The New GI Bill

[mpatton22]

Has anybody gone over this thing in detail? Does it change anything in relation to flight schools and the like? Obviously it does in the sense that it provides BAH at the level of an E5 with dependents...but does it change anything about what it actually pays for schools like this? Are you still on your own until you achieve your private?

 

This thing is still brand new and nobody seems to have many answers....

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Matthew

[Linc]

www.GIBILL2008.org

 

Brought to you by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

 

If your question is about using the New GI Bill for flight training, the flight training program will have to be at an accredited college or university. (FAQ at Military.com)

[Aldereguia]

so where exactly can i go sign up for the GI bill to start helping me pay for school

[mechanic]

so where exactly can i go sign up for the GI bill to start helping me pay for school

 

You start at your local US Military recruiter's office. After you finish basic training you can start using some benefits, IF, you are lucky enough to be close to a heli school at your duty station. I was stationed in Italy with a guy from PR, in the USAF.

[rjl2001]

A few weeks ago I called the VA to check the new rates for this year. I asked him about the "new gi bill" and how it would affect flight training. His answer was that for all flight training the new gi bill would not apply, and that you would have to use the "normal gi bill" the same way as before.

 

Yes, an exception would be an accredited college or university that has a flight program with it. You could talk to the school's VA liason about it, because it's a little confusing sometimes how it works with that.

 

A couple other things: I believe your only entitled to start using GI Bill benefits after two years from enlistment. Also remember the flight school will have to be Part 141 and the course for each rating must be VA approved. Even here in Florida there aren't that many helicopter schools that are VA approved, maybe five of them. But it seems like a lot are in the process of getting VA approved, just sounds like it's a lot of paperwork and can take quite a while for the approval.

[mechanic]

Uhh,

On the VA.gov website you can persue flight training with the Post 9/11 GI Bill.... Maybe its miss worded though. Yip, 24 months of service for Chapter 30 Cat 2..

 

P.S. I have only been out for 20 yrs, lol, matter of fact on the 18th of this month.

 

GIBill.va.gov

 

If you are also eligible for chapter 30, 1606 or 1607, you may be eligible to pursue training for on-the-job training, apprenticeship, correspondence, flight and preparatory courses under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

[Linc]

Mechanic,

 

To me, the answer you are referring to is implying possible continued coverage under the new GI Bill for those who would've been allowed to conduct the training under the MGIB; similar to the FAQ on military.com that I linked to.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Linc

[Pohi]

My two cents...

 

I used up half of my pre 9/11 GI Bill on my rotorcraft commercial through cfii and still have about 13 months of benefits left. I was extremely interested to hear about the changes because I would like to work on the fixed wing ratings also. From what I understand, the amount of the benefits that a person is entitled to greatly depends on the time in service post 9/11. Since I was only in for a year after 9/11 and I used up 1/2 of my GI Bill, I think I am better off getting the fixed wing training over with now, rather than waiting until next year when the other benefits start.

[signalfreq]

Meh, you can change the bennies all you want, but until you fix the VA, there's no difference in my opinion. If you're an OEF or OIF vet, you can claim PTSD and get in on the Work Rehab program, which will pretty much fund any career-oriented school of your choosing, provided that they feel you're smart enough to succeed. After all, the VA will not send someone to learn how to be a rocket-scientist with a 50 on the ASVAB. I did my time in Iraq, and so now the VA is going to pay, one way or another.

 

Additionally, don't forget that you will need to front money at any school that you decide to attend using the GI Bill, and let the VA pay you back. This practice is keeping lots of veterans out of college because they simply don't have the money to pay for a full semester of school up front. This is no different at a Part 141 flight school... in fact, you are only refunded for a fraction of the cost of such a school.

 

My recommendation - if you want to use VA benefits to go to flight school, claim PTSD. Otherwise, forget the GI Bill ever existed, and do it the way that the civilians are doing it. Thanks for nothing, VA.

[aviatr]

Additionally, don't forget that you will need to front money at any school that you decide to attend using the GI Bill, and let the VA pay you back. This practice is keeping lots of veterans out of college because they simply don't have the money to pay for a full semester of school up front. This is no different at a Part 141 flight school... in fact, you are only refunded for a fraction of the cost of such a school.

