New GI Bill passed

[Rat]

On an earlier post I stated I had 2.5 years left on my G.I. bill, I made an uneducated statement since I just found I have to be drilling to get the benefit. Hope I didn't mislead anyone. Start my training on 8-4, can't wait. I really enjoy this website, so many people provide such quality information, thanks to all !!!

[Parafiddle]

So I was actually googling the topic as well and came across this forum. I have emailed the VA and asked them this question we all want to know as well and still have not gotten a response. I have done about as much research as I possibly can on this topic but I guess we're just going to have to wait it out. I have read every clip of every article posted about flight training and the new GI bill and haven't found specifics. I do want to ask Parafiddle a question, how did the VA reimburse you for your instrument rating? I just finished up my private pilot course and am thinking about starting my instrument rating soon (depending on the outcome of the new gi bill) and was wondering how you paid for it. Did you pay for the whole course out of pocket and then receive reimbursement after paying for it? Did the VA only give you the approx. $1,200/mo or did they give you 60% of what your costs were for that month? This is a very frustrating subject because I am suppose to seperate in November and was going to go straight to DCA with my private & instrument rating but if this new G.I. bill will cover more of the training expenses, it would probably favor me to wait until Aug. 1st 2009 to continue training. Thanks for the info!!!!

 

Sorry about the delay in replying - I was on vacation. To answer your question, I had to pay for the training up front and then submitted paperwork each month through my flight school and was reimbursed 60% of what I spent for that month. It usually took about a month to get reimbursed (after we sent in the paperwork). However, I had some problems with my VA payments and I'm still working to try to get it straightened out. Part of the problem may have been with the VA and part may have been with our old flight school manager (who was fired). Bottom line is that you can get reimbursed, but you'll need to have the money available initially to pay for the flying to prevent being held up waiting on your VA reimbursement. If you have any more questions about it, feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

[Parafiddle]

On an earlier post I stated I had 2.5 years left on my G.I. bill, I made an uneducated statement since I just found I have to be drilling to get the benefit. Hope I didn't mislead anyone. Start my training on 8-4, can't wait. I really enjoy this website, so many people provide such quality information, thanks to all !!!

 

Rat, are you saying that you are being told that you have to be actively drilling in the Natl. Guard or Reserves to be able to utilize your GI Bill benefits that you have already qualified for?! If this is what you are being told, you are getting bad information. Once you qualify for your benefits, you can get completely out of the military and still be able to use your benefits. Based on your statement that you have 2.5 years left on your GI Bill, I assume you have already used some of your GI Bill benefits. The other scenario is that you left active duty 7.5 years ago and you have 2.5 years of eligibility left (10 years of eligibility after leaving active duty).

[Rat]

Rat, are you saying that you are being told that you have to be actively drilling in the Natl. Guard or Reserves to be able to utilize your GI Bill benefits that you have already qualified for?! If this is what you are being told, you are getting bad information. Once you qualify for your benefits, you can get completely out of the military and still be able to use your benefits. Based on your statement that you have 2.5 years left on your GI Bill, I assume you have already used some of your GI Bill benefits. The other scenario is that you left active duty 7.5 years ago and you have 2.5 years of eligibility left (10 years of eligibility after leaving active duty).

That is what I was told, if I'm not drilling I do not get the benefit. I did use the G.I bill for Paramedic school in 1997. The info. I got initially said I have until Jan. 2010 to use my benefits. Then over the phone they told me I had to be drilling. I'm still waiting to here officially from the on-line application I submitted. Thanks for your input.

[Parafiddle]

That is what I was told, if I'm not drilling I do not get the benefit. I did use the G.I bill for Paramedic school in 1997. The info. I got initially said I have until Jan. 2010 to use my benefits. Then over the phone they told me I had to be drilling. I'm still waiting to here officially from the on-line application I submitted. Thanks for your input.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Rat. If I was you, I'd get a second opinion (which sounds like you have already requested). Good luck! Hope it works out for you. Please let us know what you find out as I'm sure there are other people in your situation.

[Rat]

Thanks for the clarification, Rat. If I was you, I'd get a second opinion (which sounds like you have already requested). Good luck! Hope it works out for you. Please let us know what you find out as I'm sure there are other people in your situation.

As soon as I find out I will share the info. I should be getting a response from the application I submitted. I wish I had a good feeling about it but I don't. Never hurts to try.

