The veteran affair is an organization that provides educational benefits to service members, eligible veterans, and their families. They provide financial support for both graduates and undergraduates, certification test, vocational training, and licensing. They also help you find the college and training program, apprenticeship, and the best career counselor. “It is important to also know that each program offers different financial support and have different eligibility requirements. This means if you are qualified for more than one educational benefit, it is advisable to choose the one that benefits you more as you can only receive financial support on one benefit program at a time,” says Robert Pinero. Read on as Robert Pinero, a veteran coach dedicated to educating veterans and giving back to the community takes us through the benefits of veteran affairs training and education.
The GI Bill benefits
The GI Bill is a law that helps with the payment of training programs, graduates, and post-graduates tuition fees in college. The law was established in 1944 and it has been helping many qualified veterans and their entire family to cover all or part of their school or training expenses
Who is eligible for a GI Bill?
You are eligible for a Gi Bill if you:
- Serve for at least two years on active duty and was discharged honorably.
- You have a high school diploma or GED.
- You are a member of the Navy, Air National Guard, Army, Marine Corps, and other military forces.
- You agreed to serve for at least six years in the selected service obligation
- You are an officer in the Selected Reserve and has agreed to serve for additional six years to your service obligation
How to apply for a GI Bill
Here are tips given by Robert Pinero for GI Bill application:
- Find out if you are eligible for a veteran affair educational benefit
- Research about all the documents and information you will need when you want to apply
- Check out the benefit you will get at the school you want to attend
- You can apply online through the veteran affairs regional processing office that’s in the same location as your training center or school.
- You can apply in person by visiting the veteran affairs regional office.
- Through your school certifying officials. They are at the Financial Aid or the Registrar Office in your school.
- Through a trained professional
- You can also call an accredited representative to help you apply for the benefit.
The documents you’ll need when applying
- Your education and military history
- Your Social Security Number
- Information about the school or training program you want to attend or yo are attending
- Bank account information for direct deposit
When will I receive a response?
It often takes a minimum of thirty days to process the education benefit claim. A certificate of Eligibility or award letter will be sent to your mail if your application is granted. The certificate or award should be brought to the veteran affair certifying office in your school. If you are not comfortable with your education benefits claim decision, you can ask for a decision review. You can also manage any review applications or request you already filed
Other veteran affair benefits you can apply for
Transition assistance
As you transition from being military to civilian, the transition assistance program provides all the necessary information, tools, and all the benefits you and your family are eligible for. This prepares you and your family and ensures you have a safe and easy transition from a military lifestyle to civilian life.
Home loan
Veteran affair home loan benefits help military survivors, and service members to buy, remodel, and build their homes. To be eligible for the loan, you need to have the required credit and income for the amount you want to borrow. And it is more beneficial and gives you better terms than the ones obtained from banks, or mortgage companies.
