thedrifter
07-07-08, 07:24 AM
Updated GI Bill widens horizons for local veterans
Monday, July 7, 2008
Last updated: Monday July 7, 2008, EDT 6:01 AM
BY HEATHER APPEL
STAFF WRITER
When the original GI Bill was passed by Congress during World War II, it was known as the Service Members Readjustment Act. The legislation was intended as "a benefit for those who have seen the horrors of combat, to help them readjust to civilian life," said Tom Tarantino, a policy associate for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Many credit the GI Bill with helping to revitalize the United States after the war.
Now sixty-four years later, the GI Bill is seen as outmoded and providing a paucity of benefits to veterans who have made major sacrifices, often leading to major financial hardships and psychological issues. That's why IAVA and other organizations fought for a year and a half for a new GI Bill that would fully fund a public university education for returning veterans. The measure was signed into law by President Bush on June 30 and took effect immediately.
The 21st Century GI Bill, as advocates call it, will benefit people like Jorge Pineda, 34, of Paterson, a father of two, who has served in the Army, the Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard over the past 12 years, including service in Bosnia in the late 1990s.
Pineda has completed 80 of 120 credits at Montclair State University toward his bachelor's degree. He works nights for the city of Paterson and takes classes during the day. One weekend a month, Pineda reports to his National Guard unit for drills.
Currently, the National Guard pays for Pineda's college tuition, and any remaining GI Bill benefits go toward his textbooks. Under the new GI Bill, he'll be eligible for increased benefits, leaving him additional money to pay for living expenses.
The new GI Bill was part of a $162 billion war spending package passed by Congress. It essentially provides a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for people who serve in the military for at least three years.
Some level of benefits is available to all those who served at least 90 days of active duty post-9/11 and have not already used up all their education benefits.
In the past, after paying a non-refundable contribution from their first military paychecks, service men and women could receive a total of up to $39,600 toward their education. That covered only 60 percent to 70 percent of the average cost of four years at a public college or university, or less than two years at a typical private college.
In order to give the Veterans Administration time to implement the changes, the benefits will be phased in over two years. For the 2008-09 school year, students will receive a maximum stipend of $1,321 a month, $220 more than the stipend under the original GI Bill.
Kenneth Key, veterans' affairs administrator at Montclair State University, came to the college as a student in 1976 under the original GI Bill, and has been on staff since 1980. Back then, Key said, there were 500 or 600 veterans attending Montclair State, but the number has dwindled to about 100 today.
Enrollment of veterans will increase as word gets out about the new GI Bill, Key said. There was not as much incentive under the old bill, because it didn't keep pace with rising education costs, and administrative hassles made it difficult for veterans to receive the benefits they were owed. Most veterans Key said he counsels are full-time students and working on the side.
Another major change in the new GI Bill is the ability to transfer benefits to a spouse or child. In some cases, a veteran comes home and goes right into a job or a career, so he or she has no need for the education benefits. Now, that person's spouse or child will be able to use it within 15 years.
For MSU student Christopher Pace, 27, who served with the Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq, the updated benefits came too late. Pace, who's studying visual arts, journalism and graphic design, said he'll leave college with a debt of $30,000 or $35,000. His payments from the government started out at $985 a month in 2004, nowhere near enough to pay tuition and living expenses. The payment didn't arrive until the end of the month, forcing him to take out loans to pay tuition bills, he said.
Pace said he's not feeling any self-pity - he didn't enlist for the education benefits. "It was my choice to join the Marines," he said. "If there was no GI Bill, I still would have joined."
Now, though, he said, the 21st Century GI Bill will benefit some of his friends at other schools, and he thought the ability to transfer benefits to a spouse was a major improvement.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who went to Columbia University on the original GI Bill years ago and was one of four lead sponsors of the 21st Century GI Bill, lauded its passage.
"We often talk about honoring our veterans and their service," Lautenberg said. "Now it's time to show them."
Ellie
Monday, July 7, 2008
Last updated: Monday July 7, 2008, EDT 6:01 AM
BY HEATHER APPEL
STAFF WRITER
When the original GI Bill was passed by Congress during World War II, it was known as the Service Members Readjustment Act. The legislation was intended as "a benefit for those who have seen the horrors of combat, to help them readjust to civilian life," said Tom Tarantino, a policy associate for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Many credit the GI Bill with helping to revitalize the United States after the war.
Now sixty-four years later, the GI Bill is seen as outmoded and providing a paucity of benefits to veterans who have made major sacrifices, often leading to major financial hardships and psychological issues. That's why IAVA and other organizations fought for a year and a half for a new GI Bill that would fully fund a public university education for returning veterans. The measure was signed into law by President Bush on June 30 and took effect immediately.
The 21st Century GI Bill, as advocates call it, will benefit people like Jorge Pineda, 34, of Paterson, a father of two, who has served in the Army, the Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard over the past 12 years, including service in Bosnia in the late 1990s.
Pineda has completed 80 of 120 credits at Montclair State University toward his bachelor's degree. He works nights for the city of Paterson and takes classes during the day. One weekend a month, Pineda reports to his National Guard unit for drills.
Currently, the National Guard pays for Pineda's college tuition, and any remaining GI Bill benefits go toward his textbooks. Under the new GI Bill, he'll be eligible for increased benefits, leaving him additional money to pay for living expenses.
The new GI Bill was part of a $162 billion war spending package passed by Congress. It essentially provides a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for people who serve in the military for at least three years.
Some level of benefits is available to all those who served at least 90 days of active duty post-9/11 and have not already used up all their education benefits.
In the past, after paying a non-refundable contribution from their first military paychecks, service men and women could receive a total of up to $39,600 toward their education. That covered only 60 percent to 70 percent of the average cost of four years at a public college or university, or less than two years at a typical private college.
In order to give the Veterans Administration time to implement the changes, the benefits will be phased in over two years. For the 2008-09 school year, students will receive a maximum stipend of $1,321 a month, $220 more than the stipend under the original GI Bill.
Kenneth Key, veterans' affairs administrator at Montclair State University, came to the college as a student in 1976 under the original GI Bill, and has been on staff since 1980. Back then, Key said, there were 500 or 600 veterans attending Montclair State, but the number has dwindled to about 100 today.
Enrollment of veterans will increase as word gets out about the new GI Bill, Key said. There was not as much incentive under the old bill, because it didn't keep pace with rising education costs, and administrative hassles made it difficult for veterans to receive the benefits they were owed. Most veterans Key said he counsels are full-time students and working on the side.
Another major change in the new GI Bill is the ability to transfer benefits to a spouse or child. In some cases, a veteran comes home and goes right into a job or a career, so he or she has no need for the education benefits. Now, that person's spouse or child will be able to use it within 15 years.
For MSU student Christopher Pace, 27, who served with the Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq, the updated benefits came too late. Pace, who's studying visual arts, journalism and graphic design, said he'll leave college with a debt of $30,000 or $35,000. His payments from the government started out at $985 a month in 2004, nowhere near enough to pay tuition and living expenses. The payment didn't arrive until the end of the month, forcing him to take out loans to pay tuition bills, he said.
Pace said he's not feeling any self-pity - he didn't enlist for the education benefits. "It was my choice to join the Marines," he said. "If there was no GI Bill, I still would have joined."
Now, though, he said, the 21st Century GI Bill will benefit some of his friends at other schools, and he thought the ability to transfer benefits to a spouse was a major improvement.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who went to Columbia University on the original GI Bill years ago and was one of four lead sponsors of the 21st Century GI Bill, lauded its passage.
"We often talk about honoring our veterans and their service," Lautenberg said. "Now it's time to show them."
Ellie