Posted on Sep 9, 2015
2LT Security Officer
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So I am currently working on my bachelors with my post 9/11 GI bill. I'm dual enrolled between Lubbock Christian, and Texas Tech in order to use the ROTC program at tech. Well Tech sends me a $1000 bill for a single 2 credit hour class on their campus. I'm trying to get a parent letter from LCU to tech, but they refuse to send one claiming they have to be able to list it as a requirement for my degree to use the GI bill. I'm 98% positive my VA rep is mistaken, after all the GI bill will pay for trade schools, so I'm certain paying for ROTC is well within the ability of the VA. Has anyone had a similar issue that can help me out?
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SSG Human Resources Specialist
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Edited 9 y ago
Supplemental and Concurrent Enrollments

A student may take courses at more than one school that apply to his or her degree. The school that will grant the degree is the student’s “parent” school. All other schools are “secondary” schools.

VA can pay benefits for courses taken at secondary schools. If the student is enrolled at the secondary school, VA will pay for the credits taken at the secondary. If the student is enrolled at the parent and the secondary school at the same time (“concurrent”); VA will pay for the combined credit, taking overlapping enrollment dates into account.

What do you need? You need a letter from the Parent School addressed to the VA Certifying Official at the Secondary school. It can be sent by mail, email or hand carried by the student. The letter must:

-Identify the student (name and social security number) as a student at your school (name and facility code) pursuing a (insert degree program here)

-State, “The courses listed below satisfy requirements and will transfer at full value to .”

-List the courses the student is or will take at the secondary school that your school will accept as transfer credit towards the student’s program.

The parent school must ensure they receive a transcript from the secondary school and that transfer credit is granted, grades permitting. When certifying a student, the parent school only certifies those credits taken at the parent school. The parent school also must notify VA of any changes of enrollment at the parent school. The secondary school must report credits taken at the secondary school and any changes in enrollment at the secondary school.

The “Secondary” School will mail an Enrollment Certification or transmit a 1999 for the student as they would for any veteran student (remember tuition and fees), except:

-They only certify courses listed in the parent school letter.
-Enter “Supplemental enrollment, see remarks” for name of program.
-Enter “NA” for Credit Allowed.

IMPORTANT: In remarks, they must state: “Supplemental enrollment. Parent school letter from is on file. Student taking .”

http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/SCO_Handbook.pdf
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COL Vincent Stoneking
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I believe your VA rep is correct.

My understanding is that classes that are paid for by the GI Bill have to be required for your degree or certificate. The degree/certificate can be for a traditional school, trade school, or specialized school (flight school in some cases, even). But the classes have to be required in order to be covered. I don't know if there are any provisions for being in two certificate/degree producing programs at a time.

If the 2 credit class is not required for the program you are in (and registered with the GI Bill for), then I believe that it would not be covered. It may sound silly to say that GI Bill won't pay for ROTC, but I think that would be correct by the reg/law. Not necessarily "right", but correct.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
SGT Kristin Wiley
9 y
It may not be a requirement, but there's usually a number of general electives required for a degree. I don't see why this class can't fall under the category. When I was a dual enrollment student in ROTC, my ROTC scholarship paid for classes at both schools. It may be different for the GI Bill though...
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COL Vincent Stoneking
COL Vincent Stoneking
9 y
SGT Kristin Wiley - that would be a good strategy to attempt. The question then would be if the "parent" school would consider ROTC classes to meet whatever requirements they have for general electives. Might be worth a shot.
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PFC Joseph Levi
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I haven't had similar issues, but I do know that the GI bill will pay for trade schools, I used it for that reason in the past. The thing your VA rep, I think it's getting confused with its, that if you go to college, you must take classes that are a requirement for your degree. But if you go to trade school, that is covered in its own because it is a specific reason why your going. But if you don't receive a certification then those credits would have to go towards your degree.
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