Grants from military service to fund college education?

What's up everyone? I've been researching ways to fund college and discovered something about military grants. Can anyone shed some light on this? How does one qualify and what benefits can be expected from such grants?

Sure, I'd be happy to provide some insights on military grants for college. There are indeed several benefits that military members (both active duty and veterans), and in some cases their family members, can enjoy when it comes to funding education.

Firstly, let's start with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with a minimum of 90 days of active duty service on or after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Benefits can also potentially be transferred to dependents. The program covers up to full tuition and fees at in-state public colleges and a set amount per academic year for private or foreign schools.

Secondly, the Montgomery GI Bill, which includes Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). These provide up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans and servicemembers for different training types like undergraduate, vocational, technical, or On The Job Training (OJT).

Lastly, there's also the Yellow Ribbon Program. This is a supplementary program to the Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps students cover the extra costs of tuition at some private schools or for out-of-state students at public schools.

To apply for any of these, you'd typically head to the VA website and fill out an online application or download and mail in your completed application.

Keep in mind each of these programs have their own unique set of eligibility criteria relating to length and times of service, discharge status, and more. Additionally, benefits can vary widely depending on many factors, including your length of service, your specific service agreement, and whether or not you, as the service member, choose to transfer benefits to a dependent.

Moreover, there might be state-specific benefits and scholarships available for veterans and active duty military members, so it may be worth researching what your home state offers as well.

Remember, the military also offers opportunities like ROTC scholarships and the military academies that provide paid education in exchange for service commitments. So it's worthwhile to look into those aspects too, if you're considering a military pathway.

It's recommended to do thorough research and consult with a financial advisor or the college's financial aid office to get a comprehensive understanding of your options and implications. And don't forget, these benefit programs can sometimes be complex and may have far-reaching implications, so discuss your decision to use them with your family, your recruitment officer, or a college financial aid counsellor.