[TaIk2Kevin]

I'm still not sold on the new GI Bill. I think in many cases the old GI Bill will be a better deal. Only time will tell.

GIBill.org has a lot of information, along with a breakdown of what you get per state. Most of the tuition costs is around 6-7 thousand dollars which is much less than hat you get now, the only way the total amount will come close to the old GI Bill is with the housing alotment and that is if you get it as a flight student and if it is even good for the entire year or just the months that you are in school.

[Parafiddle]

Here is a link to the VA GI Bill website: http://www.gibill.va.gov/

[Cod]

Hi guys, I've been a long time lurker on the forum, but this is my first post. I received an email from the VA yesterday that will come as bad news for many folks. In short, unless you are already eligible for the old, Montgomery GI Bill, you cannot use the new bill for flight training. Below is the question I asked the VA, and underneath that is their answer back.

 

 

My Question:

I have read the answer in the FAQ list about what the bill covers. However, In my situation, I am an active duty officer NOT eligible for MGIB (Chap 30/1606/1607.) Does that mean I cannot use the new GIB for flight training?

 

-------------------------------------

 

VA Answer:

That is correct. The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) does not pay for Flight Training.

 

Only those veterans who have the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 education benefits, and have elected to convert their remaining entitlement in effect in August 2009 to the Post 9/11 GI Bill would be able to pursue flight training.

 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program is not effective until August 1, 2009. Benefits under this program are only payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.

 

Thank you for contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs.

[aviatr]

I spoke to the VA yesterday. They confirmed that the new bill does not change flight school regulations. They did mention that there may be some changes effective Aug 2009 but do not know what these changes will be for flight schools (if any).

[Linc]

aviatr,

 

I'm confused by your post? Is it meant for rebuttal to Cod's post? With whom did you speak with at the VA? What is their familiarity with the Chapter 33 GI Bill? What do you mean by confirming not changing flight school regulations? The whole context is very confusing.

 

WildLyon quoted Chapter 30, not Chapter 33.

 

Here is Chapter 33: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/ge...d=f:publ252.110 (you'll have to scroll down to Title V)

 

Caveat: I am not a lawyer. The applicable portion is Title V of Public Law 110-252. Sec 5003 describes that its purpose is to amend Title 38 USC by inserting Chapter 33 after Chapter 32 (Chapter 33 was previously stricken from Title 38 or left unused).

 

I believe the key provision that is in question in this discussion is Sec 3313(b ) - Approved Programs of Education, which states,

§ 3313. Educational assistance: amount; payment

 

(a) PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall pay to each individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter who is pursuing an approved program of education (other than a program covered by subsections (e) and (f)) the amounts specified in subsection © to meet the expenses of such individual’s subsistence, tuition, fees, and other educational costs for pursuit of such program of education.

 

(b ) APPROVED PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.—A program of education is an approved program of education for purposes of this chapter if the program of education is offered by an institution of higher learning (as that term is defined in section 3452(f)) and is approved for purposes of chapter 30 (including approval by the State approving agency concerned).

This section refers to a definition of "institution of higher learning" in section 3452(f), which states,

§ 3452. Definitions

 

(f) The term "institution of higher learning" means a college, university, or similar institution, including a technical or business school, offering postsecondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree if the school is empowered by the appropriate State education authority under State law to grant an associate or higher degree. When there is no State law to authorize the granting of a degree, the school may be recognized as an institution of higher learning if it is accredited for degree programs by a recognized accrediting agency. Such term shall also include a hospital offering educational programs at the postsecondary level without regard to whether the hospital grants a postsecondary degree. Such term shall also include an educational institution which is not located in a State, which offers a course leading to a standard college degree, or the equivalent, and which is recognized as such by the secretary of education (or comparable official) of the country or other jurisdiction in which the institution is located.

 

-Source

Again, I'm not a lawyer, but it pretty much says that flight training is not approved unless it is somehow offered as part of a degree program at an institution of higher learning that is accredited or approved.

 

The only argument that I think could possibly remain would be based on that portion of section 3313(b ) which says, "...and is approved for purposes of chapter 30". Rather than being a reference to the types of approved training under chapter 30, I believe that is more of a reference to chapter 36 - Administration of Educational Benefits. Meaning that the institutions of higher learning in section 3452(f) that have been approved for chapter 30 benefits, through the processes discussed in chapter 36, are also approved for chapter 33 benefits. This would serve to prevent states from duplicating work in order to also accredit/approve those colleges/universities for chapter 33.

