FDR signs GI Bill 71 Years Ago today - Has it worked for you or your family?

SGM Matthew Quick — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 07:55:33 -0400

Have you or your family benefited from the GI Bill (whichever rendition) over the past 71 years? Do you feel it's worked since its inception?

On this day in 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the GI bill to provide financial aid to veterans returning from World War II. Upon signing the legislation, Roosevelt voiced his belief that ensuring veterans’ employability was critical to a sound postwar economy.

The GI bill, named after the slang term for soldiers whose wartime goods and services were government issued, provided funding for education, home loans, unemployment insurance, job counseling and the construction of veterans’ hospital facilities. It also greatly strengthened the authority of and scope of services provided by the Veterans Administration. Tuition for advanced education or technical training was covered up to $500 per school year, along with a monthly living allowance while the veteran was in school. GIs could also apply for guaranteed home and business loans.

In his speech at the signing of the bill, Roosevelt acknowledged the sacrifices of America’s men and women in uniform and emphasized the moral responsibility of the American people not to let their veterans down once they returned to civilian life. He and his economic advisors foresaw potential problems as the then-robust wartime economy transitioned to peacetime. He hoped that the GI bill would help prevent a situation in which the return of 2.2 million servicemen from war created massive unemployment, economic depression or social unrest. Also in his speech, Roosevelt appealed to Congress to enact some sort of future legislation that would reassure current civilian workers that their services would still be needed in a post-war economy.

Roosevelt urged that the goal after the war should be the maximum utilization of our human and material resources. After his death and the end of the Second World War, veterans of wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and U.N.-led coalition conflicts continued to benefit from an evolving GI bill.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 8:05 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 08:05:17 -0400

Although I qualified under both versions, I converted mine to the post-9/11 version in order to transfer it to my wife. That is enabling her to finish her B.A. and most of her Masters so she can continue to help veterans in crisis. She has done this work in one form or another for almost 10 years but found that without the "letters" behind her name, she sometimes found her input discounted. The GI Bill is making her long term goals come true and allowing our family continue to serve veterans beyond the last half of my career.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 22 at 2015 9:15 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 09:15:20 -0400

I know the GI bill has helped many service members and their family members. I am very thankful for it.
Personally, I never got to use the Vietnam era GI bill since I wasn't in a position to use it before my eligibility expired. I was able to begin Grad school but my agency paid for it until planing for what was to be Desert Storm got serious in early 1991.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jun 22 at 2015 10:12 AM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 10:12:41 -0400

The GI Bill allowed me to obtain a masters in business and paid for the initial several courses for a doctorate i'm current pursuing.

I think it gives the GI a leg up to re-enter the civilian work force since the retiring GI is separated from working in the private sector for so long and unable to establish a good network of possible employers.

From an historical point of view, it launched the post-war education boom of the 1950's and '60s. This led to an incredible growth of colleges and MBAs. It gradually led to the "knowledge-worker economy" we have today.

But there was a downside in that is some social groups didn't reap the benefits as quickly or in great numbers. These social groups are catching up in today's economy.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jun 22 at 2015 10:39 AM

Capt Jeff S. — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 10:39:10 -0400

I wish I could have had the GI Bill. Unfortunately, they did away with the GI bill just before I came in. Allegedly people were abusing the GI Bill benefits so they came up with what was called VEAP (Veterans Education and Assistance Program). Basically for every $1 you contribute in, the gov't matches it with $2 -- up to $2,700 at which point you max out. The total you had to spend on education therefore, was $8,100. That doesn't get one very far -- especially with the cost of education skyrocketing these days. In bootcamp, I had $100 allotment set up and before the end of my first four years, it was maxed out.

When I made the MECEP program, I applied to and was accepted at Cornell and Tulane, but couldn't afford to go to either of them -- even with partial scholarships. Was married with children and didn't want to take on a burden of debt. Ended up going to the Univ. of TX, where the in-state tuition is subsidized by money the university gets from oil revenues on land it owns. My four year education at UT Austin cost $7,800 and I had $100 left of the $2,700 I contributed. Had it been any other notable school, I would have definitely been in the hole.

Was glad to see the GI Bill come back for those coming in just before I got out. I didn't qualify because I came in under a different contract. Nonetheless, am happy for the guys coming in now that they have something better than what I had.

If you have the ability to take advantage of educational opportunities and don't use them, you may as well shoot yourself in the foot. What you have is a missed opportunity and THAT! is a self-inflicted wound.

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made Jun 22 at 2015 10:47 AM

SGT Lawrence Corser — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 10:47:17 -0400

Loved the GI Bill, Still going to school on one of it's chapters.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jun 22 at 2015 11:30 AM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 11:30:59 -0400

I would not of received a College Education without it!

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jun 22 at 2015 12:03 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:03:44 -0400

The GI bill was the single piece of legislation that no-kidding created the new middle class, instantly. Millions of vets went to college and the rest is history. Best law ever.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 22 at 2015 12:06 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:06:03 -0400

SGM Matthew Quick The GI Bill was awesome for me and kept me afloat when I came off active duty during a time period when interest rates were as high as 18 and 19 percent in 1980. I used it for my Bachelors Degree and I use the post 911 GI Bill for my daughters education as well. This is something that the Government did right in my opinion. Thanks FDR!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 12:17 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:17:30 -0400

So this was a benefit extended right at the cusp of a massive drawdown in the force.

So I didn't qualify for the Monty GI Bill as I did the student loan repayment program. Here comes 9/11 and we decide that for some reason we need a different GI Bill and I magically get some money for school on top of TA.
The main neato factor for me was the ability to give it to the wife and then take back the remnants to complete my Master's later.

I didn't think it was necessary to have the 9/11 GIB but then again, I didn't get out and used TA instead. I might have thought differently had I left the military after 8 years.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 22 at 2015 12:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:30:56 -0400

My daughter used my GI bill. FDR is one of my favorite presidents.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 22 at 2015 6:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:50:41 -0400

I love that man. He got the country out of depression and kept the British and Russians afloat during the war. When we joined WWII his convictions were resolute.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 4 at 2019 8:18 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:18:07 -0400

The world was fortunate to have him at the right time.