A Boomer’s Perspective on Millennials in the Military

John Aldrich, US Navy

(AMU Students, alumni, faculty & staff participating in Wreaths Across America December 13, 2014 at Arlington National Ceremony)

As a baby boomer, I tend to sit on the fence regarding my views on millennials, but as one who is also only three years shy of being a Gen X-er, I tend to move easily between the two generations of thought. For example, I generally take a more heterogeneous view on social and cultural diversity, whereas boomers, especially those born shortly after WWII, tend to have a more homogeneous perspective. I realize that this is the type of stereotyping that goes hand in hand with most generational biases, and someone out there is already disagreeing with me, but that’s okay. Such differences are one of the many things that make our country great.

The majority of today’s active-duty forces and veterans are products of the millennial generation, shaped by their environment and combined social experiences. For example, millennials have experienced the bombing of the World Trade Center, over 10 years of war in the Middle East, the housing and banking bubble, and the Great Recession.

There are numerous opinions on millennials in the military, ranging from their obsession with social media to their liberal political views. Like their civilian counterparts, they are often described as a lazy, self-centered, and privileged generation. In the workplace, millennials are often portrayed as putting in the bare minimum of hours, and driven by the self-absorbed notion that they should be promoted overnight. I work with numerous millennials, some of whom have served, and couldn’t find this sentiment to be further from the truth. My experience is that they are actively engaged in meaningful social causes and are typically among the first at work to contribute their free time and money toward a worthy cause. One could also argue that being strapped with the nation’s debt created by past generations or being subject to a retirement system dependent on the whims of today’s financial markets isn’t “privileged” at all.

What is clear, whether you are talking about the Greatest Generation, Boomers, Gen X-ers, the Net-Generation, or Millennials, is that they all share a love of country. Millennials are no different.

I have the honor of visiting veterans and servicemembers throughout the country, and with each encounter, I leave with a great sense of pride about the young men and women from this generation. Millennials join the service for many of the same reasons as others before them: to seek adventure, grow up, get a job, serve others, and satisfy a deep sense of patriotism, especially for those who joined after 9/11. This is no different than those from the Greatest Generation flocking to recruiting centers after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They felt a patriotic duty to join.

The future for millennials in the military is as bright as that of any preceding generation. Women are breaking barriers by joining the exclusive military communities of Navy Submariners and Army Rangers, and, as the first digital natives, millennials are perfect candidates to combat the growing threat of cybercrime. 

Millennials question authority more than generations of the past, and texting and engaging on social media comes naturally, but no one should doubt that this generation is any less patriotic than previous ones. The heroic stories of self-sacrifice by this generation on the battlefield and the endearing sense of optimism by those millennials wounded in recent wars are humbling. One need look no further than the heroism and selfless sacrifice of three servicemembers who recently stopped a terrorist gunman from killing and injuring countless people on a train in France.

As our country prepares for this Veterans Day, we not only take time to reflect and honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of those who came before us, but to also recognize today’s servicemembers and veterans. No matter how you choose to spend this holiday, one thing is for certain, we can all sleep at night knowing that we are still in good hands.

About the Author

John Aldrich is Vice President of Military, Veterans & Community College Relations at American Military University (http://rly.pt/amu-b-3) where military and veterans of many generations attend to further their educational goals and help transition to civilian life.

Read more Command Posts, here!

The Kids Are Back in School, Why Aren’t You?

SGT Shontae Patsaricas, US ARMY

(Image provided by American Military University)

Summer is over and the kids are back in school. Is the timing right for you too? Whether you’re a military spouse, currently serving or a veteran—many military parents take advantage of this newfound time to focus on individual goals when school is back in session. For many, completing a degree implies more opportunities. Based on my career serving as a former senior admissions representative, recently promoted to Veteran Liaison, serving American Military University (AMU) students, there are five guidelines I’ve defined for students looking to return back to school.

Make your education fit into your hectic schedule

Time management is a key component to success as a student, online or traditional. Since most online learning is asynchronous, students have the option of fitting education into their schedule. This means you can learn 24/7 using your mobile device or computer and complete your weekly assignments based on a schedule you choose that fits your busy life. This enables you to log in to complete your classroom discussions, writing assignments, and tests at your optimal time of day. This flexibility is incredibly empowering whether you’re an on-the-go spouse or deployed military.