 

But that's my opinion. Your specific fuel consumption may vary.

[hooked4life]

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who participated in this thread so far. It's really got me thinking about what i'm going to do when I get off active duty next year. However, cod's post was a little confusing...

 

My Question:

I have read the answer in the FAQ list about what the bill covers. However, In my situation, I am an active duty officer NOT eligible for MGIB (Chap 30/1606/1607.) Does that mean I cannot use the new GIB for flight training?

 

-------------------------------------

 

VA Answer:

That is correct. The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) does not pay for Flight Training.

 

Only those veterans who have the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 education benefits, and have elected to convert their remaining entitlement in effect in August 2009 to the Post 9/11 GI Bill would be able to pursue flight training.

 

Does this mean that only officers can't get the benefit, or what's the deal here? I'm enlisted joined Active duty in 2003 so,

I'm pretty sure I'm eligible for chapter 30, but what is chapter 33? I've been looking around on the va site and can't find anything about it.

 

 

Also I had another question about the whole 60% reimbursement thing... is the monthly cap really $1200? That seems a little low for heli-flight training, considering it would only pay for around 5 hours of flighttime.

[goromadgo]

Just got a similar answer to my questions the other day. Still waiting to hear back how rolling my benefits over from Chapter 30 to Chapter 33 will effect my benefits/available $ if I start prior to August 09.

 

"For veterans who have the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) may use their education benefits for flight training as Flight Training is Chapter 30 specific. Veterans who do not qualify for Chapter 30, but do qualify for the new Chapter 33 cannot use their Chapter 33 education benefits for flight training.

 

Veterans who qualify for Chapter 30, and also Chapter 33, the Post 9/11 GI Bill, may convert their Chapter 30 education benefits to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill in August 2009. Since the veteran has Chapter 30 education benefits converted to Chapter 33, they may use their education benefits for flight training. They will be paid at the same rate they would receive under Chapter 30, which is up to 60% of the cost of their flight training.

 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program is not effective until August 1, 2009. Benefits under this program are only payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date. You should check the GI Bill website (http://www.gibill.va.gov) regularly to get the most up-to-date information about the program and to determine when VA will begin processing Post-9/11 GI Bill applications. You may also sign up to receive an email alert that notifies you each time VA updates information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

 

Thank you for contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs."

[goromadgo]

Also I had another question about the whole 60% reimbursement thing... is the monthly cap really $1200? That seems a little low for heli-flight training, considering it would only pay for around 5 hours of flighttime.

 

From what I've been told they will group the $1,200 into 36 months and you can use each of these 36 "months" up in the time you need. IE if you need $6,000 for a month of training they will use 5 "months" of your available time and pay out that $6,000 leaving you with 31 months. ($1,200 x 5 months)

 

These other guys will probably be able to explain it better or correct me if I am wrong, but that is how I understand it.

[diverturnedpilot]

I spoke to the VA again to try and get some more clarity. Well, in typical gov fashion there is none.

 

I might have actually gotten the most honest answer yet. They don't know! The VA and congress still has to put a lot of the details together. It is another case of the cart getting to the media before the horse.

 

The VA rep I spoke with suggested that I write my congressmen/women. I did...all of them.

 

If you look on the VA website there is a button "Congressional Matters"; it has a list of all Senators and Representatives that are on VA committees. I suggest you all contact your reps also. Our colective voices do matter.

 

I gathered that it will most likely be after the new President and the new Congress takes office before anything else is done on the matter.

 

If anyone else has any news please keep me posted!

 

Merry Christmas,

 

Brad

 

I just pointed out that if the new GI Bill will pay for the most expensive state school, $70K in Florida, why can't they foot the bill for $50-60K worth of flight training. Especially since some flight schools partner with local colleges towards a degree.

[crashed_05]

The Central Oregon Community College was just approved by the VA for the Post 9/11 GI Bill to cover 100% of the tuition plus flight training costs at Leading Edge Aviation. Each individual school has to be approved and I guess its a long process. Portland Community College is currently trying to get the VA to do the same thing with them and Hillsboro Aviation.

[NavyChief]

Hello all, new to the site. I just got my acceptance letter to Iowa Central Community College and they offer an Associates in Aviation/Professional Pilot. The VA said that any flight school offered thru a College is eligible for the new GI Bill abd Any other flight school would be "case by case". I actually talked to the VA rep and the VA and they had a list of schools that would qualify. I think you should call and see for yourself.