I'm a veteran that used the GI Bill to go to school... Depending on the deal you get the GI Bill pays out different amounts. After I earned my BA (from a state school) I owed 20k in loans.

As for enlisted guys being uneducated... Honestly, most enlisted guys are uneducated. I know I was. It also took me a lot of work to compete with middle/upper class kids. The service didn't really prepare me for scholastic endeavors.

One important point to keep in mind regarding retention... Because we have a volunteer force most of the guys that joined are not college tracked and don't have an interest in going to college. Back in WWII the middle class was more represented because there was a draft. The policy implications of a better GI Bill will likely be minor.

The heck with all the politics. Give them a better GI bill.

I entered the Army in the 60's as a high school drop out. California community college and the GI bill got me to Berkeley and a couple of degrees.

If you want to support the guys who are fighting, skip the politics and support the bill.

db

This is about the stupidest political move McCain could make. Imagine, wanting to deprive GIs of college benefits so that, without job prospects, they’ll be forced to re-enlist for a second term as cannon fodder. This only confirms my belief that McCain is going to lose big time in November -- whoever the Democratic nominee is.

Something to keep in mid: Military education is designed to provide the skills to survive in war. A college education provides the skills and opportuity to survive as a civilian. The origial GI bill allowed my father to become an accountant and do well in life. The people fighting any wars for the United States should have the ability once the fight is over to make a good life for themselves. In doing so they make us all stronger.

There's ole geevill,

Still whining? McCain, a former military man doesn't support military personnel in going to college? Losing his bearings, huh?

Hmmm, he needs em for more war, huh?

This general election is going to be the biggest blowout in a long time.

Suffice to say, the Republican party already knows this.

If McCain took some college courses in critical thinking and management, he could probably tell the difference between Shiites and Sunnis. It would also help to remember what city and state you're in when taking your eyes off of the teleprompter.

I can't wait for the first debate with Obama.

He's going to eloquently tear him into little red republican pieces, and all with a smile on his face.

We wouldn't want to get too many people educated now, Hillary wouldn't have anyone left to vote for her

Victor,

To your point about the dispersal of funds, when I was going to school it was easy to use the GI Bill. When signing up for classes, all regular students had to pay up front, but I was allowed to take the classes without the upfront payment and then the GI Bill payments were made once the classes were over. That to me, was insanely simple.

But there will be LOTS of people trying to justify mccain and bush's position on this...the bottom line is that the LAST thing either of them wants is a well educated fighting force, because they may start realizing there are better opportunities out there than to fight in some idiot's war without end.

Pete

Pete,

It's good to hear that some veterans have had a positive experience receiving GI Bill benefits. But I would venture to say you are the exception and not the norm.

Policies concerning when tuition is due for veterans receiving the GI Bill varies widely and depends on specific university policies.

There are many veterans, including myself, who have had to secure student loans because the GI Bill either wasn't sufficient or payments were not received promptly.

And I am not concerned about them(McCain, GOP) being afraid of a well-educated fighting force. Most veterans don't go to college while still in the service. Those that get out to attend college had planned to attend college from the moment of enlistment.

Victor,

I would agree with your assessment that most who get the GI Bill do so with the a priori intent of using it. Some folks may not realize that the GIs actually have to contribute to the GI Bill benefits, and as an E-nothing at the time, the $100 bucks that my Uncle Sam took out was a non-trivial amount of money and yet. I got a degree out of it in the end.

I'm just mostly ticked that people want to bash the dems while supporting the group that thinks even less of our troops..to me that is a sad indictment of the overall lack of education and critical thinking skills of our common citizens, not the military members.

Good speaking with you though!
Pete

In my generation, many young men joined the services for one primary reason. To stay in for one hitch, then get out and go to college. Many who are now in Iraq were reserves or national guards and have had three tours of duty. Many are older guys with families to support and their incomes have dropped substantially from civilian jobs, many have lost homes and some even need food stamps to get buy.
If America can keep an illegal, immoral war going for years, we should, at least, provide funding for college for our veterans. Many of those returning home will not be able to go back to previous job due to serious injury. If McCain thinks these vets should stay in the service until they are old and gray, that is sad.

First off, it helps everyone in the military, not just the recruits, I joined the miliatary for college money, and whether or not this bill passes I am getting out and going to college. It would definately be 10 times better if this bill passes, but if it doesnt that just means Ill end up taking out college loans to get thru school. Regardless this bill would boost recruiting, and although it might hurt retention a little, it would boost recruiting plenty more. I read up on this topic almost daily just to hear new news, and I do it all the way from Iraq. If you dont support it, shut the hell up, and get off your high horse, it benefits vets, and thats all there is to it.

Better college benefits will increase enlistment of new service members. People have to realize that there are LIMITS to how many service members can re-enlist. Those numbers are based on each occupation in that branch. This is one of many reasons why McCain's plan is not good, it will leave out those who do not get the spot to re-enlist. Not to mention (as a post 9-11 vet currently receiving the GI Bill) the current bill does not cover the cost of college, and that is the least that can be done for those of us who have been torn away from our families to go to Iraq.
If you give good benefits, you attract more to join. If you encourage vets to get an affordable education, you create opportunities for people who (in most cases) need it most. But I guess McCain is more interested in the war and less concerned about the vets' futures.