GI Bill Benefits!

SamAca10

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Jul 19, 2009
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My dad and I were talking about GI Bill benefits today, and I dug up this interesting little tidbit:

When the new GI Bill was enacted in June 2008, Congress provided that for those who graduated from the DoD service academies the five years immediately following graduation could not be counted as active duty for purposes of establishing eligibility for benefits under the new GI Bill. They would become eligible for education benefits at the 100% level on the eighth anniversary of their graduation.

For reasons we can only speculate about, this provision did not apply to Coast Guard Academy graduates. That meant that immediately after graduation they would begin accruing active duty service which would count for purposes of establishing eligible for benefits under the new GI Bill. They would become eligible for education benefits at the 100% level on the third anniversary of their graduation.

One of the provisions of the so-called ‘‘Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010’’ (signed by the president on 04 January 2011) made the provision described above for DoD service academy graduates applicable to Coast Guard Academy graduates as well.

However, the provision applies only to cadets who enter the academy on and after 04 January 2011. Put another way, this change in the law applies only to the Coast Guard Academy class of 2015 and those following it.

If you’re a CGA grad who applied for benefits under the new GI Bill (either via the on-line VONAPP or VA form 22-1990) and were rejected, please contact Mr. Reidus Stokes so he can review your situation.

Source: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/education/gibill-33a.asp

Glad that I'm in 2014 :thumb:
 
That's not how I read that at all. The way I read the change was it would only affect CGA graduates who had not applied for benefits before 04JAN11 and were not outside the (is 8 year) period.

Interesting.... wonder why TRACEN Cape May's website is the one with the information.
 
That's not how I read that at all. The way I read the change was it would only affect CGA graduates who had not applied for benefits before 04JAN11 and were not outside the (is 8 year) period.

Interesting.... wonder why TRACEN Cape May's website is the one with the information.

I'm not sure but I definitely want to pass this info onto my class as well as 2012 and 2013.
 
I'm not sure how I would read this, I remember there being a lecture for my class at some point saying how we could no longer apply for benefits after we graduated, but I'm not sure.
 
I mean, I read the actual act and I didn't take away from it what was included here.


That said, I believe an academy grad is eligible, you'll just have to wait a number of years.... something CGA grads haven't had to do.
 
I know quite a few recent USCGA grads who are using their GI Bill benefits rather than applying for a grad slot that would incur additional years of service (2 for 1st year, 1 for 2nd). One graduate in the class of 2007 earned their Master's in 2009 while stationed on a cutter, another is currently assigned to a sector job and has plenty of time to study.
 
USCGA Scholars Program Enlistment Benefits

Taking this conversation a bit further regarding USCGA Scholar "enlistment" VA / Educational benefits.

USCGA Scholars serve a one year enlisted contract at E-2 pay grade. After successfully completing USCGA prep school "enlisted" the scholar(s) are disenrolled from USCG with a honorable discharge. USCGA Scholars, those making the passing grade(s) and passing all USCGA prep school standards, receive their USCGA appointment and move on to USCGA Swab summer.

Since the USCGA scholars served 1 year service "enlisted" and receive an honorable discharge, I believe (to the best of knowledge) they are eligible for enlisted VA and educational benefits for serving over 180 days of active duty.

Bottomline, serving one year enlisted (E-2) in the Scholars program may provide some additional "enlisted" benefits for the hard year in prep school. As well, time in service years. My thinking, and I may be wrong, USCGA students having serving in the prep school "enlisted" can draw on earned "enlistment" benefits from previous prep school days.

Maybe someone can verify this point.
 
I can't vouched for any of that, but only because I haven't looked and it's a little late tonight.

I can say that that year of being enlisted will not earn you "E" pay once you get your commission. I forget the number of years (again, it's late or I might google it), but I believe it's 3 years enlisted. O-1E pay is mighty mighty sweet!
 
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