Medical Discharge and GI Bill

CadetXyz

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Mar 19, 2023
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I just got notified that I will not be receiving a commission in May this year (am a firstie). I was curious as my discharge is medically related (mental health) to what degree I would qualify for GI Bill or veterans benefits if I were to go back to school for an MBA? I do not have any percentages of disability or anything like that.
 
I just got notified that I will not be receiving a commission in May this year (am a firstie). I was curious as my discharge is medically related (mental health) to what degree I would qualify for GI Bill or veterans benefits if I were to go back to school for an MBA? I do not have any percentages of disability or anything like that.
Sorry to hear this after all your hard work. Please make sure to reach out to AOG. They can be most helpful in your situation.
 
I just got notified that I will not be receiving a commission in May this year (am a firstie). I was curious as my discharge is medically related (mental health) to what degree I would qualify for GI Bill or veterans benefits if I were to go back to school for an MBA? I do not have any percentages of disability or anything like that.
I am sorry to hear you are being medically discharged. Tough news after your investment if time and effort. Are they allowing you to complete your B.S.?

Your primary source for federal veterans benefit information will be at va.gov.

SA graduates have to complete 36 months of additional active duty after their ADSO to earn 100% of the educational benefit, so I think you would likely not qualify. You may qualify for other benefits. There are Veteran Service Officers (VSO) who can be found at state, county, VA centers, sometimes city offices. They can advise. And, there are certified veteran benefits counselors at organizations such as VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, DAV. You do not have to be a member. You don’t have to have a percent disability assigned. Contact the local chapter or try:

Now, each state has its own separate veterans benefits program. Go to your home state .gov site and look for a department or agency with veterans affairs, veterans bureau or similar in the name. You may qualify for veterans benefits in your state - with different eligibility rules. You do have a few years of AD at USMA. The counselors above who live in your home state will also know these programs.

Keep a log of everything you are told, by whom, and when. Keep email files, paper files, screenshots. The DD-214 is critical to have in hand when you separate. Create a professional personal email account you can forward key emails to before you are locked out of the USMA system.

Take advantage of the AOG as noted above. Hold your head high and go excel on your new path!
 
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I will be able to receive my bachelors degree. I was looking online though and to qualify for the GI bill, you can also have this prong: “You served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability.” My discharge will be medically related so not sure if that extends beyond just state veterans benefits though.
 
I will be able to receive my bachelors degree. I was looking online though and to qualify for the GI bill, you can also have this prong: “You served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability.” My discharge will be medically related so not sure if that extends beyond just state veterans benefits though.
This is where a trained and certified benefits counselor will help you.

I think the fact you are being medically discharged, probably with an honorable, from AD does make the difference, and I think you would be an eligible veteran . I’m glad to hear you will be able to get your degree and benefit from being a USMA grad.

I took a quick look at American Legion. There is a post in Highland Falls. All you have to do is call and ask if they have a benefits counselor you can be put in touch with. I gave you the DAV locator link. Those people are volunteers who do this as a labor of service. Get your research done now so you know the process, timeline, how to apply, what the caps on tuition are, and very importantly, how the Yellow Ribbon program works (private universities kick in scholarship money to make up the difference between VA tuition cap and more expensive private school tuition).

And, pretty much every university has a dedicated veterans liaison in the registrar or bursar office to help answer questions on benefit application as you enroll. There will also likely be a Student Veterans of America chapter on campus to provide community support.

Here’s a great example of a B School vet outreach:
https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/military (Of course, the Director of Military Affairs is a USNA grad, and he would immediately understand your situation, as a fellow SA grad. That fellowship is strong.)

Let me put in a plug for my own undergrad alma master’s business school, a great and useful alternate to an MBA, which of course they also offer:
The B School Executive Director fir MBA Recruiting and Enrollment is a retired Army lieutenant colonel. I donate to Wake Forest’s Yellow Ribbon Fund - go use some of it. 😉

Those are examples to show there is a lot of help out there. Veyerans are everywhere. You can’t help what happened to you, but you can take some good from it.

Let us know how it’s going.
 
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Thank you very much for the assistance. I appreciate all the input. I will keep an update but it is nice to have the support from everybody while traversing a tough situation indeed.
Your health is paramount. You’ll have a great foundation and look back one day and think of the turning point this was for you, in a good way. Believe in that.
 
And, here is a great non-profit dedicated to assisting veterans headed to undergrad and grad school.

Of course you got pretty good at the application stuff getting into USMA, but now it’s grad school.


 
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I just got notified that I will not be receiving a commission in May this year (am a firstie). I was curious as my discharge is medically related (mental health) to what degree I would qualify for GI Bill or veterans benefits if I were to go back to school for an MBA? I do not have any percentages of disability or anything like that.
There is a VA Services office at West Point (Bldg. 622, down by Buffalo Soldiers Field).

Here is the link for more info:
 
I will be able to receive my bachelors degree. ...

That is great. I know we had some threads last year where 1/C were kicked out immediately and not allowed to graduate with medical separations.
Hopefully, that pendulum has settled.
 
You have not served, only completed training. So the GI Bill will be outside of your grasp but please ask the VA office at USMA.
 
That is great. I know we had some threads last year where 1/C were kicked out immediately and not allowed to graduate with medical separations.
Hopefully, that pendulum has settled.
Every medical case is different.
 
Every medical case is different.
Great point. There are some medical considerations where remaining at the SA as a cadet or midshipman is not the best environment for management of the medical condition, and a decision is made in the best interests, health and safety of the individual.
 
Students enrolled at Military Academy, Naval Acacemy, Air Force Academy, and Coast Guard Academy are considered to be on active duty in the United States Armed Forces from the day they enter the Academy, with the rank of cadet or midshipman, Active Duty.
 
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