The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most popular benefits among the military community, and its use is on the rise. Nearly 500,000 people took advantage of the benefits in 2012, which was a 13 percent jump from the year before. Yet, while the bill has helped many servicemembers complete degrees after leaving the military, some have been charged out-of-state prices at public universities, which could drastically increase expenses. In an effort to stop the practice, legislation is making its way through Congress, reports Military Times.
First house, then Senate
The push to take action against public institutions charging out-of-state prices began earlier in May, when a bill known as GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act, made its way through the House of Representatives. The law would require public universities to offer in-state prices if they want to receive payment from the GI Bill, which is often a boon for the school's that do. If implemented, the bill would not go into effect until the summer of 2015.
There has been a similar movement in the Senate, where the Veterans' Educational Transition Act looks to accomplish a similar goal. According to the publication, there is one small difference, however: The Senate measure would require veterans to use their benefits within two years of separating from service to get in-state tuition. They would also have to reside in the specified state during their enrollment.
Widespread support
Revising how schools bill their servicemember students is an important cause among many lawmakers, especially longtime Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He introduced the Senate bill and said it's important for schools to offer in-state tuition because of how soldiers often do not know where they'll be stationed.
"Given the nature of our armed forces, servicemembers have little to no say as to where they serve and where they reside during their military service," Sanders said. "When transitioning servicemembers consider what educational institution they want to attend, many of them choose a school in their home state or a state where they previously served."
A big help
Making it easier for servicemember to afford school can help take a bite out of the unemployment rate among veterans. By reducing obstacles, troops may be better able to attain certification and licensing that can help them land jobs once they leave the Armed Forces.
Staying in contact with loved ones is an essential part of life for military families. In years past, doing so may have been particularly difficult, especially with a parent or spouse deployed overseas. However, more recently social media has played an increasingly important role in helping military families communicate, The Augusta Chronicle reports.
Social media has been a staple of everyday life for much of the last decade, but that didn't become the case for the military community until fairly recently. Up until about two years ago, the military restricted access to Facebook due to concerns over security breaches. They have softened their stance since then, opening up the opportunities for troops to talk with their loved ones on the popular website. Additionally, Skype has allowed families to see each other even when separated by thousands of miles.
"No other military in the history of warfare has had that level of access to their families," social psychologist Benjamin Karney told the newspaper.
Such websites have played other roles in the military community other than helping families stay in touch. For instance, Twitter has helped like-minded families get in contact with one another, and a new website – Rallypoint.com – helps connect military professionals with one another, NBC affiliate WVIR reports.
With thousands of veterans slated to separate from service in the coming months and years, many of them will be looking for new employment opportunities. It's an issues that has attracted a considerable amount of attention from both legislators and private companies, and it turns out there is one industry that is particularly popular among servicemembers – railroads. An estimated 25 percent of all railroad employees are veterans and the trend is expected to continue, according to The Associated Press.
A longstanding relationship
Veterans and the railroads have a relationship that dates back well over 100 years. In fact, Civil War veterans played an integral role in the construction of the country's railways in the 1860s and 70s. Servicemembers are well suited for railroad jobs for a number of reasons. For one, they gravitate toward jobs that have a similar structure to the military, and with excitement, a specific mission and a chain of command, railroad jobs certainly offer just that. Furthermore, given the demanding nature of serving in the military, vets are used to jobs' sometimes arduous tasks and long hours. The camaraderie is also something that draws veterans to the railroad.
"It's a proud company with a proud heritage – very similar to the military," Sandy Suver, who left the Navy in 1998, told the AP. "The similarities are uncanny sometimes."
Solution to unemployment?
Unemployment among post-9/11 veterans has captured a lot of attention in recent months. The April report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the rate has dropped to 7.5 percent, but it had previously stood higher than the civilian population. With many troops expected to come home in the next several months, there is still work to be done. Looking for jobs in industries such as the railroad, emergency medical services and other areas that utilize the skills vets learned during their time in the military has become a priority.
Companies commit to hiring troops
A number of private organizations have been actively recruiting servicemembers, and the most recent company to do so is Prudential. Through its VETnet program, the insurance giant has been reaching out to qualified servicemembers looking to smooth their transition from active duty to civilian life.
