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If you’ve been in an airport in the last twelve months, you’ve no doubt noticed that there are an ever-increasing number of military members in uniform who are finally coming home.? While some of these service members will decide to continue their career in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, many of them will decide that it’s time to separate from active duty service.? Today, if a service member decides to continue their military career or not, they have at their disposal a great benefit that will help them, whatever they decide.? That benefit is the New GI Bill, which will help them go to college or technical school to help them further their career.

Many military members already have college degrees, but they can still use the GI Bill to continue that education, if they so choose.? Additionally, by going back to school, some vets may find the transition into civilian life is eased.? Once a veteran or service member decides to go to school, the amount of choices in a wide variety of programs may surprise them.

Both Congress and colleges recognize that veterans have sacrificed in order to serve our nation since 9/11.? Congress has fortified the GI Bill by adding additional benefits that may cover more college expenses than the old GI Bill did.? The money that is available to veterans and active duty members for education covers a broad range of educational expenses.? Some of the expenses that may be covered include tuition, fees, and text books.? In some instances, the GI Bill will help cover housing expenses for qualified vets.

Colleges across the nation have also recognized that military service members not only deserve recognition, but help, so they can ease into their education with little stress.? That is the reason for many new programs that offer to help military students get the most out of their education.? Since the needs of military students often differ from regular college students, colleges have programs in place like special orientations, tutoring, counseling, and job placement services that are all designed for the military students’ needs.

Once a decision has been made to return to school, veterans must decide what type of education will suit them best.? Some will want to pursue a two- or a four-year program, culminating in a degree.? Others will want to enroll in technical schools that offer training in a specific technical area, like machinery.? Others may want to go on to graduate school or medical school.

Corporations in America have taken note of the large number of military service members who will be entering the educational arena, and then the work force afterwards.? Some businesses are instituting programs that will help vets make decisions about what career fields they will enter when they graduate from college.? There are a few companies that have announced that previously ineligible training programs will now be eligible for GI Bill benefits.

One such entity is the software business.? Now, vets can use the GI Bill to pay for certification exams in some information technology (IT) fields that are in great demand.? Because the networking sector appears to be in a continual growth cycle, this is one IT field that may offer very good job prospects for vets who want that type of career.? The GI Bill may now also be used to pay for certain apprenticeships in qualified fields.? One such field is in the freight and trucking business.? If a vet wants to enter this field, they can use their GI benefits to pay for the commercial truck driving apprenticeship.

Corporations like to hire veterans for a number of reasons, such as being able to provide scholarships for military dependents.? Many managers point to their work ethic, natural leadership abilities, and maturity, as just a few of the reasons why veterans make great employees.? Combining these winning characteristics with a online education and military degree will certainly make military service members very attractive candidates on the civilian work force.