The United States Military and Higher Education
 Personnel in the United States Military working towards a post-military career or pursuing a long-held ambition of acquiring a college degree can gain higher education even while serving on active duty. The GI Bill, which covers education assistance programs administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs, helps veterans and active duty personnel who want to pursue an education. In fiscal year 2008, more than 540,000 personnel made use of the benefits of the GI Bill. [Source: Qibill.va.gov]The GI BillThe GI Bill was signed into law in 1944 by President Roosevelt. As per the Bill, the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) was responsible for executing the law's key provisions: education and training, loan guaranty for homes, farms or businesses, and unemployment pay. In 1984, The GI Bill was revamped by Congressman Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery and has been called the Montgomery Bill since. The GI Bill was updated once again in 2008 - giving veterans with active duty service on or after September 11, 2001, advanced educational benefits. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, approved training includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational and technical training. A detailed list of programs covered by the GI Bill:
The Benefits of the GI BillMoney sanctioned under the Post-9/11 GI Bill The student or the approved school will receive a percentage based on the length of active duty service. Generally, this would amount to the tuition and fees charged to an in-state student at the most expensive public institution of higher education in the U.S. A monthly housing allowance, equivalent to the basic housing allowance paid to grade E-5 with dependents, is also made available. The new GI Bill also covers payment of a yearly book and supplies stipend of up to 1000 USD and a one-time payment of 500 USD for relocation from extreme rural areas. On Active DutyFor personnel who have completed at least 90 days of active service (does not include basic entry level training and skill training), tuition will be paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However, the tuition will depend on the time period served and cannot exceed the amount not paid by military tuition assistance and/or the total amount of tuition and fees. Also, the housing allowance portion or the book/supplies stipend will not be paid by the GI Bill to personnel on active duty. While Training OverseasPersonnel can also avail of the GI Bill benefits while training overseas - however, these will differ from benefits available for training in the U.S. [Source: Qibill.va.gov] Taking Online Courses OverseasOnline courses are the best options for personnel serving in the military as they work for rigorous, sometimes fluctuating hours while on active duty. The military covers 100% tuition costs and the flexibility of doing coursework at home or during off-duty hours is a big bonus. Undergraduate and even masters' degrees can be obtained via these courses and their high accessibility makes them a first choice for military personnel. Balancing workload and continuing education is possible with online courses. Further details can be found in this article Online Degrees. Information about taking online classes and getting a degree online is also included. Some of the top military-friendly schools offering online degrees are: DeVry University, University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, National American University, Allied Schools, American Sentinel University, ECPI College of Technology, Jones International University, Walden University, and Capella University. [Source: ArmyStudyGuide.com]
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Getting an Education in the Military
