After serving our country and settling back into civilian life, many veterans want to take advantage of Post-9/11 GI Benefits. Whether it’s to continue your education, start your college career or get certified in an area of interest, using the educational benefits available to you is a great way to advance your career.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides financial support for classes, supplies, and housing for veterans with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or veterans discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
What can I do with my post-9/11 GI benefits?
You can use your benefits to obtain your undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of your choice or get vocational and/or technical training from a non-college degree program. You can also receive on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence training, or entrepreneurship training.
If you want to use your GI Benefits for technical training and certifications, make sure that the course is approved by the VA. Getting a certification without taking a class, or even taking a class that focuses just on exam prep for certification, may not be covered, but a class about an area of technology that includes the certification may be.
What can my benefits pay for?
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can be used to pay for:
- Housing during the training for students enrolled on a more than half-time basis is provided via a monthly allowance that varies by local cost of living rates.
- Books and supplies if students attend school full-time.
- Tuition and fees to attend training programs.
- Certifications, test fees, preparation courses, etc.
How do I apply for my post-9/11 GI benefits?
Before you apply, think about what you’d like to do. What interests you that you could see yourself doing daily as a career? Where do you see yourself in five years? Then, decide if you will need a college degree or vocational training to get there.
Once you have a good idea of what you want to do and how you want to do it, visit the VA’s Education Benefits Application Process page to get started.
After deciding on what career you’d like to pursue, prepare your documents and make sure you have everything you need, such as your dates of service and your DD214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty for all periods of active duty, as well as any transcripts from post-high school education. Apply for your benefit at va.gov, in person at a VA regional office, or with the school you plan to attend, or through the mail.
What’s next?
When choosing a program or school, make sure you understand the fees and tuition rates. Also, ensure your school has been approved for GI Bill benefits.
CompTIA is a great place to get started if you are considering a career in IT. Many veterans end up working for or contracting with the government, and CompTIA certifications provide the qualifications needed to do IT for the federal government.