Educational Benefits in the Military
EH 1020
Professor Reynolds
December 3rd, 2012
Abstract
A military career will provided a person with a rich set of experiences and skills that many civilian employers seek in new hires. Only having experience and job related skills are no guarantee that you will land a job once you are discharged from the military. Having an education is one of the most important qualities a person can have. Many employers have minimum education requirements just to be considered. If you don’t meet the minimum requirements you risk your resume not being reviewed and chances are your resume will not get a second glance. Meeting the minimum job requirements might get your foot in the door; however, generally education will often be the tie-breaker that will get you hired.

Educational Benefits in the Military There was a time in the military when having an education was insignificant. You could join with no if, ands, or buts about it, and be on your way to basic training in no time. There was a time when the military did not even require you to have a high school diploma in order to join. Times have changed, and so has the military in regards to the ability to receive an education. Serving in the military today is a very specialized and intense experience. You no longer can just join like stated above, you have to take an ASVAB test (multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military), (http://www.military.com).This test will score you in a variety of areas that will skill qualify you for an occupation. Taking this test places you in a certain military occupational specialty and determines enlistment Bonuses. A higher score will increase your chances of getting the specialty/job and signing bonus you want. Once you are placed in a category, there are multiple jobs that you can choose from based on your score. Being a soldier and a scholar at the same time are almost the two most difficult things that a person can be. Both of these positions come with great responsibility, hard work and dedication. These two terms represent and describe two very important, but naturally different duties. When the two jobs can be linked together as one, and provide a chance for the individual to learn more, that is where opportunities can arise. A formal education is an important contributor to the development of oneself. When prospective employers look at a resume, they see military as discipline and education; however education speaks volumes. Education provides the essential foundation that is required for a Soldier to prepare for the certainties that await him in the accomplishment of his/her chosen profession. Education that includes both civilian and military academic studies provides the building blocks of knowledge. When combined with personal and professional experience, education creates an environment that fosters leadership. A person can interpret academia as a starting place where you can learn from the experiences and discoveries of others before venturing out by yourself. Attending College is a major step in our lives, which not only can change who you are as a person, but can change your whole lifestyle. The multiple higher education resources available for soldiers are endless. There is always someone, something, and some way to help you with choosing the right educational path. With proper knowledge on the resources available, you can expand your education for as long as your benefits allow. Benefits are still available after you are discharged from the military. Often people forget the multiple benefits and resources available after your discharge. It is essential to research your options to better yourself and even your family.

Children and Spousal Educational Benefits Getting educational benefits for your dependents is not as difficult as people make it out to be. There are multiple programs available to those who are qualified. As a dependent of a member in the military, you are entitled to educational benefits if your service member chooses to transfer his/her benefits to you. If you are a child or spouse of someone in the military, you may be eligible to use their educational benefits. “A Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) is where the DOD may offer members of the Armed Forces on or after Aug.1, 2009, the opportunity to transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent children. DOD and the military services must approve all requests for this benefit. Members of the Armed Forces approved for the TOE may only transfer any unused portion of their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while a member of the Armed Forces, subject to their period of eligibility.” (Department of Veterans Affairs, Sept 2012) Children that are eligible are entitled up to 36 months of benefits at 100%, have 15 years to use the benefits beginning on their 18th birthday, and may use the benefit until their 33rd birthday. These benefits that are available are among the many endless opportunities available to soldiers, spouses and children. As you read in the next paragraph, there are a plethora of educational benefits available for use if you qualify.

