There are a lot of rumors circulating about the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and Fort Belvoir Education Counselor Jack Lenahan considers it his mission to replace rumors with the facts.

In a briefing at the USO Warrior and Family Center July 25, Lenahan told servicemembers what they need to know about the bill, including who is eligible to use the education benefits.

"A lot of times there is a lot of misinformation that's passed along from one individual to another and it causes a lot of concern and anxiety and we can kind of diffuse all that right away," he said.

Who is eligible?

All servicemembers who complete at least 90 days of military service after Sept. 10, 2001, are eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits. To receive 100 percent of the benefits available, they must serve at least 36 months on active duty after this date (not including Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training).

Those 36 months are translated into 36 months of education coverage -- equivalent to a four-year bachelor's degree.

The bill pays for in-state tuition costs and fees to attend a public institute of higher learning, including trade schools and graduate schools. It also includes a yearly books and supplies stipend and a monthly housing allowance, equivalent to the basic housing allowance for an Army noncommissioned officer (E-5) with dependents. The housing allowance is only provided in cases where a retired servicemember or dependent is using the education benefits to attend school more than half-time. Servicemembers using the benefits while on active duty cannot receive an additional housing allowance.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Lenahan also discussed the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps offset the costs of college not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill for veterans and their dependents.

Since the GI Bill covers only public schools, the Yellow Ribbon Program can be used to help pay for private school, or help pay the difference between in-state and non-resident tuition rates.

Participating schools offer to pay a certain amount for Post 9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries, and Veterans Affairs matches that amount, Lenahan said.

Only veterans who have earned 100 percent of their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits -- or their dependents -- qualify to use the program; active-duty servicemembers and spouses are not eligible.

Kim Seldon, a veteran, military spouse and USO volunteer, has seen first-hand what the Yellow Ribbon Program can do.

Her son started attending a private engineering school last year that cost more than the Post 9/11 GI Bill provided, so he asked the school to consider participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

"We didn't have quite enough with the Post 9/11 GI Bill," Seldon said. "He sent a letter to the president of the school and the board of directors … and he requested them to consider doing the Yellow Ribbon Program. He got a letter back from the head of the university who said that they're interested in supporting this program and they'll do it for five students. It's a smaller college, but they put up $5,000 (per student) and the VA will match that with $5,000."

She encouraged others to use the program, even if they have to ask their school to participate.

"It's a great opportunity for the schools to give and then for the VA to match that amount," she said. "Even if a college is not part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, you can always ask if they'll participate. Most of the colleges, you'll find, want to support the military and their Families."

For more information

For more information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, call the Barden Education Center at (703) 805-9270. The education center is open Monday trhough Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Servicemembers can also visit www.gibill.va.gov or call Veterans Affairs at (888) 442-4551. For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program, visit www.gibill.va.gov/bene fits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.html.

Editor's Note: This is part two of a two-part series on the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The first part of the series was printed in the Aug. 1 issue of the Belvoir Eagle.