GI BILL

The new GI bill covers divorces.

The actual verbage is slightly different than the military.com interpretation. Not much difference between this and retirement. I am sure a savvy attorney will have it headed for the Supreme Court within a few years. However, I hope you are correct.
 
"The first thing we do is let's kill all the lawyers" Henrey VI - Part 2 Act IV, Scene II. The only memorable line from that play.

Per DOD,Bob Clark, Assistant Director, Accession Policy, ODUSD(MPP) Page 5

http://veterans.senate.gov/upload/Slides_DOD_Briefing.pdf

I agree it is a morale booster for those currently serving. What is wrong with that? Retirement benefits are totally different. Even after making specific transfer of the educational benefits they remain the "property" of the veteran who accrued them and that individual retains the right to revoke or modify the allocation. By the specific Federal Law as enumerated in the new GI Bill, a QDRO or Divorce Decree can not superceed the Federal Law as currently enacted which preempts any state Divorce Laws. Pension benefits, whether defined benefit plans or defined contribution plans have always been considered "joint property" and subject to proportional distribution upon divorce.
 
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KP2001:

Wait until they have three children. One in College, one currently visiting colleges and one three years away looking at about $30K per year for each. That thirty six months of benefits looks pretty good.
 
KP2001:

Wait until they have three children. One in College, one currently visiting colleges and one three years away looking at about $30K per year for each. That thirty six months of benefits looks pretty good.
Amen!!
 
I agree it is a morale booster for those currently serving. What is wrong with that?

This is about our enlisted troops. Officers with college educations do not really need it. There are other ways to boost morale that do not tempt a 38 year old E-7 combat infantryman high school graduate soon-to-be-retiree with absolutely no civilian skills to 'squander' his ticket to a viable civilian career on someone else.

And to think that a liberal supreme court will see this is ludicrous. No matter what the law says, it is common property. It will be used informally in divorce settlements as a bargaining chip, no matter what the law says. And I believe the law will eventually be forced to change. How really is an earned education perk different than an earned retirement perk?
 
First my father was enlisted (retire as an E-8), every person I met that were E-7/8/9 all had BS/BAs. They need them to be promoted. Bettering yourself is part of the promotion systems and you are given points for college credits.

Secondly to be a career officer you need to get a masters. The AF didn't give masters of their PME programs (War College and ACSC). This is changing You were expected to get that on your own time. My next door neighbor in AK didn't get his masters, he spent a lot of time flying and then spent a tour jumping out of planes with the army being an ALO. He was passed over for not having his masters on the same promotion board that my spouse was promoted early. It made for a uncomfortable 6 months, people believed spouse took his promotion. His wife was the president of wives club too.


I know that they Navy gives masters for attending the Navy war college.
 
You both make good points but I honestly hope that no service person would transfer their GI benefits without deep thought and good counsel.
The benefit is theirs that they earned. They will retire or leave the service eventually.

Many military retirees choose a second career in their late 30's - early 40's. This is a fantastic opportunity for one to go back to school, get another degree and start a new career.
Don't forget the new GI bill can be used for grad school as well as undergrad.
Hence an E-8 with a BS can retire, go get an MBA, MAT or whatever.

If the service person transfers it to a spouse then he/she can't use it. I can see particularly hard feelings developing if it is transfers to the spouse during the marriage and the marriage later dissolves.
 
KP2001:

Wait until they have three children. One in College, one currently visiting colleges and one three years away looking at about $30K per year for each. That thirty six months of benefits looks pretty good.

For the vast majority of officers this scenario wouldn't even begin to play out until they have at least 19 years of service (most don't have children prior to commissioning out of college). That is way beyond the point that people have made the decision to stay or go. I'll stick by my contention that it won't have much effect on O retention :smile:
 
I already know one kid who is going to be using the transfer. His Dad has a choice, transfer it and let their son go to his dream school or saddle the child with loans.

When I was getting my Masters about 10 yrs ago, in all of the classes, I was the only spouse, the rest were split evenly 50% Enlisted and 50% officers. The officers need it for promotions, the enlisted did it because they knew that they had 1 more assignment in them, and the pay back committment for education would run concurrent with their PCS. I have never heard of a ph.D program that can be done at night, most of these guys will retire at 38, at the earliest, they can't afford to go for the ph.D, instead they go mgmt. because 50% retirement pay will not cover the costs for a family of 4 and one nearing college.

I also know of a guy who is transferring it to his wife, because he too has his masters, she does not have her undergrad, and they figure that if she gets her undergrad they will make more money.
 
let their son go to his dream school
about that "dream school". Don't forget you only get paid the highest in-state tuition for your state of residence. Hence the allowance for private school will vary by your state residence. Many private schools are signing on to meet the difference but they are not required to do so.

While it probably won't have an impact on O retention - the fear is/was on the Republican (McCain) side that young enlisted would choose not to re-enlist and that would exacerbate the NCO shortage. If you have Corporals resigning en masse then there would not be anyone left to promote.
My mid-20's daughter is a college grad and has med school on the brain. She enlisted in the Medical Corps and expects to get out in 3-4 years and use it for Med School.

because 50% retirement pay will not cover the costs for a family of 4 and one nearing college
My dad did it. This depends on the standard of living one is willing to accept. 50% salary with benefits is not a bad deal. With the GI bill it's entirely possible that one who retires (esp with a working spouse) would be able to pursue a graduate program - MBA, Law school, Med school.
 
First my father was enlisted (retire as an E-8), every person I met that were E-7/8/9 all had BS/BAs.

My understanding is that a BS only really becomes a factor, at least in some services, for E-8 and E-9. There are a lot of good E-7s out there, especially in the less technical arenas, who are just not college material. And would probably make excellent E-8s, except for a nonrealistic hoop through which they are forced to jump.

I heard a rumor that the Navy is backing off this requirement.

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29970
 
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