Veteran Administration’s Educational Benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs web site reports that there are 23.4 million veterans currently living and three out of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. Approximately, a quarter of the nation or 70 million people are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.

In January 2009, the VA reported that the responsibility to care for veterans, spouses, survivors and dependents can last a long time. Two children of Civil War veterans still draw VA benefits. About 184 children and widows of Spanish-American War veterans still receive VA compensation or pensions.

The VA’s Fact Sheet on their website on Education and Training reports, the first GI Bill began in 1944. “Since that time, more than 21.8 million veterans, service members and family members have received $83.6 billion in GI Bill benefits for education and training. The GI Bill recipient numbers are: 7.8 million World War II veterans, 2.4 million Korean War veterans, 8.2 million post-Korean and Vietnam-era veterans, and active duty personal that have received VA benefits. In 2008, VA assisted in the payments for the education and training of 336,527 veterans and active duty personnel, 106,092 reservists and National Guardsman and 80,079 survivors”.

This activity will involve researching the current VA benefit that you are using. If you are eligible to transfer to another benefit you can make comparisons between the current VA benefit and another VA benefit you are eligible to use. Be sure to consider your current and future education goals you have set for yourself and how you will finance current and future educational requirements to reach your career goal. Students can utilize the Veterans Administration website, VA counselors, and Excelsior College Financial Aid officers to research their VA Education Benefit.

Veteran Administration’s Educational Benefits

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Link List:

• Post 9/11Transferability - http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/gi-bill-transferability.html?ESRC=family.nl

• Get Started Using the GI Bill (MGIB & Post 9/11) - http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/get-started-using-the-gi-bill.html

• The Do's and Don'ts of Using the GI Bill on Active Duty - http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/the-dos-and-donts-of-using-the-gi-bill-on-active-duty.html

• The New GI Bill - Who Gets What? - http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/the-new-gi-bill-who-gets-what.html

• GI Bill Then and Now - http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/gi-bill-then-and-now.html

• GI Bill History - http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm

• GI Bill Info and Pamphlets - http://www.gibill.va.gov/Training/Pamphlets.htm

• VA Benefits - http://www.gibill.va.gov/

• Post 9/11 - http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Post-911.htm

• Montgomery GI Bill - http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/montgomery-gi-bill/

• Montgomery GI Bill – Select Reserve - http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/montgomery-gi-bill/selected-reserve.html

• Educational Assistance – Section 901 - https://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/educational-assistance-test-program.html

• REAP - https://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/reap.html

• DEA - http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/dea.html

• VEAP - http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/veap.html

• Voc Rehab & Employment - http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/