Were you just discharged from active duty to begin the daunting transition to a civilian job search? You may want to consider getting additional training, a college degree or certification in a particular field. Or if you're not sure what you want to do, how about some career counseling? The good news is these things are free, due to the benefits you've earned through the GI Bill. The bad news is that many veterans never apply for the assistance.
Untapped Resources
Each year, half of all GI Bill benefits go unused. These benefits can be as much as $34,000 per person for educational pursuits, allotted in amounts of up to $985 a month for 36 months.
“It's a tragedy that half of all benefits go unused,” says Anne Dwane, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Military Advantage Inc., a San Francisco-based company that assists veterans with benefit use and application. “They can be used towards community programs, certificates and graduate school. No subject is turned away -- everything from massage therapy to computer programming.”
Get Through the Paperwork
Part of the problem is that the application process can be lengthy. The paperwork can be confusing, and calling the Veteran's Administration (VA), which oversees GI Bill benefits, can leave you frustrated due to the proliferation of computer prompts on its voice-mail system. But there are ways you can make this process easier, says Terry Howell, a military benefits consultant and a former career-development advisor for the Coast Guard.
“What stops people is the fear of jumping into something new,” Howell says. “College can seem ominous. Another stumbling block is getting started. The fear of paperwork with the VA seems to be just another hassle.”
But the effort is well worth it since the approval process is fairly simple. Nearly 90 percent of all accredited colleges and community colleges are VA approved, which means approved for education to be paid for by the GI Bill. And online courses, such as Microsoft certification programs and even business seminars, may be approved, but you have to contact the VA to find out.
How to Get Started
The first step is to determine which school or educational training program you want to explore. If you haven't decided, sign up for a VA career counseling session with your local VA department or get career information by job from Monster's job profiles. If you know which school you want to attend, regardless of whether just for a few training courses or for a two or four-year program, Howell suggests contacting the registrar's office first. The registrar will know whether the school or program is approved by the VA and will have an application for you. The hard part, however, is waiting.
Worth the Wait?
“The hardest part is the need for patience,” explains Howell. “It can take the VA four to six weeks [to approve the program], and the government likes to pay after the fact, so you will have to get reimbursed. Essentially, the process is setting goals and making a plan and not getting intimidated by the hurdles. It just takes time, and you have to stick to it more than anything else.”
Regardless of the wait and having to pay up front for training or college, it's definitely worth it, agree Howell and Dwane.
“Your earning potential is so much more” with a college degree or certificate, Howell says.
The VA approves courses offered by most state-run schools, including community colleges. Scholarships are available for veterans, service members and their dependents. And for an added perk, Dwane says that military training and experience often earn college credit toward a degree, saving you time and money. But you often have to ask about this, so be sure to do so when applying, advises Dwane. And finally, many states offer educational programs for veterans, in addition to the federal benefits. This is why it can be important to make an appointment with your local VA office for counseling to find out more about your state perks.
This article originally appeared on Monster.com.
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