Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network (VSN) connects veterans and military spouses to employers using a veteran staffing agency model. We work with employers to fill temp-to perm, contract, and direct-hire positions.
Service to School-
Service to School (S2S) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free college and grad school application counseling to military veterans and servicemembers.
Our goal is to help veterans gain admission to the best college for them while empowering each veteran to make informed decisions about their education.
RallyPoint Answers and Discussion Conduct: https://rly.pt/33ySsg0
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Student Veterans of America (SVA)
Education
Bachelors Degree
GI Bill
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Student Veterans of America (SVA) Education Bachelors Degree GI Bill
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 130
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This thread is presenting information without any policy, guidelines or other reference or source. I find these responses by the professionals here to be unreliable. Answering questions without any policy or follow-up links are problematic. Where do individuals get answers? My responses are a referring me to the sources where the issue lies. I am exhausted with rhetoric and being harassed when addressing these ethics and often unprofessional threads. No accountability anywhere for the problems being expressed.. I hope these veterans will not have to sit 30 years as I have to get answers. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent in organizations and the problems mount. A Gulf War Veteran.
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Andi Martinez
Hi thank you for joining us today. We apologize that you have received anything less than outstanding services from the VA. We want to help answer your questions. Please post them here or talk to a live agent. Call the White House VA Hotline [login to see]
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Thanks so much for doing this! I want to study Spanish - not Spanish Literature, necessarily, but spoken Spanish. I can not find a suitable program for this that accepts the GI Bill in NYC. Are there other resources in NYC or online that I could look to?
Thank you! Semper Fi!
Thank you! Semper Fi!
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CPT Christine Schwartz
Hi Mike, Have you looked at all the CUNY and SUNY schools to see which have Spanish as a major? https://www.suny.edu/attend/get-started/military-and-veteran-students/
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Sgt Mike Hopkins
I have - maybe i need to talk to someone at the school - I'm not crazy about how it's structured. There are private institutions like Cervantes Institute which emphasizes dialogue and immersion, but these orgs never accept the GI bill.
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SGT Lauren Augustine
You could also check out VA's Educational and Career Counseling https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/education-and-career-counseling/
Educational and Career Counseling (VA Chapter 36) | Veterans Affairs
Find out how to apply for VA Chapter 36 benefits to get free Veteran Educational and Career (or vocational) Counseling services. You may be eligible if you're leaving active service soon, if you've been discharged within the past year, or if you're the dependent of a Veteran.
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I never got a chance to use my gi Montgomery bill. I got out in 1994. Do I still qualify for any back to school benefits
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MSgt Jennifer Lemon
Check with your area Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program. There are over 70 across the nation who provide these education services at no cost. Typically a university will host the grant but the veteran can attend any school, program, or location and still receive assistance. If you are in Oklahoma you can call the STRIPES-VUB office at [login to see] . Other states can find local VUB programs at https://www.navub.org/
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Good Afternoon, I am interested in obtaining an advanced degree in nursing. My goal is to teach nursing students first by educating them followed by the nursing skills that will make them successful in taking care of patients and saving lives. In order for me to teach nursing students I require a masters in nursing or masters in education for health care professionals. Can you help me find the right person that can help me.
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CPT Christine Schwartz
Hi Regina,
Service to School can pair you with a mentor who has knowledge of obtaining a MSN and will help you identify the right school or degree. https://service2school.org/
Service to School can pair you with a mentor who has knowledge of obtaining a MSN and will help you identify the right school or degree. https://service2school.org/
Home - Service to School - Free Application Counseling to Military Veterans
Our goal is to help veterans gain admission to the best universities possible and to help them maximize their education benefits.
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Are there any student loan repayment programs and/or programs to help clear student loan debts?
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Andi Martinez
Military Student Loan Forgiveness and Discharge Programs
It's ironic that members of the military can fight in combat and return home only to struggle under student loan debt.