Over the last several years, record keeping at Washington, D.C.'s Arlington National Cemetery has improved dramatically, and now experts across the country are trying to do the same on military installations. Known as the Army National Cemeteries Program, the initiative seeks to upgrade operations to better organize the records of more than 40,000 graves, reports The Fayetteville Observer.
The process has already begun at North Carolina's Fort Bragg, where officials were working diligently to create digital records of each tombstone at the base's cemetery. It certainly is not an easy job, however. Aside from taking a picture of each headstone, workers have to cross-reference them against thousands of records to ensure the information is correct. Despite the arduous task, those participating are happy to lend a hand.
"It helps minimize any stress on grieving families who want to pay respects to their heroes," Army Spc. Barry Cunnings told the newspaper.
Arlington National Cemetery should serve as the shining example of electronic record keeping. After criticism, officials at the cemetery worked to better categorize the hundreds of thousands of graves on site. Today, the entire landmark has a searchable database that allows visitors to know exactly where their loved one is buried through click of the mouse, NPR reports.
The Warrior Games showcases the best the Armed Forces has to offer, and one servicemember in particular is certainly a testament to that. After being told she'd never walk again, Spc. Elizabeth Wasil, has turned herself into an elite paralympian and will be competing in the upcoming Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Olympic Training Center, according to the Army's official website.
Wasil was injured in Iraq in 2010, and it didn't take long for her to jump into physical therapy. Aside from succeeding as a swimmer, she will also be competing at the games in the shot put, wheelchair racing and cycling. While she relishes the competition, to Wasil the Warrior Games represent more than that. Much like many other wounded servicemembers, she says that sports have helped her in the mental recovery from her injuries.
"[The games] gave me a whole new drive, showed me things I never would've known that I was even able to do," Wasil told the website. "It gave me an entire different outlet that I didn't know was there. It helps give injured soldiers a really strong foundation amongst each other, because there is no better support than a fellow injured soldier."
Since it began in 2010, the Warrior Games have welcomed hundreds of injured, wounded or ill servicemembers each year. This year, the games are scheduled for May 17.
Whether they are welcoming home a loved one from overseas or saying goodbye before a deployment, the airport can be a very emotional place for military families, and one in New York is taking a unique approach into helping them through the stressful time. The Greater Binghamton Airport recently opened its new Military Family Room, which affords servicemembers some privacy, according to CBS affiliate WBNG.
The section of the airport is more than just a walled-off area, however. Thanks to $8,000 in funding from a local veterans account, the room features a number of amenities including a flat-screen television and comfortable couches. For servicemember advocates, the room's creation is a victory, and airport officials said they were more than happy to oblige.
"Before this room existed they would go over to the seating area which is [a] very public area," Carl Beardsley, the airport's aviation commissioner, told the news channel. "The TSA came to us and ask if there was a chance to have a room where they could escort them in and give them privacy."
Such areas may be especially important in the coming months and years. The White House and Pentagon are still on course to bring all troops home from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Transitioning from active duty to civilian life is difficult for many soldiers, but the challenges may be especially steep for wounded warriors. Having to adapt to a drastically different lifestyle, all while managing the wounds of war – whether they be emotional or physical – is something few people can fully understand. A new program known as Sentinels of Freedom aims to help injured troops overcome some of these obstacles and has seen considerable success so far, Florida Today reports.
An all encompassing approach
While there are many services available to transition soldiers, few are quite as comprehensive as Sentinels of Freedom. The program, which helps veterans through many of the common obstacles – including finding a home, continuing education and managing their health – costs about $100,000 for each soldier. While it's a steep price, the expenses are covered by donations from local residents and businesses. It also connects troops to veterans who managed to make a smooth transition in a mentorship program. This was the case for Ernso Auguste, who contacts veteran Brian Laughlin regularly for advice.
"I want to see him in a position to have the skill sets to get gainfully employed and be able to support his family," Laughlin told the newspaper. "We talk all the time. He bounces things off me. We help him make certain decisions."
A decade in the making
Sentinels of Freedom was launched in 2003 when California native Mike Conklin was inspired to help others after his son was injured serving in Iraq. The first soldier Conklin and his organization helped was Cpl. Jake Brown, who was injured while serving in Germany. In the years since, the nonprofit has helped more than 115 soldiers all across the U.S.
