A Learning Disability

This article has a few short comings, A few Bloggers here are ignorant to them too. To begin with reservists as long as they are still in the guard or reserves get Tuition assistance of 100% of college costs. If they get out, they get less because they didn't serve full time. They should know that when they enlist. I was active from 98 till 02 in the Navy, I paid $1,600 and received $1,030 a month for 10 SEMESTERS = 5 years. In fact with map and pell, I had enough to pay school, RENT, CAR, FOOD. I got a part time job just because I wanted one. I lived FAT on the HOG for it, now going to work is hard. I also used Tuition assistance to be a Sophomore in college before I even left the military. I also had friends who were Reservists and guard going to school, they had it easy in college too.

The choice of college that you attend is exactly that: a choice. Bucknell is a great university but there are plenty of other colleges and universities in and around Pennsylvania that offer a great education. If you choose to go to a private university then expect to fork over some cash for that education. It's sort of like the housing allowance the military provides. They have a set amount (different for each duty station because of cost of living) that they will give you but if you decide to live above that allowance, the rest of the money will come out of YOUR pocket.

i agree with lasthero...why couldn't he have chose a state school? and also looked for other options for scholarships. i went to a state school without the help of family and had to take out loans, which i can live with. but picking a private school and then griping about the amount of money you have to take out in loans? come on, you cant expect the government to fork out $120K + for school.

The GI Bill isnt meant to pay for housing and college, just for college. Plus, it is non-taxable, so anyone getting the GI Bill, even if they have a part time job, will qualify for Pell Grants. In addition, it is MORE than enough to pay for state college. I went to ASU, worked part time, got pell grants, and graduated with a 3.92 in 3.5 years, now im in medical school. Enlisting in the Army and the GI BIll are what let me get where I am today.

Jimmy Carter is a lien hypocrite idiotic dirty rotten liar in the first place he signed away the GI bill back stabbing pea brain everyone that gets in to the government these days thinks there better than every one else jimmy carter is the biggest ever that was a president and he's shown it thru the years he goes around to the enemy's of this county and then comes home and tells the American people there no good sobs in that since his mouth is bigger than his brain he does not respect the American military or the county for signing away are rights and are freedoms he got his education from the GI bill all he was a office job pencil pusher in the military coward the military deservers the same treatment . A government job is just a service job it don't make you god when you are elected president wake up America

As a 25-year veteran of the US Air Force, I am among a small number of people still on active duty who enrolled during the Veteran's Education Assistance program, or VEAP. VEAP was a far less-generous program that offered $2 for every $1 the member contributed. The $100 per month contribution seemed pretty steep to a new enlistee at that time, and I declined to sign up for VEAP. Years later when the more-generous Montgomery GI Bill was enacted, servicemembers who had money in their VEAP accounts were offered the opportunity to transfer to MGIB. However, those who initially declined VEAP were never offered the opportunity to enroll in MGIB. Therefore, as I approach the end of my active duty career, I have zero educational benefits available to prepare for a second career. I've written my Congressman and those on the hill know the situation we are in; but like so many other issues, Congress figures this is a problem that will go away with time (as we all retire) and they can ignore the fact that those of us who helped win the Cold War and Desert Storm will fade into obscurity and settle for a low-skill second career. Hello, Wal-Mart...

You know it very hard to judge when Cubans are given everything as soon as they get here, as for illegals..The system in the US doesn't give services unless you can legally prove that you have been a resident for 5 years or US documents for Citizens. As for the loss of services for the GI's, that is the government trying to cheat its servicemen, so take it up with your senior or the government. No need to be racist.

You know it very hard to judge when Cubans are given everything as soon as they get here, as for illegals..The system in the US doesn't give services unless you can legally prove that you have been a resident for 5 years or US documents for Citizens. As for the loss of services for the GI's, that is the government trying to cheat its servicemen, so take it up with your senior or the government. No need to be racist agaist . if you don't like something VOTE and make a difference.

I believe it is a sad day in the history of this nation when vote seeking Senators and Representatives propose giving benefits to Illegal aliens and their families while veterans make up a 25% of the homeless. As a veteran who has been denied medical benefits it galls me to see the cream of our youth begging on street corners because the same government which sent them to war will not help them. Enough of this crap and let's get help to those brave young men and women who have given their all.

Damaso V. Santana
Miami, florida

One additional correction: Hoover did not order an attack on the Bonus Army; infact, he forbade it (in writing). MacArthur disregarded this Presidential Directive (with encouragement from the Secretary of War), an action that likely cost him his automatic reappointment as Chief of Staff and got him banished to the Philippines.

lets replace bush and set term limits. no more career politicians whose only concern is themsellves. gaining power, money in their pockets from large companies seeking bills that rape the public and make them rich. their hands are in the pockets of our politicians. both parties are guilty.

Poor educational assistance is nothing new. Prior to the Montgomery plan there was VEAP. After almost ten years service, including Desert Shield/ Storm I got $211 monthly to cover tuition, book, fees, and living expenses. The benefits now are huge by comparison. If a veteren a school picks carefully, a bachelaureate is easily achievable. I eventually got a doctorate using tenacity and student loans, just like everyone alse!

To that end, I think there are things we can do for our vets, even if the government refuses to help. Things like offering more scholarship opportunities through private trusts like the one mentioned at the end of the article. Universities could also also voluntarily discount tuition rates for veterans and active service reserves.

As a recent college graduate I know that pain of student loans, I don't think it's something our vetrans should have to go through. They have put their lives on the lines to protect us from terrorists and to bring democracy and hope to the far reaches of the world, the least we can do is provide for them when they return. If we don't take care of them now I think we will quickly find that we are taking care of them at an exponentially higher rate in the future because we'll be paying for their welfare benefits. Though I do think returning soldiers should look more closely at state schools, there are a lot of great ones out there! It's hard to feel THAT bad for the soldier highlighted in the story, he CHOSE to go to a school that would cost $42,000 a year knowing full well what benefits he would get from the government for his service.

As a vet that is using the G.I. Bill, I think the G.I. Bill is fair. Even though I would like to see them pay more, it is enough to cover costs at in-state public universities in most cases. We have to take what is offered and find a school that fits the budget or otherwise apply for additional scholarships,grants or loans. I agree we all could use additional education benefits, but I think $46,000 a year is absurd.

As a Viet Nam Vet, I only got anout 2100 dollars a year that was limited to 4 years of full time benefits. After inflation, what would that be worth today. I graduated but worked 20 tp- 30 hours a week and lived at home. It seems to me that the money could be adjusted so Vets could have 4 years of support and work part time and be able to make it. Also. colleges should volunarily forego the costs of some of the tuition, especially if they need the additional students for full enrollment . Book companies (a significant part of the costs) could help also id the college ID identifies that person as a Vet.)

I cannot beleive after all the jaw boning the chickenhawk Bush and his supporters do about how much we owe Vets, he is not standing up ad demanding this. Guess that is part of his being a hypocrite, liar and born again Christian.

As a vietnam vet my school fees were not even close to what my father recieved after ww2. I can't even start to imagine how hard it is for our young men today. Yes its time to step up and help these fine men , and it should not matter if the are enlisted army or national guard. They are giving just as much of themselfs as any past generation.