Today's GI Bill no mirror image of precursors

More than four years of war in Iraq and years of fighting in Afghanistan haven't deterred people from hitching their college education to military service.

Despite some evidence to the contrary, the Web site www.military.com states that "money for college" is still the top reason Americans join the military.

But critics say today's Montgomery GI Bill and related education benefits through the military aren't like the GI benefits of the post World War II or Vietnam eras, when funding flowing to vets seemed to match their education costs.

A Utah recruiter, however, says it's not impossible for today's veterans or active-duty military members in Utah, who are applying for education benefits, to one day graduate from college with little or no associated debt.

"There's enough programs in place for that applicant or that soldier with a plan in place to walk away with paying very little out of pocket — if he's smart about it," said Utah National Guard recruiting supervisor Master Sgt. Russell Johnson.

By smart he means graduating in four years and not changing majors midstream. It also means trying to take courses while on active duty in order to benefit from the military's tuition assistance program, leaving GI Bill funds to cover the cost of any remaining course requirements after a person is discharged.

The hard luck stories, however, are out there.

The Associated Press recently reported that a student at George Mason University in Virginia expects to graduate with about $50,000 in student loans, despite receiving the maximum $1,075 in monthly GI Bill benefits. The student's father, a Vietnam veteran, told the AP that the GI benefit paid for all of his college costs in the mid-1970s.

Just after World War II, veterans were getting about $500 a year to pay for their education. It's estimated that about half of all veterans use the GI Bill education benefit. By 1988, 20 million veterans had taken advantage of the GI Bill, according to the Veterans Benefits Administration.

Johnson said the biggest reason Utahns are joining the National Guard isn't typically money for school.

"They have a desire to serve their country," he said, referring to approximately eight out of 10 recruits. "The GI Bill is just kind of an added benefit they get on top of that."

And the Guard in Utah, made up of about 6,500 soldiers and airmen, isn't exactly hurting for new recruits. In recent years recruiting goals have been at or near 100 percent.