As Michael Vick Awaits Hail Mary, Vets Tackle a New GI Bill

Somewhere high in the Afghan mountains, Staff Sgt. Todd Bowers is shouting for joy, dancing, and quite possibly, crying all at once. And I assure you, it’s not because Michael Vick is coming back to the NFL.

In less than five days, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will finally take effect -- ushering in the education dreams of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops and veterans, like Todd, who have put their plans on hold to serve for our country.

Todd may not be as well known as Michael Vick, but his story mirrors those of countless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  A Marine since high school, he is serving his fourth deployment since September 11th.  He is a highly decorated combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, but at 30 years old, one goal still eludes him: a college degree.

Deployed just two weeks before his freshman year of college, he returned from combat in Iraq in 2004 to concentrate on his studies, only to learn his unit was redeploying again. As he prepared for his second tour, Todd’s school notified him that they would not allow him to take his finals or finish classes, nor would they reimburse his tuition credits. It wasn’t until the media, in a noble instance of watchdog journalism, picked up on his story that the university backed down and permitted him to finish his courses.

This winter, when Todd comes home from combat, things will be very different. He will be among the first wave of veterans to take advantage of the new GI Bill.

Nearly half a million new veterans like Todd will begin to take advantage of this new benefit this Saturday, August 1st. Or they will at least try to. With a complicated and dense application process the new GI Bill is less than user friendly.  And with the VA consistently coming up short in its embrace of Web 2.0 and new media, veterans looking for answers on their website are often left with more questions.

That’s why, this week, IAVA is launching a massive outreach campaign anchored by an online one-stop shop, NewGIBill.org.  Outfitted with an exhaustive section of frequently asked questions, the website will feature a blog tracking real time updates on the GI bill and three of the most accurate calculators, determining benefits, eligibility, and transferability options for new veterans.

We will also work with the media, universities, and Congress to let Iraq and Afghanistan vets know about this new benefit. And, we are working tirelessly to provide resources for college administrators, faculty members and students so they can ensure our nation’s campuses are a welcoming environment for new veterans.

But as hard as we work to fill the information void, there are issues with the bill itself that require immediate attention from Congress and the President. Without decisive action, benefits could be jeopardized for a small, but significant group of veterans. Thousands will be impacted, including full-time National Guard soldiers, distance and vocational learners, and vets attending private schools in CA, MA and DC where separate tuition and fee caps are causing large inequities and confusion. The fight for a new GI Bill that works is not over yet.  So we're pushing the VA, Congress and the White House to get their act together and swiftly implement these technical fixes, so no veteran is left behind.

While much of the nation speculates this week about what NFL team will take Michael Vick, we need the American people to help us cut through the media hype.  Spread the word about NEWGIBill.org, and jumpstart a new era of progress and achievement for Todd and our nation’s newest veterans.

Crossposted at IAVA.org.

Follow Paul Rieckhoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulRieckhoff

Comments

[Guitarsandmore]

Paul,

We got behind the Vets and supported health care new GI bill and all of the legislation you are discussing.

Don't forget those that backed you up.

The rest of us need health care and college, too.

I am hearing from a few Vets that we can go pound sand. This is not the attitude we expressed towards veterans and I am disappointed to hear such talk coming from those that supposedly love their country and fought for our rights.

Please come out for health care reform

Best Regards,

G&M

[NoFactsJustTruth]

You and the IAVA were no small part of making this happen for OUR veterans, Paul, and thank you for tirelessly trying to still have their backs with Congress.

Many hats (and helmets) off to you, sir.

[lastpost]

“I wana learn, to not learn war no more”.

[VforBarak]

Talk about beating a dead horse!!!!!!! Michael Vick isn't the first to fight dogs. As a matter of fact stakes are high at some dog fighting ring as we speak. One would think the poor guy raped or murdered a person!!!!!!

[nopilikia]

Glad to see it happen. That was the only way I could have attended college back in the day. Hope they all use it. Good for them, good for America. Hooya

[JustinAddison]

I'm a huge supporter of the GI bill. When I taught college I found the military students to be far ahead of their peers in maturity and focus, unlike the stereotype some people try to paint of those in the service.

[larry278]

It would have been good if the new GI Bill was as generous as the WW II GI bill. Some states have lousy state CC's, Collegies(sp?) & Universities. There is also the problem of state educational systems going broke & the state facilities getting markedly worse. GI's should be able to have the VA pay the full tuition at private schools anywhere & at public schools outside their states.