 

I checked into this for helicopters. The flight school has to be a Part 141 flight school and their courses have to be VA approved. The VA will not pay for PPL. You have to pay for that. They will pay 60% and you pay 40% for licenses/ratings after that. They also require that you do Instrument and Commercial at the same time, which is no big deal. And yes, you have to pay and they refund you - forms are submitted monthly.

[Pogue]

My recommendation - if you want to use VA benefits to go to flight school, claim PTSD. Otherwise, forget the GI Bill ever existed, and do it the way that the civilians are doing it. Thanks for nothing, VA.

 

And my recommendation is to do some research before you try that - Voc Rehab won't pay for flight training at at all.

[aviatr]

And my recommendation is to do some research before you try that - Voc Rehab won't pay for flight training at at all.

 

That may not be the case any more. I know some people who are going through a process right now. They have not been approved yet, but it is looking like it might happen. IM me if you want to know more - I can't post their personal info.

[Pogue]

That may not be the case any more. I know some people who are going through a process right now. They have not been approved yet, but it is looking like it might happen. IM me if you want to know more - I can't post their personal info.

I know of a case where the Voc Rehab people actually exceeded their authority in granting a claim, and eventually decided that they had to honor their "mistake". I believe that case is being used as precedent to attempt to change that policy, but I wouldn't bet on it being resolved any time soon at this point. I'm using 1607 benefits myself, and I'm fine with them, along with all that tax free money I made on my last deployment. I have a problem with people who "claim" PTSD to get benefits they don't deserve. Voc rehab gets abused a lot (and quite frankly, the voc rehab employees who gave us our demob brief encouraged it, so it's probably something of an institutional problem.) I prefer it be used by people who need it - there's plenty of them and there's only so much money. I'm happy to use the benefit I earned, but nobody owes me a free lunch.

 

FWIW, I think Voc rehab should be able to pay for flight training, but as signalfred points out all an OIF/OEF vet needs to do is say their DI scared them and they can claim PTSD. How long do you think it will take that loophole from causing a complete shutdown of VA sponsored fight school?

[BillyBob]

Meh, you can change the bennies all you want, but until you fix the VA, there's no difference in my opinion. If you're an OEF or OIF vet, you can claim PTSD and get in on the Work Rehab program, which will pretty much fund any career-oriented school of your choosing, provided that they feel you're smart enough to succeed. After all, the VA will not send someone to learn how to be a rocket-scientist with a 50 on the ASVAB. I did my time in Iraq, and so now the VA is going to pay, one way or another.

 

Additionally, don't forget that you will need to front money at any school that you decide to attend using the GI Bill, and let the VA pay you back. This practice is keeping lots of veterans out of college because they simply don't have the money to pay for a full semester of school up front. This is no different at a Part 141 flight school... in fact, you are only refunded for a fraction of the cost of such a school.

 

My recommendation - if you want to use VA benefits to go to flight school, claim PTSD. Otherwise, forget the GI Bill ever existed, and do it the way that the civilians are doing it. Thanks for nothing, VA.

 

 

fred,

I used GI Bill benefits for a semester of college and for a little flight training.

I agree that using it for flight training requires having a good portion of money up front or being able to accept losing some reimbursement to credit card interest.

 

I do disagree with you about the university setting though. I got $1000 a month once I started and the school I attended was only ~3K a semester. The school allowed you a bit of time to pay up in full also so you did not need everything up front. If somebody wants an AS or BS degree and has the desire it is completely possible.

 

Every VA person I have dealt with was great. My problems actually came from the flight schools secretary not following up and doing her part and then purposefully delaying rectifying her failing. That is what cost me a few hundred in interest, not the VA.

[aviatr]

Every VA person I have dealt with was great. My problems actually came from the flight schools secretary not following up and doing her part and then purposefully delaying rectifying her failing. That is what cost me a few hundred in interest, not the VA.

 

Did the flight school ever compensate you for this? That sounds like a bad deal on their part.