Post 9-11 GI Bill

Have you checked out that new Post 9-11 GI Bill yet?

I tend not to pay attention to such things because I figure I've already got my college education taken care of, so it's not really applicable to me.

THIS is DIFFERENT.

It's TRANSFERABLE TO YOUR DEPENDENTS!!!

In return for 4 years of obligated service, you get 36 months of:

• Tuition (up to the rate of the highest in-state tuition)
• Room & Board (at the rate of an E-5 with dependents)
• Books

You can transfer any number of whole months to any of your dependents, and you can change the allocation at any time. So I could sign up now and allocate 18 months for ES and 18 months for YB. Let's say that later on, ES decides to go to a military academy or gets some other type of full-ride, then I could transfer his 18 months and give YB the entire 36 months.

Okay, so I hear you saying to yourself, "Self, if it's such a great deal, then why hasn't blunoz signed up for it yet?"

That's an excellent question, and I'll tell you why. They (the people who administer the program) have asked that if you don't have dependents in need of USING the education benefits this fall, then hold off. Let the people sign up who want to start using the benefits in the next couple of months. After the initial rush of people sign up, then I'll sign up sometime in the fall.

Heck, I've got 15 years in now, I'd be stupid not to stay in until 20 for retirement, so why not sign up for the 4 years of obligated service? It seems like a no-brainer to me.

Don't wait TOO long though! On the Navy Personnel Command website, I read a question, "Can I wait until after I retire to sign up?" The answer they posted on the website:

Sailors must transfer benefits BEFORE leaving the Armed Forces. If uncertain, transfer a few months each to your spouse and each child. You can adjust allocations to each later. Remember if you died unexpectedly, the transfer rights die with you. Do it now. Update DEERS and get re-enlistment papers in place, then elect transfer.

So what do you all think? Am I missing something in the fine print? It this deal too good to be true?

To learn more, you can read the NAVADMIN message about eligibility and transfer of benefits, or you can visit the website here (I think you have to access the website from a .mil domain).