Maximize military experience for additional credits

No matter where you decide to attend, be sure that the school offers military transcript evaluations. I encourage you to work with your college advisors to explore all of your options. AMU provides and Transfer Credit Evaluation and Prior Learning Assessment programs to help you get the credit you’ve earned through your military training, job experience, or other learning outside of the traditional classroom. You can also optimize your credits by choosing a program that closely relates to your military background like criminal justice, cybersecurity (IT), intelligence studies or homeland security, among many others options.

Educate yourself on your financial aid options

There are many options to choose from including military Tuition Assistance (if Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve), Veteran’s Benefits, Federal Student Aid, Employer Benefits, as well as self-pay. It’s important that you work with a respected, affordable university that understands military life so that you’re able to maximize the benefits you and your family have earned.

Find and connect with other military-community students while you study

Social media communities are a great way to connect with fellow students online. These groups are a great way to see motivational student success stories, school announcements, and are an open environment to ask questions and get feedback from students and alumni. AMU has a major presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and RallyPoint – just to name a few. We utilize these channels to connect with our students at a deeper level, and find it’s a great way to communicate with them. If you’re currently serving, you can locate one of our many Military Outreach Representatives near your local military installation. Don’t be afraid to network because there are many people out there who are eager to help you with your educational goals.

You’ll always have a strong support network.

Get Started

Research the programs that are of interest to you. Every school has their own set of requirements, and you’ll want to make sure that it’s accredited. Also ensure that they have accommodating features to your military career, and shift in priorities. If you’re ready to take the next step with AMU, I invite you to contact me or a member our helpful admissions team at 1-877-777-9081. You can also apply now online here.

There is no better time than today to think about your educational goals and what school would be a good fit for you. Whether you are state-side, currently deployed, or transitioning to your post-military career, know that there are options available if you’re serious about seeking a degree and a peer community online.  

If you have any specific questions, please comment here.

3 Ways to Get College Credit from Your Joint Services Transcript (JST)

Capt Craig Gilman, USMC

As a military or veteran student, you’ve gained valuable training, skills, and experience while serving your country, which is documented in your Joint Services Transcript (JST). You’re probably aware that your JST can be used to earn transfer credit when applying to school, but are you taking full advantage of the different types of military college credits available? 

Step 1: Use Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to Your Advantage

To understand how your JST can help get the most transfer credit into your chosen college degree, first you need to understand the variety of ways in which transfer credit can be achieved.

Generally, PLA refers to any means of bringing transfer credit into a degree program at any college. Common examples include:

· Prior college learning

· AP examinations from high school

· College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores

Some schools offer a structured PLA program to help you maximize the credit you can transfer into an academic program based on your military and life experiences. For adult students with real-world experience, seeking out such schools can be advantageous, because you may be able to graduate sooner and for less cost. 

Our PLA program at American Military University gives you the opportunity to earn credit for learning outside the confines of a traditional classroom, in addition to what may have been earned via the American Council of Education (ACE) or college-level testing. Our unique PLA process allows you to demonstrate this through:

· College-level knowledge

· Skills and abilities as the result of work experience

· Formal corporate or military training not evaluated by ACE

· Business ownership

· Volunteer work

· Independent study

· Travel and many other life experiences   

Documentation is Your Friend

Documentation will help you get as many credits as possible. It can include sample work products, training certificates, workplace evaluations, letters of recommendation, and photographs. As a military student, you have the advantage of providing your JST as documentation in support of these requirements. 

Consider a military intelligence analyst stationed abroad. While credit may be recommended on the JST due to the analyst’s formal intelligence training, the region-specific knowledge and skills the analyst attained while living abroad will not. However, the analyst can use the JST to verify training, in combination with a resume and narrative to demonstrate years’ worth of experience and observation in a local culture. This could demonstrate the analyst’s mastery of certain learning objectives of a particular course in a degree program, such as intelligence or international relations, and provide sufficient evidence to earn college credit awarded through the PLA process.

Before you apply to such PLA programs, which do require some time, effort and expense—be sure to maximize the more common means of transferring credits into a degree program.

