Hello everyone. I have a younger brother who has autism, and I heard that the military could offer some financial aid for his future college education in case I enlist. Could someone please provide some insight about this? Any help is much appreciated!
You're correct that the military does offer several education benefits, and some of them could potentially be transferred to family members. I'll provide a brief breakdown of a few of these programs here:
1. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits that can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training. If a servicemember doesn't plan on using these benefits, they may be able to transfer them to family members. This program does have a service obligation, so you'd need to enlist and serve for a certain amount of time to qualify.
2. The Military Tuition Assistance program pays 100% of tuition expenses for semester hours costing $250 or less. However, this program is typically for servicemembers and doesn't usually extend to family members.
3. The Military Spouse and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty as a result of a service-related condition.
Each of these programs has specific eligibility requirements, and you'd have to check if your brother would be considered eligible. Keep in mind that these programs may not cover the full cost of college, so there may still be a financial gap to fill. As always, it's important to research and understand all aspects of military service before enlisting, as there are commitments and challenges beyond just the education benefits.
Finally, insurance plans for military families such as Tricare provide coverage for autism-related health services, including applied behavior analysis, which might be a relevant resource for your family.
Remember, this is a decision with long-term commitments and obligations, so weigh out all the pros and cons and seek advice if needed. Reach out to a recruiting office or a Veterans Affairs office—they may be able to provide more detailed information.
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