What are the strength and weaknesses of the GI Bill? Are you dealing with more debt than you expected?

2017-03-28T21:31:04-04:00

Response by SN Vivien Roman-Hampton made Mar 28 at 2017 9:31 PM

2017-03-28T21:31:43-04:00

While this article is old, I kept it and review it from time to time because I still think it is relevant.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-veterans-and-servicemembers-struggle-with-student-loan-debt-despite-a-generous-gi-bill-2015-11-11

Why veterans and servicemembers struggle with student loan debt, despite a generous GI Bill

Despite the most generous veterans education benefit in history, more than 40% of active duty servicemembers have student loan debt.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 9:38 PM

2017-03-28T21:38:49-04:00

I wrote about this a few weeks ago. There's a lot to learn about how to use it for maximal comfort.

http://golivelively.com/2017/01/25/five-extremes-with-the-post-911-gi-bill/

Five Extremes with the Post 9/11 GI Bill

There are some extreme highs and lows that come along with using the Post 9/11 GI Bill.I’ve written abouttransitioning from the military to collegeand finding a schoolbefore, but this is …

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 10:07 PM

2017-03-28T22:07:35-04:00

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton I went to school full time and worked full time, 42 hours a week, on average as an operator at a chemical plant. I completed my degree in five and a half years, and then obtained the job that I would hold for 33 years. No debt.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Mar 29 at 2017 1:50 AM

2017-03-29T01:50:38-04:00

I went college full time, lived in the dorm and obtained My degree, I also was working at the same time, stayed active with college sports, wrote for the school newspaper, was on the yearbook staff. When i graduated I didn't owe anybody any money or have any debt. At one point I borrowed $500.00 from My Dad and paid it back within one week. As a Viet Nam Veteran I did of course have the VA to assist Me with expenses and the school made it easy to handle that. There were a few veterans there besides My self at that point and that college had a good relationship with the Military and Veterans . I already had two years of college before that I obtained while I was on active duty in the USAF and transferred all those credits. I may add when i went on a civilian Police Dept My weekly pay check had a 20% increase in the amount over and above the basic pay because of having a BS degree.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2017 6:30 AM

2017-03-29T06:30:42-04:00

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton my Post 9-11 GI Bill was great. My college paid for the little bit of money I went over year one of using it under the Yellow Ribbon Program. Overall pretty easy for me as the school did all of it after I applied for an got approved for the GI Bill.

Response by CW4 Robert C. made Mar 29 at 2017 8:12 AM

2017-03-29T08:12:35-04:00

I signed mine over to my son and really there was not a huge debt. I mean the school he attended forced us to buy a meal plan even thought he stayed home. But with post 9/11 he got money for books and received his monthly BAH, even though on months he wasn't in school they did not pay it and for instance when there was break he did not receive full BAH. But I found it rather good for him. But now I am paying for the other one and that is a debt machine.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2017 12:32 PM

2017-03-29T12:32:01-04:00

Got a bachelor's and master's with no debt using the Montgomery GI Bill. Was also working full time. To be fair though, I started when I was active duty and was able to use TA for a few classes.

Response by SN Vivien Roman-Hampton made Mar 29 at 2017 9:22 PM

2017-03-29T21:22:57-04:00

I really appreciate all these responses and it is refreshing to hear a different perspective from clearly some very hard working people who earned their degrees with zero debt.

Response by SSgt Jeremy Creason made Jun 15 at 2017 1:41 PM

2017-06-15T13:41:24-04:00

For anyone currently in the military, I would highly recommend exhausting your yearly TA allocations first before using GI Bill® benefits. This way you can extend the use of your GI Bill® benefits to complete a program after separation, enroll in the next level of education, or even have some benefits left to transfer to a dependent. At American Military University, students who are receiving the full Post 9/11 GI Bill® should not incur any debt, as the VA yearly cap is significantly higher than the cost of tuition. Most of the GI Bill® recipients at AMU are receiving the full 100% Post 9/11 GI Bill®. AMU will provide transfer credit up to 46 credits for an Associate’s program and 91 credits for a Bachelor’s program, which could not only cut the length of time needed to complete the program but also limit any potential debt. For more information about AMU, please visit: http://www.amuonline.com/rallypoint.

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