Military Veteran Options?

Ken, don't ignore Company-Sponsored Training programs. You don't even need your GI benefits to get started if you go that route. Follow that link and you can find a lot of information on companies that will pay for your training and pay you while you are training.

Thanks so much for your service, we all appreciate it, and feel free to jump in here anytime you come up with a question. The only dumb questions are the ones that don't get asked.

See Also: Trucking Companies, GI Bill, And Military Veterans

Welcome!

Me and hubby got burnt out on medical field too.

-Rhonda

It definitely has a burn-out factor.

-mountain girl

Ken, Sorry for the delay in responding an the question about VA benefits if it was intrusive.

The reason I asked is because I used post 9/11 to pay for truck driving academy at a local college. In addition to the tuition, I also received a housing allowance and funding for books. Since the school was local, I did not have to use the BAH for living accomodations.

I also see some companies advertising using VA benefits for apprenticeship. I haven't researched that, but looks like a monthly payment for a year.

Ken, don't ignore Company-Sponsored Training programs. You don't even need your GI benefits to get started if you go that route. Follow that link and you can find a lot of information on companies that will pay for your training and pay you while you are training.

Thanks so much for your service, we all appreciate it, and feel free to jump in here anytime you come up with a question. The only dumb questions are the ones that don't get asked.

Appreciate the info. If I can work that angle, that would denifinitely be prefereable so I can save my GI Bill for my Bachelors. I have my homework cut out for me as I have zero knowledge about semi's. I was conned by my 1st line supervisor at my first unit when he told me not to return until I had a box of spark plugs for the HUMVEE. Lesson learned on that one. Aside from the High Road Online, any particular areas of study I should be looking at?

Ken, Sorry for the delay in responding an the question about VA benefits if it was intrusive.

The reason I asked is because I used post 9/11 to pay for truck driving academy at a local college. In addition to the tuition, I also received a housing allowance and funding for books. Since the school was local, I did not have to use the BAH for living accomodations.

I also see some companies advertising using VA benefits for apprenticeship. I haven't researched that, but looks like a monthly payment for a year.

Not at all intrusive. There are so many VA benefits now vs. 2009 that I wasn't sure what you meant. I found a really good link to 'Troops to Transportation' that gave me a good bit of information. Prime seems to have a solid base for what I'm looking for but I'm still researching. Hoping to start my training here in the next few weeks.

The VA payed for 100% of my schooling and sent me a stipend as well. I know roehl has a good veteran program.

Hey Ken! I am in year nine in the National Guard and used my G.I. Bill to pay for all of my CDL school. If it doesn't cover the entire cost, ask the school to adjust the tuition to match your G.I. Bill. That's what mine did and I ended up with nothing out of pocket. I took my class while laid off but got called back before hitting the road. It's nice to have the CDL in case it happens again. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for serving! I'm retired USAF. Regarding the replacement DD-214. They can be ordered online. I got a spare a few years ago when I was nervous about letting the original out of my hands. Check www.nvf.org and www.archives.gov. It takes 3-4 weeks.

Also, check with some companies. Swift offers vet scholarships and partial grants and also has a repay with 13 month service with them. I'm already talking to the recruiter and I've been out over 20 years. Swift and others like the work ethic veterans bring to the workforce. I've found nothing but lip-service to vets in the white-color arena I've been in since retirement.

Good luck with you research and future endeavors.

Ken P.

How come you didn't do the full 20? You would have gotten a pension and medical benefits for life. To me, that is like winning the lottery in today's economy. I always look at the servicemen who do their full 20 and I sometimes feel envy. Can you imagine collecting $25,000 per year and not have to worry about healthcare ever again especially the young ones who retire at age 38. My gosh.

If I only knew then when I know now. Of course, the military is not an easy life with constant deployments, uprooting a family, taking **** from fellow officers, and the grind of the job. I've always been interested in soldiers who get out of the military before 20 years and those who stay the full 20 to get the pot of gold at the end. Are they a different breed?

Ken P.

How come you didn't do the full 20? You would have gotten a pension and medical benefits for life. To me, that is like winning the lottery in today's economy. I always look at the servicemen who do their full 20 and I sometimes feel envy. Can you imagine collecting $25,000 per year and not have to worry about healthcare ever again especially the young ones who retire at age 38. My gosh.

If I only knew then when I know now. Of course, the military is not an easy life with constant deployments, uprooting a family, taking **** from fellow officers, and the grind of the job. I've always been interested in soldiers who get out of the military before 20 years and those who stay the full 20 to get the pot of gold at the end. Are they a different breed?

Different breed? Maybe. But, family pressure, career choices, opportunities offered, all play a role in the decision to stay or go. I retired right at 20 but would have gladly taken another assignment and gone at least 23 but a family emergency and pending short tour made my decision for me. I've missed it over the 21 years I've been retired. Now, I was not shot at or sent on repeat hostile deployments and I worked in a really good intel field that unfortunately didn't result in a job after retirement (peace had broken out after the wall came down and the end of Desert Storm). I have no regrets and appreciate the benefits resulting from my "delayed compensation" (we don't actually get "retirement" pay) but certainly couldn't sit back. I'm proud that two of my sons and I are part of the "1%" that serve this country.

Ok, off my soapbox!