Military Education and Training Benefits Boosted by New Additions to Post 9/11 GI Bill

Veteran education and training benefits under the law commonly known as the Post 9/11 GI Bill were increased and modified by several amendments that went into effect on October 1. The new rules are expected to increase participation in veteran education programs by offering generally expanded benefits and simplifying the formula for reimbursing colleges for military veteran tuition, among other changes both major and minor.

Perhaps the most important set of changes to the GI Bill will widen the range of qualifying programs and schools for military vets who are using their military education benefits. Previously the rules favored those military college attendees who were following 2- or 4-year degree programs in traditional settings. But for those currently coming out of the military school choices may include:

• Non-college degree (NCD) programs – Earlier versions of the GI Bill provided for vocational and certification training, but the original Post 9/11 GI Bill that went into effect in August 2009 did not. For today’s veterans of the military training of many other kinds can be funded by the benefits they earned while in uniform – EMT certification, truck-driver training, computer-tech certification, HVAC certification or barber school, to name a few.
• On-the-job training – Vets can learn and build skills while working in positions such as firefighter, hotel manager or union plumber. Trainees earn gradually increasing pay rates from their employers as their skills increase, while the GI Bill supplements training wages.
• Apprenticeships – These programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction to impart practical knowledge, experience and sometimes an official certificate of apprenticeship for jobs such as machinist, welder, chef or surveyor.
• Flight training – Under the newest version of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, licensed, medically certified private pilots can further their flight training at a degree-granting public or private institution or at a vocational flight training school.
• Correspondence training – Former members of the military studying to become a locksmith, gunsmith or photographer, or to learn another job skill offered by an approved correspondence school, can use the GI Bill to pay for correspondence course tuition.

The legislation that authorized these changes includes many more provisions affecting veteran education programs that have taken effect during 2011. You can read about these other changes on Military Connection’s resource page for the GI Bill.

Military Connection offers much more information and guidance regarding services for veterans, including links and comprehensive information on education benefits for veterans. We list scholarships for vets and their families, former-military university programs, the best vocational colleges for military personnel and a range of qualifying veteran education programs. Be sure to check out the wealth of information for vets in the pages of Military Connection!