Step 2: Maximize Transfer Credit Using Your JST

The Military Course Completions and Military Experience sections of the JST contain a list of all your military training and occupational assignments. Often, these have been recommended for credit and are certified by ACE. ACE specializes in translating military experience into recommended college credit. Verify that your JST is included with any application when enrolling at a college. First, ask the college to confirm that it will accept relevant credit recommendations from your JST.

Under the Other Learning Experiences section, other training and real-world knowledge and experience is listed. Although no course credit is earned for these experiences, the information is valuable in proving competency for credentialing and qualification for employment. This is important for students attempting to earn additional transfer credits at colleges that offer a prior learning assessment option.

Step 3: Choose Your School & Program Wisely

Be aware that there are limits to the amount of transfer credit any reputable college or university will allow. Institutions of higher education that maintain expectations of academic rigor often have a residency requirement, which stipulates that students must take at least 25 percent of their program at their school in order to award a diploma. Schools that do not enforce this industry standard warrant a second look.

Selecting a specific degree program is a personal and important choice. It should be based on your long-term career and individual goals. If earning a degree in the shortest amount of time is critical to your goals, be sure to first review the degree requirements. Match them to any prior learning you already have, or to what you believe might earn you credit through a PLA program with your JST.

Consider schools that have a history of accepting legitimate transfer credit from legitimate sources, such as prior college credit, college-level testing and ACE-recommended military training. Do not ignore accreditation. As a general rule, for academic degree programs look for regional accreditation. Then, confirm that the school offers a formalized PLA process.

Different schools have different policies regarding the acceptance of transfer credit. Some accept minimal credit based on military training. Some do not provide sufficient military specific services that current and former Servicemembers deserve. So get another opinion. By using these three steps and knowing how PLA works to your advantage, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize the academic credits you may have already earned by serving your nation.

Read more Command Posts, here! 

Transition: From Soldier to Civilian

2LT Michael Brodka, US Army

It is almost here. That joyous moment when you sign out on terminal leave and skip away with DD214 in hand. For many, separation from the military is a time of excitement - an embarkation on new careers, college attendance, and myriad other opportunities. For others, it is equally exciting, but without many plans or direction. It is not as easy as simply “getting out.”

After five years, I decided to leave the Army and become a civilian. I was proud of my service, but I wanted to do something different. I thought I had a fine-tuned plan and decided to move to New York City with my fiancé. I made this decision about a year before my ETS date and thought my plan was solid: go to college full-time and work part-time to supplement the VA’s compensation.

I packed my stuff, drove to Brooklyn from El Paso, and moved into a small apartment. I had yet to hear back from a city university, so I decided to go find a job. I naively thought that a DD214, a couple of good NCOERs, and my veteran status would land me a pretty nice job. After two weeks I had not received a word back, which started making me a little anxious. To make matters worse, I waited until a couple of months before I left the Army to apply for education and disability benefits from the VA. I did not realize that it could take up to a year to receive my results. After depleting my savings and working a few under the table jobs, I realized I had made a huge mistake!

Employment:

Even in places as large as New York, jobs are in high demand and many qualified people are applying for the same position you are. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, large bubbles of veterans have hit the job market, some more qualified than you. Be prepared to continue competing against your peers in the civilian sector.

I encourage job searches and applications about one year out. Begin perusing job sites and local listings. For those looking at government jobs including police and fire, the entire hiring process from application to first day of work can be up to a year or more. Furthermore, jobs with the Federal government require very specific resumes and applications. Enjoy navigating the minefield known as usajobs.gov. Get started early.

Education:

Applying to a college or trade school can take as long as getting a job. Fortunately many schools have veteran’s departments staffed by fellow vets. They can help you through the application process and explain how VA education benefits work. (I owe my college veteran’s department a few cases of beer.)

   

Apply early and to different schools. I expected to be accepted and did not bother looking at another college. It was a huge mistake because some gifted intellectuals will have no problems with this, but some of us whose mothers played soccer while pregnant (thus jostling our little brains against our little noggins) may have a tougher time. Do not throw all your eggs in one basket.

