Issue link: http://gijobsdigimag.epubxp.com/i/884421
24 G.I. JOBS | OCTOBER 2017 | GIJOBS.COM 1) NO MORE EXPIRATION DATE This change goes into effect immediately and affects new members of the Armed Forces and veterans who left active duty after Jan. 1, 2013. It also includes the children of fallen service members who became entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits after Jan. 1, 2013, and all military spouses using the Fry Scholarship. Previously, veterans and dependents had 15 years to use their benefits. The SVA championed the elimination of the 15-year time limit for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. "SVA is grateful that the GI Bill is no longer a cost of war, but a cost of service that veterans and their loved ones enjoy for life," said Barrett Bogue, vice president for public relations and chapter engagement. The Vietnam Veterans of America also supported the removal of the time limit. "Today, and in the future, service members are not choosing when they go to war, so the government shouldn't be able to tell veterans when they can use the GI Bill that they earned through service," said VVA President John Rowan. 2) PURPLE HEART EQUITY The Forever Bill gives full benefits to those who shed blood for their nation. Purple Heart recipients will now be eligible for 100 percent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, regardless of their time in service. Previously, only Purple Heart recipients who had served 36 consecutive months on active duty or were dis- charged due to a disability were eligible for full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Pur- ple Heart recipients also will become eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. The provision takes effect Aug. 1, 2018, for any Purple Heart recipient wounded after Sept. 10, 2001. There is no retroactive provision for Purple Heart recipients who already used their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. "For many Purple Heart recipients, the Forever GI Bill will mean the difference of whether or not they are able to fully reach their educational goals," says Aleks Morosky, national legislative director for the Military Order of the Purple Heart. "As MOPH has said many times, this is clearly the right thing to do for veterans who have sacrificed so much during the course of our nation's longest conflicts." 3) RESERVE BENEFITS EXPAND The Forever GI Bill allows Guard and Reserve members called to active duty under 12304a orders (assisting in an emergency) and 12304b orders (mobi- lized to serve under combatant com- mand) to earn Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. It applies to service on or after June 30, 2008, and can be used beginning Aug. 1, 2018. It also allows veterans receiv- ing Vocational Rehab (VR&E;) benefits to pause their eligibility while called up under 12304a and 12304b orders. Here are several other changes affect- ing Guard/Reserve members: • The VA will prorate the Monthly Housing Allowance for members of the reserve components using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This goes into effect Aug. 1, 2018. • Reserve members who earned educational benefits under the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) before Nov. 25, 2015, but lost them due to the sunset provision can have that service credited toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill. • The time that a Reservist was ordered to active duty to receive medi- cal care, receive a medical evaluation or participate in a health care study on or after Sept. 11, 2001, now counts as active duty toward eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It can be used after Aug. 1, 2018. "This is the first concerted effort that we've seen to improve and reform veter- ans' education benefits for reserve and National Guard service members," says The American Legion's Paul Dillard. "Now certain deployments and medical orders are eligible for credit toward the GI Bill. It also adds a unique provision that bumped up eligibility by 10 percent."