The Surprising History of Military College Benefits

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As someone who experienced this first hand back in the 80's I can tell you what a joke it was.
I was in college in 1981 after graduating high school on grants and a work study program. The Govt. pulled money from that program and shifted it to the military. So I quit college and joined the Army (for the college money). From 83 to 86 I did my time and participated in the 2 to 1 matching program. Max benefit, a measly 8k or so (including the money I put in). After my honorable discharge I went to the VA and told them I had picked out a college that I wanted to attend. The guy there actually laughed in my face. He said, oh, your mistaken, we don't pay for anything. You have to pay for everything FIRST then bring us your grades each year once your done, THEN we'll reimburse you IF you grades are high enough. What a crock of sh#t. If I had the money to go to school in the first place, I wouldn't have joined. It was a really rotten thing they did. I cashed out and told them to go screw themselves. That little thank you program only lasted for a few years. Thanks Uncle Sam. By the way, I've been a defense contractor for 3 decades since then and have served in many wars and war zones. Still get ZERO benefits from Uncle Sam.

asdfr of AZ 1:59PM December 01, 2011

The government saves money by offering different coverage for veterans based on where and when they served. Two guys could have identical knee injuries from parachuting- one in combat, one in Texas- different coverage for each.
People don't control the assignments they have- the benefits should be equal across the board.

Alex of WA 6:20PM February 03, 2009

Thank You Submariners Post!
I served onboard an Aircraft Carrier that was involved in Lebonese Civil War, The Iran-Iraq war, and The Libyan Crisis, yet our biggest challenge every single day was The Soviet Threat. 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365/366 days a year. But since my service was not sensationalized on the evening news, I have essentially ZERO dollars NONE ZILCH nada "No Money whatsoever" available to fund an increase in my EARNING POWER, all because my service was during that most neglected of all eras in funding - I served from 1979-1985. Pace University just announced a vile and repugnant discount - one in which millions of veterans are ignored - yet PACE is bragging about their commitment in shameless advertizing. They only offer this discount to those who have earned 1 of 3 expeditionary medals, effectively shaming all the veterans who have sacrificed so much, personally and economically, but failed to be sent to the 3 places where these medals are given just for showing up. I am appalled they are even legally allowed to call this a "VETERANS" benefit, because the massive majority of people who are VETERANS are not remotely eligible to save a single penny at PACE University. They should be sued in class action by veterans groups everywhere and assessed damages and penalties for false advertizing.

James of NY 3:02PM December 20, 2008

The federal and state governments need to think of more creative wasy to fund the GI Bill. On the national level,there exist alarge number of state colleges and universities that could discount tuition cost for vets by awarding grants. The feds and states could then subsidize the difference.
Most universities already award grants to athletes, national merit scholars, musicians etc.. Why not add veterans to the list of grant recipients.
So that private institutions are not left out, vets who elect to attend the more expensive privates would receive the average tuition benefit that is awarded in his or her state of residence.
The veterans that I attended college with were serious minded students and added greatly to the learning environment.
There is no reason that the federal government should fund this alone.

Joseph Cox of OH 8:10AM June 20, 2008

I believe strongly that the GI Bill ought to provide opportunity for vets. It does help the person, but at the same time, I am convinced that the greatest genertion accomplished what it did in large measure as a result of this benefit and paid back the country for what had been received. The same may also have been true of Viet Nam, despite the stinginess of the Feds. But it might also be noted that there is currently another benefit of value. All of the services now invest heavily in college for serving personnel and will pay for almost full time schooling for soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines who take college courses in their spare time. This is relatively new and is designed to keep good people and upgrade their skills

del williams of OH 1:19PM June 19, 2008

I think all military members deserve education benefits war or peace. Here's why...
Reason 1:
I served from 1978-1984 in the navy on submarines. This was for all practical purposes an era of peace. Except I was on submarines and I am a life member of the VFW for certain missions my submarine was involved in, in which we wear the expeditionary medal for "having been on hostile/enemy land for more than 30 days consecuutively."
Reason 2:
My brother a Navy Lt and aviator servedfrom 1981-1985 when he was killed. These were years of peace too. THe thing in this reason is service men and women risk their lives every day preparing to defend our country. My brother's jet crashed and he died. Certainly servicemen and women that risk their lives deserve education benefits.
I hope you will agree with me that all members of the military deserve education benefits. We risk our lives.
Reason 3:
The GI Bill from 1945 has returned 6 fold in increased payroll taxes to he US government. cost as Kennedyand Eisenhower suggest should not be a consideration. We needto look long-term and not short-term for funding solutions.
We know education matters. MIlitary members deserve it peace or war. And you know what if you wantto keep their spouses happy and have GIs reenlisting, gove benefits to spouses too!

Paul Rutter of PA 12:40PM June 18, 2008