Veteran’s Administration:

I would like to sum this entire topic up with an emotion that is slightly angry, a little bit confused, and somewhat surprised. The VA has had some bad press lately, partially because they have done some not-so-stellar things. With that said, you are probably aware that dealing with the VA is extremely tiresome and frustrating. Take a deep breath, grit your teeth, and jump right in. There really is no other way.

The best advice I can give is to begin this process as soon as you are eligible. Applying for education benefits is the least painful and quickest process. Applying for disability is more of a hassle. Make sure you have multiple copies of your medical record and be prepared to send it to them repeatedly. This process can take up to a year or more to get an answer. Be patient. Some services’ separation offices help with this process so make use of all possible resources to ease the pain. You will be glad you did.

This is not an exhaustive, “all-problems-solved” list, but it does give some direction and general idea of what to plan for and expect. The best advice is to plan ahead and think of contingencies. Even getting out and living on mom’s couch is not as easy as you may think. Use veteran resources and ask questions from those of us who learned the painful way. It will be of great help. Good luck and thank you for your service!

Read more posts like this, here!

Yellow Ribbon Programs: What You Should Know About Your Education Benefits

David Yoo, RallyPoint Civilian Careers.

BestColleges.com pulled a 2012 report from NBC News which noted that there are roughly 800,000 veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces currently attending college, but that many of those who attend do not complete their full time in the institution. Disheartening statistics of veteran college drop out rates, however, have bred more active responses from legislators, schools, and communities to adopt better measures to ease the transition to the civilian world. Of those measures, the Yellow Ribbon Program stands out in aiding veterans in covering often expensive tuition costs. 

In our previous post about noting important details about the GI Bill, we mentioned the Yellow Ribbon Program and how schools have partnered with the VA to help alleviate the costs of higher education for returning veterans. 

Going back to school after years of service can be a valuable way to pick up a few things that may help you in your transition to working in the private civilian sector. Many schools offer classes and degrees in technical areas and non-technical subjects. You can get a background in areas such as programming or business and marketing, which may be worth your time if you don't think your military experience is enough to land you a full-time job that you would like to work for.

So how do you get these benefits and what exactly is the Yellow Ribbon Program? We'll review some of the details we've mentioned before in our previous post but also go into more detail regarding the specific eligibility requirements and specific benefits.

So What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Yellow Ribbon Program is essentially a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that help veteran students attend more expensive private universities by cutting tuition costs. Usually, the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for veterans attending private schools have a cap mandated by the national maximum, meaning costs are not always covered by GI Bill benefits. The maximum changes often and can can be tracked here. Currently the maximum is $20,235.02 and will change this year on August 1, 2015 to $21,084.89.

According to the VA, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay you: 

• All resident tuition and fees for a public school 

• The lower of the actual tuition and fees or the national maximum per academic year for a private school

"Your actual tuition & fees costs may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student. 

Institutions of Higher Learning (Degree Granting Institutions) may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement. 

These institutions voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA and choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. VA matches that amount and issues payments directly to the institution."

Eligibility Requirements

The VA provides a list of requirements that you must meet in order to receive the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits. Here's the complete list that you can find on the VA's site:

• You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 
• You must not be on active duty or a spouse using transferred entitlement. 
• Your school must agree to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. 
• Your school must have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals, as stated in their participation agreement. 
• Your school must certify your enrollment to VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information 

You may be eligible if you fit the following circumstances: 

• You served an aggregate period of 36 months in active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. 
• You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001. 
• You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on the service eligibility criteria listed above. 

Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Am I automatically eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if I am also eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

No. Only Veterans and dependents who received your benefit through a transfer are eligible. Active duty service members and spouses are not eligible. Also, the school or institution itself must be approved to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and you have to apply to the school.

If the school I intend to enroll in participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, am I automatically going to receive the benefits?

No. The school or institution partners with the VA to help cover tuition, but the extent to which the school provides these benefits depends on the school. There are limits on the number of veterans who can receive benefits from the program, and this is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. You have to apply to the school and the school should notify you whether you were accepted into the program and thus eligible for the benefits. 

How do I know whether the school I want to attend participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program?

You can find schools that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program through the VA's list of Yellow Ribbon participants on the GI Bill website. Here is a direct link, where you can find schools that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program by state. 

