What exact words are needed for an approved extension of an expired Post 9-11 GI Bill education benefit?

TSgt CoPa D — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:04:27 -0400

Over the 20 (1985-2005) active duty years of service given to my country, upon retirement I was awarded the Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefit. It recently expired. This exact awarded benefit after 2013 is indefinite. What words do I need to use in an extension request to request my earned benefit be extended if not also given an indefinite application for use?

It's challenging to understand how many women and men are being tossed from this award simply due to timing yet now it's an award for future generations to use whenever they are able to.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 4:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:18:08 -0400

I don't understand where you are getting your information from, but from the VA directly, if you separated from the military before January of 2013, your benefits expire 15 years following your separation date. If you do not use your benefits before that date, you lose them. There is no exception or extension.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 4:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:19:15 -0400

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) | Veterans Affairs

Find out if you can get help paying for school or job training through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). You may qualify if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001, or if you're the qualified spouse or dependent child of a Veteran who meets these service requirements.

Response by LCpl Michelle Williams made Jun 30 at 2020 4:19 PM

LCpl Michelle Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:19:31 -0400

I agree its so unfair. Mine expired in 2000 and I was not in a situation to use it due to raising kids and supporting my husband who was a career Marine, we traveled alot.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 11:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 23:54:59 -0400

There are no magic words or phrases. It’s not a secret knock. You don’t qualify for the benefit. The words you need to use to qualify for an extension are that you meet any of the approved reasons for an extension

Response by CW4 David Spooner made Apr 14 at 2022 1:34 PM

CW4 David Spooner — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:34:58 -0400

If you do discover the correct words for an extension request, please let me know as I've not had much luck getting resolution. I apologize in advance for my lengthy oratory, but I want to explain my situation. I am credited with 24 years and 7 months active-duty service in the regular Army, Army reserve, and Army National Guard. The majority of my service, 16 years, was active duty as a reserve officer assigned to regular army units. Additionally, I served 5 more years under title 10 federal service active-duty orders while in the National Guard including 16 consecutive months in Iraq and Kuwait. I retired under honorable conditions effective 01 Jan 2010. I was told by a letter from the VA my Post GI bill education benefits had expired 07 Jan 2021, which was 15 years from the date of my last active-duty service as determined by the VA. I did serve on active duty until 31 Dec 2009 as a member of the California Army National Guard on the Mexican border. I was activated under title 32 active-duty service for the state of California which is not considered federal duty by the VA. I was assigned to conduct flight operations along the U.S.-Mexican border. These flights were normally accomplished by either U.S. Customs or the U.S. Border Patrol. Neither of these agencies' personnel were available for patrol activities on the border as these agencies underwent re-organization and transition to become the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. I could argue this was actually U.S. federal service and should be viewed as such, but the VA says no since my orders were under title 32. However, I was not able to utilize my VA Education benefits during the time I deployed away from my residence in North Carolina to the California-Mexican border area. I feel I should at least get this time added back to my VA Education benefits 15-year limit as the clock was already ticking while I was still serving. This is a situation I was not made aware of, and I doubt many other service members may be aware of either. Additionally, if I had known in advance my education benefits "clock" was already ticking, I most certainly would have made other choices. I, like many of my peers, am in a situation where in my children are considerably younger than many of my former military associates. Due to the constant stresses of military life and multiple deployments, my wife and I decided to wait to have children. My daughter is now attending a university and I am dealing with the associated financial burden. During 2020, just as the pandemic began, I was severely injured and lost my job. I now must pursue a new career path even though I am in my 60's. If VA Education benefits were still available to me, I would certainly use these benefits now as I would like to be able to transfer benefits to my children. As it stands, I am not even able to afford attending our local community college for the program of study I would like to pursue. It is unquestionably and undeniably unfair and unjust to those of us who have honorably served to be treated differently than those who came after us simply based on the 2013 retirement date. Additionally, the VA should return time to our education benefit "clocks" since education opportunities were limited during the 2020 and 2021 school years due to regulations mandated during the pandemic. We had the promise of benefits we could utilize for ourselves and our families and to have these taken away from us is a travesty! I welcome any comments or suggestions.