Military Veteran Scholarships
Among the various benefits for military veterans are those for educational purposes. There are several types of educational benefits available, beginning with the traditional GI Bill that has helped pay for the education of millions of veterans since the late 1940s.
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Post-9/11 GI Bill
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The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides money for educational support, including tuition and room and board. Honorably discharged veterans with at least 90 days of service as of September 11, 2001, or those having a service-related disability after serving a little as 30 days, are eligible for this program. As of August 1, 2009, GI Bill benefits became payable for training as well as education. Rules base the monthly stipend on the highest in-state resident tuition charged by a state-operated school. Approved education includes undergraduate and graduate degrees, and approved training may be vocational or technical in nature. However, the veteran must be attending an institution of higher learning approved for GI Bill benefits. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also allows some service members to transfer all or part of their GI Bill to their dependents. The GI Bill transfer website has additional information.
Montgomery GI Bill
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Many veterans are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill as well, although participation generally requires the member to contribute $100 per month for 12 months. In return for that relatively minimal contribution, the member can receive monthly stipends for up to 36 calendar months that ultimately total nearly $40,000. The money is tax-free, and the recipient can use it for tuition, books, education-related fees, and living expenses while earning a degree. Recipients can also attend trade school.
VA Vocational Rehabilitation
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Veterans with a VA disability rating who are no longer employable may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation training. They must have an impairment related to their service-connected disability. The injury must prevent them from preparing for, obtaining or retaining a job consistent with their abilities and/or interests, Veterans who have general or honorable discharges and a disability rating of at least 10 percent can apply. A VA counselor then evaluates the veteran to decide if he qualifies for the training.
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