http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_gibill_061908w/
I'm just speculating but I would think that this will hurt retention.
I'm just speculating but I would think that this will hurt retention.
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New GI Bill
- Thread starter S.O.B.
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Possibly but it could also motivate more people to join for the benefits. Double-edged sword from what I can tell. Could go either way.
I think it serves as a more desirable way to serve your country for a lot of people. If it helps to boost numbers by casting a wider net over possible recruits then if they decide to go to college and get an education you are at the same time boosting the amount of college grads through this bill.
And some may decide that the military is the place for them and may want to stay. But as I said before. It could really go either way.
I think it serves as a more desirable way to serve your country for a lot of people. If it helps to boost numbers by casting a wider net over possible recruits then if they decide to go to college and get an education you are at the same time boosting the amount of college grads through this bill.
And some may decide that the military is the place for them and may want to stay. But as I said before. It could really go either way.
It's about damn time. I came in under the POS Veteran's Education Assistance Program (VEAP). It was the gap fill after they canceled the Vietnam GI Bill. Again, it was put to shame by the Montgomery GI Bill.
-ea6bflyr
-ea6bflyr
Great way to use our huge Federal budget surplus.
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
At least I'll be able to take advantage of PSW's benefits, since I'm not eligible for the GI Bill...
OldNavy
Registered User
It's about damn time. I came in under the POS Veteran's Education Assistance Program (VEAP). It was the gap fill after they canceled the Vietnam GI Bill. Again, it was put to shame by the Montgomery GI Bill.
-ea6bflyr
The old Vietnam era GI bill took a hit too. I retired in 95, and they had reduced the benefits of the Vietnam GI bill from 45 to 36 months.
Glad to see both sides line up for the new GI Bill, but for the life of me cannot understand why it doesn't provide somewhat more for those who stay in. The soldier (generic term) who enlists for the money/benefits (primarily) isn't likely going to make the best soldier. The Bill could do more to encouage retention & reward those who stay. JMHO.
rugby mike
New Member
The new bill does enourage those to stay by allowing benefits to be passed to a spouse or child after 12 years. They were also discussing allowing $6,000/year to be paid back for college loans for those already with a degree. I'm not sure if that passed but it definately will make life easier for some of us.
The 21 y/o considering getting out of the Navy isn't worried about passing on his GI bill on to his unborn child. Aviation is going to lose some sharp maintainers that are at the point where they've achieved the experience to be the go to guy.
I think this is a bad idea. I would leave the current benefits in place for single enlistment folks and bump it up for the people that complete two enlistments.
My point here is that if we are going to spend large chunks of money: do something to keep good people in. Maybe something along the lines of get out; go to school for a few years; and come back in. The air force did this at one point, I think they called it "bootstrap". I don't have statistics or numbers to back this up but it seems to me that more people are getting out.
This does absolutely nothing to motivate the junior enlisted sailor or JO that is on the fence about staying in past his/her first hitch.
rugby mike
New Member
The navy is running a test program that lets people take a few years off in the middle of a contract, maintain most benefits and then come back. If memory serves me correctly it's a two year committment for every year off.
With the cycle of multiple deployments, it's too few of us who make the sacrifice to serve and those who do, should be compensated justly. The fact is, these people can further their education and come back to the service in leadership roles. Also, most enlisted people already thought the GI Bill was going to cover their college expenses. What is always listed at the number one reason of people enlisting? That's right, money for college. Recruiters always tell people about having college paid for so the service should actually make that happen.
With the cycle of multiple deployments, it's too few of us who make the sacrifice to serve and those who do, should be compensated justly. The fact is, these people can further their education and come back to the service in leadership roles. Also, most enlisted people already thought the GI Bill was going to cover their college expenses. What is always listed at the number one reason of people enlisting? That's right, money for college. Recruiters always tell people about having college paid for so the service should actually make that happen.
Are you sure? There's a big difference between "money for college expenses" and "covering the cost of four years of school." I enlisted in the Navy 18 years ago and was smart enough to know exactly what my GI bill would buy me. Do you think kids with the resources available to them don't know what they are entitled to?
My community is already experiencing a talent shortage in the maintenance department and a policy like this will further exacerbate the issue.
It's great that these folks may choose to return to the Navy with their tax payer funded degree but their not going to come back as a second class's and we're not going to need thousands of officers. The reality is that the majority will be gone for good.
I just believe that this is too good of a deal and there is no incentive to stay in; if the guy has any kind of head on his shoulders he's going to go.
Bottom line: We still need senior enlisted to run this show and this program is going to make quality enlisted retention more of a challenge.
I dont think it was instituted for retention. But because they deserve it.
I used TA and GI bill to get 3/4 of my degree while enlisted, and then let STA-21 pick up the rest. Most enlisted people I know don't want to use their GI bill on active duty, and if they due they use it in conjunction with TA to sweeten the pot. You get more for your money using it on active duty, especially with the kicker. I have 26 months left on my GI bill that I want to give to my wife so she can get her masters. I don't see that many maintainers jumping ship because of this issue. I see it as a good recruitment tool.
The key to keeping maintainers is to give them easily transferable credit toward A&P or other maintenance programs that cross over in the civilian world. Make the credit mesh with career milestones (Rank, CDI, QAR etc) If you tell a sailor congratulations you made CDI, and you are now X amount complete with the A&P program, it gives some extra motivation to keep up the hard work. Don't just make it some who you know show with a Santa Clause that gets your license revoked after a few years (Hey just take your old QA paperwork to Joe Blow at some building, pay him $500, and he gives you week course so you can take the A&P test.)
The key to keeping maintainers is to give them easily transferable credit toward A&P or other maintenance programs that cross over in the civilian world. Make the credit mesh with career milestones (Rank, CDI, QAR etc) If you tell a sailor congratulations you made CDI, and you are now X amount complete with the A&P program, it gives some extra motivation to keep up the hard work. Don't just make it some who you know show with a Santa Clause that gets your license revoked after a few years (Hey just take your old QA paperwork to Joe Blow at some building, pay him $500, and he gives you week course so you can take the A&P test.)
Unless this has changed you mean while not on active duty. When I used the GI bill on active duty it only paid the left over portion of what TA did not pick up.