You should also look into schools that have an overall more robust program that provide support for veteran students. You can find informative lists of institutions that offer more benefits for veteran students seeking higher education through some simple searching.

For more FAQ's and answers, check out the VA's page here. Join more discussions or learn more about transitioning in our employment and transition thread here. 

Important Things You Should Know About the GI Bill

David Yoo, RallyPoint Civilian Careers.

The G.I. Bill was originally a benefits package created for returning WW2 veterans that covered things such as low-premium mortgages, tuition for education (vocational, university, or high school) and unemployment compensation. The GI Bill was inspired after seeing the treatment of WWI Veterans, who faced extreme challenges after transitioning. 

As time went on, the GI Bill has evolved as the needs and culture of businesses and society changed. In 1948, the bill was modified and called the "Montgomery GI Bill." Nearly 60 years later in 2008, the GI Bill was changed and called the "Post-9/11" GI Bill. 

Today, veterans can select from either of the bills to aid them in their pursuit for education and vocational training.

A lot of transitioning service members and veterans have used their GI Bill and taken advantage of the opportunity to use these funds. But many also find trouble knowing what the GI Bill is about and how to best make use of it. 

We're going to go over some important things you should know about the GI Bill and clarify how best to make use of these funds to get the most out of your grant. 

What's the Difference Between the two GI Bills?

Montgomery GI Bill 

The benefits received through this GI Bill are available to US Armed Forces and selected reserves. There are two main requirements that apply to all the categories receiving the benefit as outlined in a pamphlet from the VA:

• You must have received a fully honorable discharge. "Discharges 'under honorable conditions' and 'general' discharges don’t establish eligibility for MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill). However, if you have more than one period of service, and receive an other than honorable discharge from one period, you may be able to qualify if you receive an honorable discharge from another period of service. (A period from which you were discharged in order to reenlist may meet the eligibility requirements)."
• You must have completed high school or have obtained "an equivalency certificate, or complete 12 hours toward a college degree, before you apply for benefits."

According to the VA, the Montgomery GI Bill essentially works like this: "Active duty members who enroll...pay $100 per month for 12 months and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation."

The monthly education benefits (that are paid directly to you, not the schools) are up to 36 months, and the compensation rate depends on how many classes/credits you take. Check out the VA's link on all the rates so you can see which apply to you.

REMEMBER that those benefits do not simply apply for 36 consecutive months! Many school/academic years are around 8 months long, so you can technically get a bachelors degree using your GI Bill and even work up to or even obtain a masters degree if you can do so within 36 non-consecutive months. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is available for those who were in active duty within 90 days after September 11, 2001. Like recipients of the Montgomery GI Bill, qualified recipients must be honorably discharged.  

The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides 36 months of benefits but the tuition is covered by paying the college or university directly (so you do not receive the money as you would with the Montgomery GI Bill). That being said, you still receive monthly housing and books/supplies allowance directly. 

If you were discharged as a result of a a service-related disability, you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you have served for at least 30 days at the time of the discharge.




The Post-9/11 GI Bill pamphlet from the VA explains the specific benefits: 

• A Tuition and Fee payment that is paid to your school on your behalf 
• A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)** that is equal to:
• The basic allowance for housing (BAH) payable for the zip code of your school to a military E-5 with dependents for students pursuing resident training 
• One-half the BAH national average for students training solely by distance learning
• The national average BAH for students pursuing training at foreign schools
• A books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year

Choose carefully between the two GI Bills, as once you choose you cannot reverse your decision. There are many things to consider, such as, whether you plan on studying online (which would mean a drastic reduction in your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits) or how many classes you take and where you are planning to study. 

What is a "Month" of Benefits?

You might be having trouble grasping what a "month" entails. The GI Bill gives a veteran "36 months" of benefits, which doesn't mean that you only have 36 months to use it, or that you have to use it all in a continuous 3 year period. 

If you attend school for half a month, you use half a month's worth of benefits. 

Does GI Bill Benefits Count as Financial Aid?

No, the benefits you get from applying for a GI Bill do not count as federal financial aid. 

