washingtonscene
on individual circumstances, retirees people who serve 10 years transfer their
might receive CRSC awards that restore education benefi ts to family members.
part or all of their longevity-based re- In the end, Hill leaders and the White
tired pay. In certain other cases, they House agreed on a bill that included the
might not see any change in their pay. best of both plans.
MOAA’s best advice to those with The new GI Bill will reimburse vet-
combat/combat-related disabilities: erans’ tuition for schooling up to the
Apply! MOAA’s Web Base (
www.moaa highest state college cost, pay a housing
.org/crscfactors) provides several ex- allowance based on the location of the
amples of how the CRSC expansion can school, and provide up to $1,000 a year
affect your pay. for books. Under certain conditions, it
would provide extra money toward at-
Iraq-Era GI
tending a private university.
Veterans will have up to 15 years after
Bill Passed
separation to use the benefi ts.
Servicemembers who have completed
Bipartisan effort wins World
six years of service and agree to serve
an additional four years will be able to
War II-style benefi t.
transfer part or all of the benefi ts to their
spouses immediately. Once they com-
Sen. Jim
n June 19, the House of Repre- plete 10 years’ service, they can transfer
Webb
sentatives approved a major benefi ts to children.
(D-Va.)
OGI Bill upgrade for men and No one already retired will qualify
women who have defended the nation for the transferability option, since the
since Sept. 11, 2001. MOAA, The Military purpose of that option is to promote
Coalition, and many other veterans’ and retention. The upgraded benefi ts apply
higher education associations are pleased to people who have served in uniform
to have played a role in winning this his- since Sept. 11, 2001. Some who served at
toric victory. But it wasn’t easy. least 90 days since then but subsequently
Sens. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Chuck separated or retired could qualify for the
Hagel (R-Neb.), John Warner (R-Va.), upgraded benefi t.
and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and At press time, Senate passage of the
Sen. Chuck
Hagel
Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Harry bill was expected, and the president was
(R-Neb.)
Mitchell (D-Ariz.) took the lead in co- expected to sign the measure into law
sponsoring the largest and most widely before July 4.
supported fi x. Almost everyone in Con- MOAA especially is pleased that the
gress agreed a fi x was needed, but some new GI Bill includes an MOAA-suggest-
thought the Webb plan was too gener- ed provision extending the new benefi ts
ous. Others in Congress didn’t support to service academy and ROTC scholar-
exempting the initiative from the normal ship graduates if they agree to serve an
funding rules and wanted to raise taxes additional three years beyond their ini-
on millionaires to pay for it. tial service commitment.
The White House initially opposed the Activated National Guard and Reserve
Webb plan as too generous and expressed troops will be able to earn incrementally
concern it might hurt retention by entic- larger GI Bill benefi ts for each tour of 90
ing servicemembers to separate and go days or more they serve and will qualify
to school. Instead, the administration for full benefi ts after 36 months of aggre-
wanted to substitute a provision to let gate active service.
36 MILITARY OFFICER AUGUST 2008
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