College Benefits in the Military Before joining the military, it would behoove oneself to research the different opportunities and options available to them once they join. A soldier can be awarded all of the benefits available at their signup, but with poor performance, these opportunities can dissipate. For example, having an administrative or performance flag, or an investigation can bring your educational benefits to a halt. In order to receive benefits, it is imperative that you hold a good reputation whether it is administratively or by performance. If you happen to receive a flag, it can be lifted and that would result in your benefits being reinstated. The military provides so many benefits for college and education prior to pursuing an education while you are in. If someone has a former student loan debt, the Army has a program called The Loan Repayment Program or LRP. This is an incentive offered to applicants who qualify at the time of enlistment. This special incentive will allow you to have one-third of your prior loan paid by the Army for every year you serve of full-time active duty (GoArmy, 1998). Another great college benefit is Tuition assistance (TA). Tuition Assistance is a program where the military pays up to $250 per credit for you to attend college. Each year you have a maximum benefit allowance of $4500 to use. If your credits exceed the allotted $250, you are responsible for the remaining balance. This program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. You can use TA for either classroom learning or distance learning. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in GoArmyEd and are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. TA is available to soldiers so they can complete a high school diploma and also certificate programs; however it will not be approved to complete credentials at the same or a lower educational level, or for programs higher than a master’s degree. (GoArmy, 1998). In addition to the previous benefits explained, there is another great education benefit named the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). This bill is designed to help you pay for your college education. To qualify for the GI Bill all you have to do is give $100 a month during your first year of service (GoArmy, 1998). There are many other benefits for one’s education such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for educational benefits and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of cumulative service after September 10, 2001, or the individual is discharged with a service-related disability after 30 days. To receive benefits you must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible. While using the Post-9/11 GI bill you will receive an annual book and supply stipend up to $1000.00 which will be paid out proportionately based on your enrollment. You also will be eligible for MHA (Military Housing Allowance) and a onetime rural benefit program for $500.00. (https://www.defensetravel.dod) The only way that you are eligible for the MHA is if you are attending an on campus class; therefore using distance learning you are not eligible. However, if the majority of your classes are online and you take a class at a campus that is helping you work toward your degree completion, that class would count, and you could potentially become eligible for MHA. As a Reservist you are not limited to the many benefits available listed above. It is often misunderstood that you are limited due to the fact that many people think if you’re not active duty you’re not eligible, wrong. Reservists are eligible to multiple educational benefits as well as non-educational benefits. The Reserve educational assistance also known as REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. This program is a DOD (Department of Defense) educational benefit system that is designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. If you were activated for at least 90 days after September 11th, 2001, this program makes certain reservists eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. (Reserve Educational Assistance “REAP”, 2012) If you want to join the military but decide to join as a reservist there are also many educational incentives like Tuition Assistance that is mentioned above. There is the Army Reserve Benefit which offers a Reserve Montgomery GI Bill of up to $12,132. If you qualify for and accept a critical position in the Army Reserve, you can earn an additional MGIB kicker. With the MGIB Reserve Kicker you can add up to $687 a month to your Montgomery GI Bill for up to 36 months. The “Kicker” amounts may vary according to job and rank. With all of these benefits available to people joining the Military there really is no excuse why people can’t earn an education. I have learned that a lot of people become “gun shy” at the thought of attending school again, especially at a more mature age. Truth of the matter is that sometimes as a young adult you’re just not ready and/or disciplined enough to obtain a degree. If you happen to be a young degree seeking individual, I have found that in the long run the degree that was chosen is not one that actually gets put to use. In this economy and the more trying times, more and more adults and even mature adults are turning back to school. A lot of retired veterans never used their educational benefits and if they are still in the window of opportunity, many are returning to school. There are so many programs available to each individual, some depending on rank, service etc., but options are still available. It is very important to further your education, and especially if it is being paid for at no cost to the soldier. Attending College is a major step in our lives, which not only can change who you are as a person, but can change your whole lifestyle. The multiple higher education resources available for soldiers are endless. In this day and age it is so important to have an education. With unemployment at a high, employers can be more selective. More and more people with degrees are getting the jobs that used to be available to non-degree people. A lot of employers choose to have a degree requirement for “qualifications” rather than choosing someone who only has experience. This is happening more and more because there are more applicants to choose from because so many Americans are desperately seeking employment. Having an education could make you that one special shining star that puts you above the rest of the applicants. There are a thousand new ideas around every corner in our lives; education is the gateway to expose you to those new ideas in which may never have occurred to you. Above all, education can spark joy and excitement of self-empowerment that gives you the confidence to take on new possibilities. So seek out all the educational benefits and opportunities possible and allow yourself to grow and succeed.

References

ASVAB Military.com. (2012). Home and Military Retrieved November from http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab
Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. (2012). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November from http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/benefits_chap04.asp
Go Army Homepage , GoArmy.com. (1998). Retrieved November from http://www.goarmy.com/
Tuition Assistance Eligibility, n.d Retrieved November from www.goarmy.edu
Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site, The Home for All Educational Benefits Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2012). Retrieved November from http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/reap.html