Since the GI Bill isn't considered financial aid, you are not barred from exploring and applying for other types of student loans or scholarships and grants. There are many scholarships for student veterans, and many schools also provide their unique benefits packages. It is worth exploring what different schools offer for their veteran students in order to supplement your education fund and minimize the need to take out loans. 

For example, the actual cost of your tuition and fees may "exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student." The VA mentions that "Institutions of Higher Learning (Degree Granting Institutions) may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program (a Post-9/11 GI Bill provision) to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement." These universities and colleges with who are Yellow Ribbon partners can contribute the needed funds to top off the outstanding debts that your GI Bill may not cover, so remember to consider institutions that are part of the Yellow Ribbon Program if you want to offset some additional costs. 

Be careful, though, as the VA still has the right to take the money back from you if you have been overpaying your tuition, i.e. you're receiving more in benefits than you actually need to pay. 

Can My Family Receive My GI Bill Benefits? 

The VA provides benefits for spouses and dependents of service members. For example, a service member can transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to his or her spouse or dependent (a child, for example). 

The VA notes that the "transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows [service members] to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family...Eligible [service members] may transfer all 36 months or the portion of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (unless DoD or the Department of Homeland Security has limited the number of transferable months)."

The option to transfer your benefits is open to any of those who meet the following requirement: 

First, you must be a member of the armed forces active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Then, you must meet the following criteria: 

• Has at least six years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date of election. 
• Has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by Service Branch or DoD) or statute from committing to four additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute. 
• Is or becomes retirement-eligible and agrees to serve an additional four years of service on or after Aug. 1, 2012. A service member is considered to be retirement-eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed (pursuant to section 12732 of title 10 U.S.C.). 
• Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the armed forces.

To begin applying for GI Bills or to find out more about the GI Bill benefits, click this link here. Join more discussions or learn more about transitioning in our employment and transition thread here. 

Your Business Needs Veterans

SrA Andrew McCarty, USAF

If you’re looking for a lesson in clichés and platitudes, the argument for hiring veterans is chock-full of them. Words like leadership and teamwork populate every report or article that is written on the subject, as well they should. However, the conversation requires a depth and substance that is often missing when these cases are made. To make a positive difference in the advancement of veteran employment opportunities, we must not rely on the same tired language. If pictures paint a thousand words, statistics and data driven examples will be the da Vinci of this movement. 

At this year's Council of Colleges and Military Educators symposium in Anaheim, I spoke on the topic of marketing student veterans for employment. I set out to supply a guide to the language and research that supports success. Two things became clear as I prepared my presentation: the language is pretty standard across the board, and not many statistics were included in the research I found. The few I discovered were mostly character driven, culled from the anecdotal responses of CEOs and human resource professionals. While these responses were almost universally positive, subjective language and opinions do not stand up well to opposition. I saw this first hand during a conversation; I spouted off the positive character traits that veterans bring to the workplace, and the other party countered that I was biased. I am a veteran, after all, so my response sounded self-serving. Many civilians boast the same great qualities that veterans possess, so how could I paint all veteran employees with the same brush?

The stats actually do support the argument that veterans are good for business. A 2013 study by the Corporate Executive Board Company (CEB) “shows that veteran hires are more valuable employees. Veterans, on average, perform at higher levels (avg. +4%) and are less likely to turnover (avg. -3%) generating significant business outcomes. Doing the math: For a company of 1,000 employees and average revenue per employee of $150,000, decreasing turnover by 3% saves $1.3 million annually, and increasing performance by 4% improves revenue by $6 million."

The veteran employment movement needs more data like the CEB stats above. Unfortunately, for all the companies advertising their efforts to hire veterans and appear “military friendly,” few are making the effort to track this segment of their employee population. Collecting and sharing that data will strengthen the argument that hiring veterans is good for business. Until then, we’re shooting blanks in a live-fire battle. It doesn't take a military historian to figure out the odds in that scenario.

Andy McCarty is the Director of Veteran and Military Services at Northeastern University. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a board member of the National Association of Veteran's Program Administrators. 

To learn more about Northeastern’s commitment to servicemembers and veterans, please visit: http://rly.pt/northeastern-uni

Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.

Impacts of Section 702 of the “Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act

Capt Richard Porter, USMC

Section 702 of the “Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act” has made substantial changes that are going to have a significant impact on many Veterans relying on the Post 9/11 GI bill. 