Wide array of services available
Private organization such as Sentinels of Freedom are certainly a useful tool for servicemembers transitioning into civilian life, but the Department of Defense has been working on improving its transition assistance programs as well. The recent redesign was announced in July 2012 and includes a number of features better suited to the most recent group of veterans. Colloquially known as Transition GPS, the program focuses primarily on helping separating servicemembers land a job once they enter the civilian workforce.
Men and women who have a spouse serving overseas face a wide variety of challenges, but second lady Dr. Jill Biden did not know just how difficult it was having a loved one deployed in a war zone until she experienced it herself. In 2008, her son Beau served in Iraq, and in remarks at the recent Annual Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives' Luncheon she said it gave her a newfound respect for the challenges military spouses overcome every day, American Forces Press Service reports.
Raising awareness
Although Biden highlighted her own experiences, she used the anecdote to highlight the fact that much of the American public may not be aware of the obstacles military families face on a daily basis, something she has tried to raise through the Joining Force initiative – the program she runs with first lady Michelle Obama. Biden says the biggest reason for the disconnect is that many civilians are simply unaware of the daily life of those close to the Armed Forces, especially since they only make up about 1 percent of the total U.S. population.
"So many Americans don't know anyone in the military," she told those in attendance. "They haven't been through the challenges of deployment, and they don't really understand what the military experience is really like."
Deployment not the only challenge
Having a spouse serving overseas is not the only obstacle that military families face on a regular basis, there are also considerable financial challenges, according to CNN Money. For instance, frequent moves can make it hard to spouses to find consistent work due to issues with certification and licensure. Additionally, having to move on a regular basis can take its toll on financial security because of the less-than-stable housing market.
Help available
While Biden hinted that the plight of the military family may not get as much attention as it deserves from the civilian population, they have resources available to them, especially through the Joining Forces initiative. For one, the program has helped spur changes that make it easier for spouses to find training programs that help them, as well as their husbands or wives, land jobs.
Many servicemembers take advantage of the education benefits afforded to them by their time in the military, and a large number states make sure it's easy for troops to head back to school once they've separated from service. This is especially true in Indiana, where legislators recently extended rules allowing out-of-states troops to pay in-state tuition and schools including Indiana State University (ISU) have been particularly welcoming to active duty servicemembers and veterans alike, reports CBS affiliate WTHI reports.
Indiana State implemented a policy in 2010 that offered in-state tuition to active duty troops regardless of where they were stationed, and they recently extended that policy to veterans who are not currently active in the military. The new policy applies to troops who served at least one year, ISU officials say.
"[If they were] honorably discharged or medically discharged we would grant that individual residency for fee payment purposes if they could prove they were living in Indiana, along with their children and spouses," ISU Vice President of Enrollment John Beacon told the news channel.
Of course, Indiana is not the only place where servicemembers and veterans are heading back to the classroom. In fact a growing number of military families are also making use of the post-9/11 GI Bill. According to findings from the Veterans Affairs Department, an estimated 54,000 spouses made use of the benefits in 2012 – a 70 percent increase from 2011.
The employment report for the month of April contained good news for much of the country. An estimated 165,000 jobs were added to the economy, bringing the overall unemployment rate to 7.5 percent – its lowest in four years. But the findings were particularly positive for members of the military community. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans also dropped to 7.5 percent, Military Times reports.
Big improvements
While the civilian unemployment rate dipped just 0.1 percentage point, young veterans enjoyed a much more significant reduction. In March, the rate for that demographic stood at 9.2 percent. Some speculate that the improvement stems from the fact that young veterans make up a small portion of those sampled by the BLS, but it's hard to discount the substantial efforts made by both public and private organizations to help the most recent group of veterans find jobs.
White House plays big role
First lady Michelle Obama has been leading the charge in helping bring down the unemployment rate, largely through her Joining Forces initiative. Earlier this week she was joined by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden in calling on private organizations to fully commit to hiring hundreds of thousands of servicemembers and their spouses over the next year.
"Together, we have been partnering to do everything in our power to help our veterans and military families find the jobs they need and deserve," the first lady said from the East Room of the White House recently. "These efforts are about so much more than a paycheck. This is about giving these men and women a source of identity and purpose."
Future will be telling
While the recent figures from the BLS are certainly encouraging, it remains to be seen whether initiatives like those from the first lady and others have a long-lasting impact, especially as the war in Afghanistan draws to a close by the end of 2014. Experts from the Department of Defense estimate that approximately 300,000 troops will separate from service each year for the next several years – and many of them will likely be looking for work.