by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: July 28, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2010

The GI bill came into existence in 1944 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill for Servicemens Readjustment Act, thereby enacting it into the law. That act later came to be known as the GI Bill. According to estimates, during the post WWII period, more than two million veterans attended college, using the benefits for which they were eligible under the GI bill.

The bill, now known as the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), is the centerpiece of the military's education benefits. Both active duty service members and veterans are eligible to receive monthly benefits totaling nearly $40,000. The benefit is tax free and it can be used to buy books, pay for tuition, fees or living expenses while the veteran or service member is earning a degree (undergraduate or graduate,) getting some sort of certification, or attending a trade school.

In 2009, the GI bill was updated to provide an increase in benefits for soldiers who served the country after September 11, 2001. This enhanced comprehensive package provides for benefits beyond the basic tuition. In addition to paying the full cost of tuition and fees, these service members and veterans will get a monthly stipend and an additional $1,000 yearly stipend to cover the cost of books and supplies.

Additional changes to the bill now allow members of the National Guard or Reserves to access these same benefits, as long as they have been on active duty for more than 90 days since September 11. 2001. The new changes to the bill allow recipients to use the bill to pay for independent study programs, on the job training (OJT,) required continuing education units, licensing and/or certification.

There are many resources from which one can get information about the GI bill. There are many online resources, some of which even provide instructions for would-be applicants. Here is a look at some of these resources.

PAPERBACK BOOK -

The Military Advantage: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Military & Veterans Benefits, by Christopher P. Michel with a foreword by the retired General Norman Schwarzkopf. This book is written by the president of Military Advantage, the largest military membership organization in the country. He was a naval flight officer and worked in the Pentagon as an Aide to the Chief of the Naval Reserve.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

GIBill.com -

This site is designed to answer a variety of commonly asked questions. It also offers what they refer to as a "cheat" sheet that anyone can download to determine eligibility, find

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