1. Public schools are required to grant in-state tuition and fee status to all Veterans who served greater than ninety days on active duty after 9/11 and are within three years of their effective separation date, or to their spouses or children using transferred benefits, or a recipient of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship that live in the state of the school.
2. The enforcement mechanism to schools and states is that the VA will not pay ANY post 9/11 benefits to ANYONE attending a state school that does not comply.
3. Some Veterans will likely lose their benefits completely (because some states and schools will not comply in time for their degree to be complete). 
4. Many more Veterans will likely lose their benefits for a period of time until states and schools come into compliance, and will be responsible for paying their own tuition and fees for that period. They will NOT be reimbursed based on current guidelines. 
5. This loss of benefits will affect veterans currently enrolled at a non-compliant school.  Even if they previously qualified as in state, or for the Yellow Ribbon program, they will lose any Post 9/11 benefits until the school becomes compliant. 
6. The secretary of the VA could potentially waive these requirements, but it does not appear likely. The VA states: “VA is in the process of developing waiver criteria for States that are actively pursuing changes to comply with these provisions. More information regarding the waiver criteria will be included in a regulation published in the Federal Register… However, at this time we do not currently have a projected date for this publication.   
7. In a non-compliant state, Veterans selecting a school may actually save money over the course of their degree by attending a private school that participates in the Yellow Ribbon program versus a non-compliant state school, even if the school becomes compliant as little as one month late, because the GI bill benefits will not re-commence until the next term. 
8. Veterans need to make state legislatures and school residency certifying offices aware of this impending challenge, they are the ones capable of fixing it. 
9. Most schools and even the VA GI bill help center are still working through what this means, and the effective date of 1 July 2015 is rapidly approaching. 

What can Veterans do? 

1. Check and see if your state is compliant. The VA’s site for reference is here: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/702.asp
2. This site is more visually pleasing and has more information, but has some accuracy errors, be sure to double check with the VA site. (https://www.vetshq.com/education-student-veterans-benefits-and-the-states/)
3. If your state is compliant, congratulations, just pass the word to your fellow Veterans whose states may not be. 
4. If your state is not compliant, read and understand the detailed version of this info paper with appendices, the VA fact sheet, the VA FAQ, and the legislation itself (all appended in the long version of this document). You will likely need to know it to teach others. 
5. Monitor the VA Section 702 web page and the FAQ for the possibility of a decision on a waiver. If one occurs learn its conditions quickly. (http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/702.asp) 
6. Check your state’s legislative webpage, for example, this is North Carolina’s, there is usually a bill search tool. I found “Veterans Tuition” to be a good search term, check the dates and see where a bill to require compliance in process. NC’s is in committee and has been for a month. (http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/SiteSearch/SiteSearch.asp?cx=016444635331331191208%3A2jn1cirfegg&cof=FORID%3A11&q=veterans+tuition&sa=Go) 
7. Write to the appropriate state legislature (especially the bill’s sponsors, committees etc.) to accelerate the pace, educate them on the possible consequences. 
8. Write to the state school’s office that determines in-state eligibility and encourage them to unilaterally grant in state tuition status for “covered persons” without waiting on the legislatures. 
9. Write to the VA Sect 702 team to encourage them to move up their timeline for waiver planning from “indefinite” to “prior to 1 July 2015” so we won’t have to pay out of pocket. (Section702.Vbavaco@va.gov) 
10. Write to news outlets to educate them about the impending impact and the responsible offices that could correct the problems. 
11. Write to your US Congressmen and request they intervene and require the VA to waive the penalty that will fall on Veterans, by allowing currently enrolled and admitted students to use their benefits at their schools, even if they are not yet compliant. 
12. Plan for the worst, prepare alternative funding for the possibility of the state legislature, state schools and VA’s failures to address the issue by the deadline, and consider a private school with a Yellow Ribbon program as an alternative. Run the numbers and compare costs. 
13. Get your fellow Veterans to do the same (feel free to re-paste this anywhere you like).  The clock is ticking. 

Thank you for your time and attention, please feel free to re-contact me with any questions or clarifications.

Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.

