Education Benefits
For too many veterans, the process of using their education benefits becomes a frustrating battle against a confusing and difficult system.
Instead of being a clear path forward, it's a maze that can take months or years to navigate, delaying the very educational goals it's meant to support.
Here, we hope to consolidate all the information thats spread throughout social media, reddit, VA systems, schools, and more.
Important Tidbits of Information
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Important Tidbits of Information !
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GI Bill Benefit is not based on credits…
What do I mean by this?
You can spend 36 months in school and complete one course a semester or five courses a semester. The cost towards your GI Bill is the same amount of days.
Things to keep in mind here:
You will be paid in different amounts (¼ time per semester, ½ time per semester, or full time per semester). Rates are shown in the GI Bill calculator.
If you fall below a “C” in any of the courses, you will have to pay it back.
There is a cap for the GI Bill that the VA will pay per year (2024-2025 is around $29,000). A yellow-ribbon program may cover the additional costs.
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A major recent rule changed thanks to a court case (Rudisill v. McDonough) in 2024.
Here's the simple breakdown:
The Old Rule: You were generally limited to a total of 36 months of benefits. If you used 12 months of one GI Bill, you only had 24 months left of any other GI Bill.
The New Rule: If you have two or more separate periods of qualifying service (re-enlisted not extended), you may be able to get two separate GI Bill entitlements, up to a new maximum of 48 months total.
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Here are some examples of things the GI Bill can cover:
Gunsmithing
Taxidermy
Gemology (study of precious stones)
Performing Arts - You can attend an accredited physical theatre school like Dell'Arte International to study acting, movement, mime, and circus arts.
Canine Training - Get certified to train service animals, search and rescue dogs, or K-9 units for law enforcement.
Beekeeping - Attend a certified beekeeping program to learn apiculture. Some programs, like Heroes to Hives, are designed specifically for veterans to learn the trade and start their own apiary.
Cybersecurity and IT - ethical hacking (CISSP) or network management (Cisco certifications). The VA will reimburse you up to $2,000 per test.
Project Management certifications
Vocational Flight School
Professional SCUBA Diver - Use your benefits to become a Divemaster or even a certified Instructor. Some schools offer advanced training for commercial or scientific diving.
Outdoor Guide - Learn to lead others in the wild. Get certified as a professional hunting guide, fishing guide, or even a horse-packing guide for backcountry expeditions.
Wilderness Survival Instructor -Attend a wilderness immersion school to master survival skills, then get certified to teach others.
Farrier / Horseshoeing
Firefighting and EMT
Professional Truck Driving and/or CDL
Vocational Flight School
These are not the only other options available, just a start to get the ball rolling.