It’s a story about as old as the G.I. Bill itself: cash-strapped young people drawn to glossy posters with offers of college money in exchange for a few years of service. For National Guard students, the offer is made all the sweeter by a recruiter’s pitch that Uncle Sam only asks for one weekend each month and a couple weeks in the summer.
Of course, it only takes a deployment or state emergency to dash that recruiter’s promise of minimal time in uniform for guardsmen. But the guarantee of college money holds more true. The problem is, too few guardsmen use all that’s owed them, disoriented by the labyrinth of education entitlements, which often change.
The latest change is one of the most significant in years, and it’s a win for guardsmen burning the midnight oil at their local college. The VA has expanded access to allow some veterans with multiple qualifying service periods to receive up to 48 months of GI Bill benefits instead of the traditional 36.
“The latest ruling … determined that veterans may receive up to 48 months of GI Bill benefits in two or more programs if they serve at least two periods of service,” said Dr. Kenneth A. Hardy, Chief, Education Services Branch, National Guard Bureau.
For guardsmen, added Hardy, it means those using traditional Selected Reserve GI Bill benefits can later become eligible for active-duty GI Bill benefits and use up to 48 months of benefits when they combine two or more programs. In short, guardsmen no longer need to give up one GI Bill benefit to access another.
“The key is understanding which education programs can be used together, which must be sequenced, and which should be saved for the most expensive parts of their education,” said Hardy.
Lacking a personalized strategy, specific to the details of their service and the state in which they serve, misinformed guardsmen can burn through their GI Bill early instead of maximizing its value.
“Soldiers need to treat education benefits like a layered financial strategy instead of a single pot of money, in order to avoid leaving thousands of dollars on the table,” said Hardy.
He recommends guardsmen begin by securing their Joint Services Transcript and see how much credit their college of choice grants for their military service, as well as taking CLEP or DSST exams to get even more tuition-free coursework added to their transcripts.
“After applying those credits, use federal and state tuition assistance first and save GI Bill benefits for a future degree or to transfer to a spouse or dependents,” said Hardy.
Other awareness gaps include some guardsmen not understanding they must serve an additional four years to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. In addition, most guardsmen serving on temporary active duty on Title 32 usually don’t qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
“While soldiers earn eligibility with just 90 days of qualifying service, they must serve six years and agree to serve four more years in order to transfer their benefits,” said Hardy, adding that for Title 32 service to qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, “it must be declared a National Emergency by the president and receive federal funding.”
In light of the complexities surrounding Guard education benefits, Hardy encourages guardsmen prioritize meeting with their state’s Army National Guard Education Service Officer.
“Every situation will vary based on the soldier’s unique situation,” said Hardy. “So, we encourage soldiers to consult with their ESO to build a personalized plan that maximizes their benefits and minimizes out-of-pocket expenses.”
Resource links:
National Guard Education Benefits
