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Barrett Bogue works for the Office of Education Service, which is responsible for paying and administering the GI Bill. He is the team leader for public relations and digital engagement. His team is responsible for raising awareness, as well as educating and promoting the GI Bill benefit program.

Service members can use the GI Bill to help pay for college. For example, Bogue used the GI Bill to earn two degrees from the University of Tennessee!

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The most popular is the Post-9/11 GI Bill:

Post-9/11 GI Bill: This is the most popular bill that most people qualify for. However, it is not a loan, grant, scholarship, or associated with federal financial aid. It is an entitlement program, which means it is an earned benefit. If you have served in the military for three years or more, you qualify for this bill.

What is covered in this bill:

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Active service: Tuition and fees (no cap for public schools; but there is a maximum amount per year of $20,000 for private/for-profit schools), housing allowance (based on location/ZIP code) , and book and supplies stipend (up to $1,000 per year)

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Transfer options available, which means children of veteran can use the GI Bill benefits

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Fry Scholarship: If a service member is killed in the line of duty, children and spouses are eligible for their own Post-9/11 GI Bill.

When you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you generally have:

* 15 years from the last day you separated from the service

* 36 months of entitlement (school year is typically nine months)

Considering the Military

You can serve in any branch of military service for at least three years and any type of job in the military to qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However, there are some restrictions:

* Reserve time does not count toward GI Bill

* Honorably discharged members do not qualify

Participating Schools

Since 2009, about $52 billion has been paid out in education benefits under the GI Bill, and there are more and more people utilizing the GI Bill to transition people from the military into schools. There is a high level of interest from schools and veterans. “We have very good relationships with the institutions across the country,” said Bogue.

GI Bill vs. Financial Aid

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will not actually see the money for tuition and fees. Instead, that money is sent directly to the school. The school then verifies to the VA:

* Who you are

* Enrollment

* Number of credit hours

* Major

* Charge for tuition and fees; and then any scholarship or other financial aid is subtracted

Funds from the GI Bill are not income, so they do not need to be reported.

Application Process

The following process occurs when applying for a GI Bill.

* Apply online

* Information is given to the Department of Defense to verify military service

* Application is reviewed

* Determine if applicant is eligible for GI Bill (certificate of eligibility=Golden Ticket!)

* What you are entitled to

* How long you are entitled to benefits

Applicants will be communicating with departments of financial aid, registrar, and/or purser’s office at the VA. Also, they will be in contact with a school’s certifying official responsible for reporting back to the VA.

Uses of GI Bill

There are some main considerations about the use of GI Bills:

* Where you go to school is critical