Houston Chronicle: New GI Bill Answer to Veteran’s Dreams

Ahead of the August 1st implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, IAVA's Chief Legislative Counsel and resident GI Bill expert spoke to the Houston Chronicle about how the new benefit will help build America's next Greatest Generation.

``This type of investment is going to build the next Greatest Generation,'' said Patrick Campbell, chief legislative counsel for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America, a national advocacy group. ``Service members are going to come home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and they're going to be able to make school their full-time jobs. They're going to be able to graduate without crushing student loan debts.''

To receive full benefits, a veteran must have served 36 months of active duty since 9/11, or received an honorable discharge with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

Campbell estimates that 90 percent of veterans will see a doubling or tripling of their education benefits. Previously, the Montgomery GI Bill paid veterans a flat monthly rate of $1,100 to $1,300 a month, an amount that failed to cover the cost of a two-year community college in most states, he said.

``Even though the recruiting posters said, `Join the military and we'll pay for college,' most people didn't read the big asterisk next to it,'' Campbell said. ``What that meant was that people went to community college and the average veteran didn't finish a four-year degree. This new GI Bill offers veterans a choice. If they want to go to a more challenging four-year university, the GI Bill will cover that.''