It's True - The Military Will Help You Pay for College

Whether you are a veteran who left the service years ago, or a young person just now thinking about signing up for the all-volunteer armed forces, there is one subject you are both bound to be interested in. That’s benefits, of course. And some of the very best benefits that Uncle Sam offers soldiers - on active duty, in the reserves, retired after 30 years or discharged after four - is a comprehensive package of education programs. It really is true. The military will help you pay for college.

Those of you who are in the military now, active or reserve, or who have retired or been discharged, will have received packages of information on all of the benefits you are entitled to, in all areas. As a member or veteran of the armed forces, you could be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and various other programs that will help you with tuition, books, fees and even living expenses. Because you have information available to you already, and can contact your branch of the service or the Veterans Administration, you have less of a need for articles such as this to educate you about educational benefits.

However, if you are a young person who is wondering how you can pay for college, and have determined that your chances of getting a scholarship are not good, then you should look into how the military will help you with your education. Perhaps you weren’t serious enough in your first few years of high school, and by the time you “wised up” it was too late to pull your GPA up high enough to help. You’re in good shape, but you’re not a great fastball thrower or pass blocker, so an athletic scholarship is out of the question, too. What can you do?

You can visit the recruiting offices, that’s what. Or, if you like, you can start doing your research from the anonymous safety of an Internet connection, narrow down your choices and then go see a recruiter. But the fact is, the military is one of the best ways to get your college education paid for, and you don’t have to have a “B+” average or be a star athlete to qualify.

In fact, the college benefits are a big draw for the armed forces recruiters. That’s because the benefits are generous. Through the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Army College Fund, for example, you can get over $70,000 to help pay for college, depending on your length of service and job classification. All you are required to do is pay $100 a month during your first year of service

Even if you just serve in the reserves, the Reserve Montgomery GI Bill can pay you over $10,000, and if you qualify for what’s called a “critical skill position” in the Army Reserve you could earn additional MGIB funds. In addition, the Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) offers those on their way to college a chance at $20,000 per year in tuition money. All service branches also have what’s called “College Loan Repayment Programs” for paying off student loans. The Army’s version of this program gives up to $65,000 to those who enlist full time for three or more years, and up to $20,000 for those who serve in the Army Reserve for six years.

Finally, there are also “enlistment bonuses” of up to $10,000 being paid for a first enlistment or a re-enlistment, and this money can be used in any way the recipient sees fit. Added to all the other education benefits, this money can ensure your college education as well as money for life’s other necessities. Today, there is no reason you can’t get the money for your education, because the military will definitely help you pay for college - in more ways than one.

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