BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
A new GI Bill, boasting numerous additional benefits to the old GI Bill, will be offered to servicemembers and veterans beginning Aug. 1, 2009.
"The Veterans Administration has developed an updated and fair educational benefit package for our post 9/11 service members," said Sarah Flemming, Beale's training and education chief.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill, also dubbed the "GI Bill for the 21st Century," does more than pay for education, it also offers a monthly housing allowance for full-time or three-quarter time students, a yearly allowance for books and supplies and the ability to eventually transfer limited benefits to family members.
The housing stipend granted will be the equivalent to the housing allowance an active-duty E-5 with dependents would get in their local area. The book allowance will be $1,000 annually.
Requirements for enrollment in the new GI Bill do differ slightly from the previous bill. Members who have served a total of at least 90 consecutive days on active duty in the Armed Forces since Sept. 11, 2001 are eligible. However, the benefits a servicemember receives under this program are determined by the actual amount of post 9/11 service accumulated. Also, members who did not previously enroll for the previous GI Bill are still eligible for the new bill and are not required to pay in to receive the benefits.
"For those Airmen who currently don't have GI Bill benefits, I would highly recommend they take advantage of this program as soon as the enrollment window opens," said Ms. Flemming. "It makes higher education more attainable through financial assistance, and Airmen should definitely take advantage of this new and improved benefit."
Airmen already enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill will have the option to transfer their benefits or keep their original benefits the same. Although the new bill does have added options, some of those will not apply to members pursuing online or graduate degree programs. Those servicemembers can elect to keep the MGIB if it better suits their needs.
According to Chief Master Sgt. Kathy Primrose, chief of the 940th ARW Education Office, although legislation was signed, no guidance has been given as to how this new Active Duty GI Bill applies to the Reserve program.
This does not replace Reserve GI Bill (Chapter 1606) nor does this change the Reserve GI Bill (at this time anyway), said the Chief.
Air Force Reserve Command/A1T will provide additional guidance after legal review is completed.
"While this looks good, we need to make sure who will actually qualify and receive these benefits," Chief Primrose said.
For questions or concerns, please contact Chief Primrose, 634-1846, Mr. Harold Butler, 634-1844, or Master Sgt. Floyd Gipson, 634-1842.