[adamsste]

How about this? Lay off Michael Vick!! I was never a big fan of his, but he's done his time and paid his debt. Donte Stallworth killed a MAN with his car and will not spend any time in jail. Vick killed some DOGS and is villified and mentioned in every breath (even in this editorial he was only used as shock headline material). I love dogs and abhor the thought of dogfighting, but you know what, some people don;t think that way. His life and livilihood were damaged in a way that will never be repaired. Hasn't he paid enough?

[sticksnstones]

Poor, poor Michael Vick. Tsk, tsk.

" His life and livlihood were damaged in a way that will never be repaired. "

Wow, do you think MV had a hand in that ?

[JustinAddison]

Actually he's only paid for the illegal gambling part. He's just beginning to pay for the animal torturing part.

[charlespointer]

I'm not a fan of Mr. Rieckhoff, (Chasing Ghosts was excellent though) he seems like more of a Political Operative than anything else. BUT the new GI-Bill has made so many Vets and their dependents happy.

It's not just the increase, it's how the new GI Bill is structured. Payment to the institution similar to a Grant makes it much easier to apply for the loans prior to the semester. I've had to pay with Credit Card the last 2 semesters when loans fell short. This time around I'll be okay.

And we have a Democrat controlled house to thank for this, as well as Senator Webb (D) from Virginia. I remind my buddies that whenever we get together.

[sticksnstones]

You might also remind your buddies that then-Senator Obama voted in favor of this bill, while his campaign opponent, McCain was against the bill's passage. If I remember correctly, McCain didn't even show up to cast a vote on it.

[charlespointer]

His reasoning was so half-assed. I actually sided with McCain on it until I really considered all the new doors it would open for veterans. I understand that yes, the Military's first priority is mission accomplishment with troop welfare a distant second (or possibly third) but I don't think that's why McCain walked out. His alternative plan got stonewalled so he decided to walk out, because he knew he would have a lock on the military vote anyway.

That really annoyed me.

[hivanh]

There is some terrible irony, tinged with ugly incongruity and repugnant contrasts, that we can actually be dithering, even in the slightest, over the fate of Michael Vick while the GI bill hangs in the balance without much real discussion. Ugh.

[charlespointer]

Thankfully the Post-9/11 GI Bill is already done and delivered. a veteran related issue that's NOT being pressed is how the military handles end of service separations. I'm positive a large chunk of the folks diagnosed with PTSD are actually maladjusted and not suffering from a mental injury.

Believe it or not, but civilian life is often scarier than the military, especially for young people without family to rely on. I'm not sure about how it's handled across all Commands and service Branches, but in my experience, it's woefully inadequate. I think Congress or DoD may have to mandate a 3 month readjustment and skills training package for ALL service members BEFORE leaving their duty station.

There is a seperations program, but it's not long enough, doesn't teach enough and standards aren't the same from base to base.

I believe that would greatly reduce the cases of suicide, homelessness, unemployment and legal trouble that occurs among newly separated veterans.

[paulrieckhoff]

Great point.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

About time. The US military is not a plaything of Presidential Power, and abuse of such requires reparations. Keep fighting the good fight!

[dougdrenkow]

Paul, I cannot think of a better use of technology -- great new site you have! -- or government funds than for the benefit of those who put their lives on hold and on the line for our lives, liberties, and security.

And as we saw in the post-World War II years, a strong GI Bill helps build a strong America, by making the most of our nation's most valuable natural resource: our people. And not just any people but those who have been trained by the military to be dutiful and responsible and in some cases literally "tested under fire."

Thanks to the IAVA for continuing its great work, for our veterans and thus nation. And best wishes for a lifetime of success to Todd and all his "comrades in arms." We owe you more than we can ever say or repay.

[dct1999]

Your criticizing the media for not paying attention to imporatant issues like the GI Bill. That's a good thing. But using Michael Vick to do it isn't an effective strategy, in my opinion.

[dct1999]

should say "you're"

[MyLeftHeart]

Agreed. Just an excuse to bring negative attention to MV.

Silly and disingenuous at best

[Recover1]

It's about time the crooked politicians did something for our military men and women.

[tonkatsu]

I went to the website and have to agree. It's "Pretty" but not very easy to Use.

It appears to have been designed by someone who is hoping to save the taxpayers' money by discouraging Vets from participating in the program.

The program itself was obviously designed by a team of Lawyers whose prior experience is in writing the Fine Print portions of commercial contracts.