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PFC Marland Chang
If you want to go work for the VA
https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Content/Documents/Print/EDRP_VA_Careers_Page.pdf
or the Dept. of Education has their Public Service Loan Forgiveness
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Also if there is 100% disability discharge of student loans
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge
https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Content/Documents/Print/EDRP_VA_Careers_Page.pdf
or the Dept. of Education has their Public Service Loan Forgiveness
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Also if there is 100% disability discharge of student loans
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge
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I filled out my VR&E application, received notice of receipt of applications 2 weeks ago and have not heard from them since.
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MSG Alan Purdie
Average turn around from application to first appointment is 2 months for VR&E - VA determines your eligibility, then assigns your case to a Regional Office who then assigns your case to the closest Case Manager who schedules the initial intake appointment per their work schedule.
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Andi Martinez
Please contact the Regional Office that processed your VR&E application or call the White House Hotline to talk to a live agent. [login to see]
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My college has some in person classes, if I take online classes will I recieve full bah?
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MSG Alan Purdie
If the classes were never scheduled to be in a classroom then converted to online, then no, you would be paid the online only MHA rate. https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/COVID19EducationBenefits.asp
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
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LTC Tony Davis
I won't even pretend to be able to explain all of this, it gets rather complicated. But there are also options of part time in class and part time online. This is what I did at NYU. A couple of semesters I even got the full rate, but I was working pretty hard to keep up with a full time job and a masters program. Just something to consider if your school offers that flexibility. Good luck!
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Dr. Flores at The Dorn VA is horrible. Cancels multiple apts with no notice. Lies And says it's your own fault. I am mentally disabled. I can't deal with things like this very well. Just letting someone know
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CPL David Muir
If there is a Cohen Military Family center near you, you may be able to receive services at that location. https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/
Cohen Veterans Network | Veteran and Military Family Mental Health Care
The Cohen Veterans Network is a not for profit philanthropic organization providing high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive mental health care to veterans and their families.
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Good Morning All, I have a few questions.
1. I was told from another vet that if I have at least 30 days left on my GI Bill I can switch it to the Vocational Rehabilitation... Is this true?
2. When getting out, one of the instructors mentioned children being able to go to college for free up to 8yrs... what is the name of that program or the list of schools that are enrolled in it?
3. Due to COVID, a lot of schools are pushing online only... has the GI BILL made adjustments for this? I know in order to recieve all your benefits for the GI BILL you need to have some classes on campus.
Thank you for guidance
1. I was told from another vet that if I have at least 30 days left on my GI Bill I can switch it to the Vocational Rehabilitation... Is this true?
2. When getting out, one of the instructors mentioned children being able to go to college for free up to 8yrs... what is the name of that program or the list of schools that are enrolled in it?
3. Due to COVID, a lot of schools are pushing online only... has the GI BILL made adjustments for this? I know in order to recieve all your benefits for the GI BILL you need to have some classes on campus.
Thank you for guidance
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MSG Alan Purdie
1) You can apply for Voc Rehab whether you have remaining GI Bill benefits or not - you have to have a 20% VA disability rating. Voc Rehab is an Employment program - only 9.6% of applicants in 2019 were approved for education training - the other 90% were offered employment assistance.
2) Never heard of that - might be a state program or something. IF you have a 100% P&T disability rating, your children could be eligible for 3 years of DEA Chapter 35. I've been working with VA Education programs since 2004 and have never seen any program providing 8 years of education.
3) Congress, not VA made adjustments for this - https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/COVID19EducationBenefits.asp
2) Never heard of that - might be a state program or something. IF you have a 100% P&T disability rating, your children could be eligible for 3 years of DEA Chapter 35. I've been working with VA Education programs since 2004 and have never seen any program providing 8 years of education.
3) Congress, not VA made adjustments for this - https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/COVID19EducationBenefits.asp
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
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I used part off my GI BILL a long time ago can I go back and finish education
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MSgt Jennifer Lemon
Check with your area Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program. There are over 70 across the nation who provide these education services at no cost. Typically a university will host the grant but the veteran can attend any school, program, or location and still receive assistance. If you are in Oklahoma you can call the STRIPES-VUB office at [login to see] . Other states can find local VUB programs at https://www.navub.org/
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