New GI Bill to be put on table

@Debs_place (10523)
United States
March 13, 2007 10:16pm CST
Well they are looking at giving this current batch of GI the same type of benefits that were available to our guys after WWII. Now they get about $800 a month. Under the new bill The new benefits package included in Webb’s legislation (S.22) would include coverage of tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend of $1,000 The GIs must pay in to collect. What do you think? Is this enough to be repaid the men and women who allow us to sleep in bed at night in peace? http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/post-911-veterans-educational-assistance-act I think it is about time? What about you?
7 people like this
11 responses
@bjone6 (348)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I'm in the military and am currently using my 100% tuition assistance. I don't have to use my GI Bill. The problem with this bill is that it still does not address the fact that most military members want to be able to use this money to give to our dependants. With the current deployments and military training for deployments, we don't have enough to go to school. It would be nice to be able to give to our spouses and children. Great post.
4 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Well the GI Bill has always been meant for the person who served, not for spouses or dependents. That is why they have othergrants and things. This is to show thanks to the men and women who serve.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Mar 07
I think any amount of money we give to our men and women in the military through the GI bill is never enough to repay them for their service to their country. I am pleased to see that they have increased the amount of monetary support. Why did this change not come any sooner? My father was able to get his college education through the GI bill and managed to get his masters degree when I was very small. I know firsthand that programs like these can change the lives of our men and women in the military and their families.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
You are so right, I got my undergraduate degree using the GI Bill, I did need student loans, but not near as much as I would have without the GI BIll.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Mar 07
Thank you for best response!!!
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Looking at the make up of the Armd Forces many of them already have acollege education and are making too much money to qualify for Federal Grants. They can get loans for their dependents. Having a parent or spouce in the military is a burden for the whole family. My son is full time military and I know several people who are full time military and they have families. When you are moved every 3-5 years and have to uproot your family and your spouce has to give up their career and start over it is a sacrifice that the family makes and I thing giving the Soldier a set amount that can only be used for education related expences for them or their family sounds reasonable and will keep many excellentpeople in the military. Most Universities give their facilutys' family free toution or reduced tution. Why not the Military? I would like to share a poem I received when my son was deployed to Iraq. It is the Soldier not the poet who gives us Free Speech. It is the Soldier not the reporter who gives us Freedon of the Press. It is the Soldier not the lawyer who gives us the right to a Fair Trial. Keep all the soldiers in your prayers. Thank You
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
That is a great poem...Thanks. Most of my son's friends have a long way to go to say they are college educated. With the new GI Bill, the GIs won't have to worry about grants or loans. Maybe they should come up with something for spouses, when they have to keep uprooting. Maybe a special retirement for spouses of military, so they don't keep losing when they move and change companies. Very good suggestion you have there. And maybe the states could come up with a free or reduced tuition plan for kids with parents in the military.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
14 Mar 07
Well I believe that all the GI that have been to any war deserve to be treated with respect for protecting their country and so they should give them theses benefits. I agree with you completely in regards to this and probably give them even more money.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
That is true, this is not enough, but it is sure better then what they are getting now.
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5384)
• United States
15 Mar 07
It is a start, but should be more. The government doesn't do enough for the fighting men and women and their families.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
I agree. It is a step in the right direction.
1 person likes this
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I still don't think that's enough money for the bravest human beings I have ever known. You are so right about us being able to sleep peacefully in our beds because of these amazing men and women; they should be paid more than doctors and lawyers in my opinion. In fact, they should be paid more than the President of United States; what does he do now?
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Not sure what GW is doing these days, but yup, it is not really enough, but it is a step in the right direction.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (156813)
• United States
14 Mar 07
In order to keep quality employees, there needs to be quality benefits. The same is true for the military. I think it is about time we show that we value our military.
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Absolutely, the military is what allows people here and all over the US to bad mouth the president and out leaders and all of our policies. Without the military we could end up a country without personal freedeoms, just like so many other countries. I think it is great
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18718)
• United States
14 Mar 07
It is so hard to keep up with military. They do what they want. Senat is cutting all, but money they spend on war. Everything was cut lately.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Well this is an increase for military benefits. I think it is great.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Mar 07
I think so many of our current military men and women joined hoping to find a fairly "easy" way to afford college. They ended up being tossed into a pretty harsh world of reality and many aren't coming back. I think to give them an education is the least we can do because right or wrong, war leaves a human being used and tossed away. The ending results will never leave them. Many come home injured or only with part of their bodies, while others come home with mental images that will never leave. This goes for any military serviceman. I think we owe not only an education but a lifetime of gratitude to these men and women. Perhapd THEY should be the ones voting their own pay raises instead of Congress and Senate voting for their own?
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
14 Mar 07
This is a selling point now for my son. I will have to check this out and see what is going on when he turns 18 in a few years. Time to work this out and hopefully add some more for motivation to serve. We do our boys alot and hopefully in time we will tend to all their needs. Our history does not give us hope for this however this newer world may just allow for the respect and care that these boys deserve.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Absolutelyy, the men and women who serve deserve to be able to live while they go to school. This gives them the freedom to participate fully in hte educational process, by living in a dorm and paying tuition at the school of their choice. I think this is a giant step forward. My son is in hte Navy and loves it, he has grown up considerably, he has some college credit and a lot of great experiences
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Mar 07
It is indeed a start. I guess you have to look at what these men and women do on a daily basis. No calling in sick, away from family for months, you know how it goes. I agree deb that is is wonderful. I think they, as well as the firemen and policemen deserve so much more, but at least steps are being taken.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10523)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Yes, I think the firemen definitely should be getting more in the way of medical plans and life insurance. Their jobs are super dangerous. Years later, they could be haunted by a chemical or something they inhaled and caused some awful illness. Police also have dangerous jobs, but again I think the firemen are way above them on the danger scale.
1 person likes this