Think you can’t earn a college degree while being on active duty? Think again!

RallyPoint Team

Sometimes, when people reminisce about where they’ve been and where they’re headed, profound thoughts that are so simple, but so powerful, will emerge.  About a year ago, while Alan Arnold, Master Gunnery Sergeant for the United States Marine Corps, was preparing for Grantham University’s commencement program, he dropped one of those gold nuggets of truth. 

“I tell everyone,” he said, “do one of two things, join the military or go to college.”

Then he paused and added, “And if you’re lucky, you can do them both.”

What a remarkable goal: Be a part of the greatest fighting force the world has ever known and earn an online college degree at the same time. 

Arnold isn’t the exception to the rule, but rather part of a group who has found the solution that helps service members do both: a 100% online degree program.  

Consider another Grantham alum. Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Murphy, US Army, Associate of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies – stopped by to give his perspective on pursuing a degree while in the military.  

Q1: What’s it like earning an online college degree while serving active duty for your country?

If you want it that bad, you can make it happen. With the help of the discussion posts and teachers with good hours, it comes together and you find out it isn’t as difficult as you would think going into it.

Q2: Why do it? Why work so hard for a degree while on active duty, whether you’re deployed or not?

Preparing myself now to transition to the outside world will make that transition that much smoother. Knowing that I have the military experience and a degree from Grantham sets me up that much more for success. It also doesn’t hurt that while I am in, earning a degree is something the Army is looking at more and more for promotions.

Q3: What does a degree do for your career?

The Army is drawing down from the battle rhythm of multiple deployments. Being deployed every other year is no longer an excuse. They are more focused on who has taken the time, in conjunction with what is going on at work, to earn a degree and not stop at just one, but continue to earn it as long as they can. Why stop at an online associate degree when you can earn a master’s?

Q4: Do you have tips for military service members considering pursuing a degree on active duty?

At the end of the day, just get your degree. I have known soldiers in all different situations, duty stations, jobs and so forth that have been able to earn a degree. It’s a matter of how bad you want it. There are so many ways to get your degree - even if it is one class at a time, you’re earning it.

Do more than be inspired by Kevin's story. Do something about it! Check out Grantham today.

Learn more about Grantham University!: http://rly.pt/GranthamUniversity

Have you ever met someone you instantly knew was going to make waves in the world?

RallyPoint Team

This year, I had the pleasure of visiting with our class of 2014 Commencement speaker.

A 20-year Army veteran and recent graduate from the Grantham online master of business administration-project management program with distinction, retired Sergeant First Class Charles Lamp is a man of vision, conviction and promise.

Lamp didn’t let difficult situations define his reality. He simply found ways around the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. He knew that his lifestyle and circumstances required the innovative and creative methodologies not available at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. For Charles, Grantham was that solution.

With great power comes great responsibility: “My education has always been very important to me,” said Lamp, “It ensures that I can take care of my family, myself and make a difference in every opportunity I come across since retiring from the military.” 

I love that, during his commencement speech, he addressed the audience as future managers and leaders. It was as if he didn’t even acknowledge there was a chance his cohorts wouldn’t want to be in those positions. He reminded them that, with the power of their accredited online degrees, came a new responsibility.

Seeing beyond today: One thing that makes Lamp successful is that he was acutely aware of the changing world around him. Instead of fighting the inevitable change of expectations in his industry and hiring managers at-large, he lowered his head and got to work!

“I completed 20 years in the Army…[where it] used to be if you had on-the-job training or skills, you could get the job.” he said, “Nowadays, you have to have the diploma. There is no hiring manager that is going to pick you up. I knew that and had to push myself a little harder.”

The real keys to the kingdom: Lamp’s charge to his class was to “specialize until you’re special”. He likened a diploma not to a sword that would slay every hindrance, but as a key that would open many doors.

“You hold that key in your hand,” he said. “But, you can’t stop there…we must seek out that which makes us stand out as top-notch professionals in the workplace.”

He also encouraged the graduates, “Don’t be afraid of failure along the way.” He’s been knocked down by its grit but has found the inner-drive to get back up. He believes that you only learn from failure and from failure comes growth.

To close his remarks, he quoted the signature line of every email he sends: “In the words of Samuel Beckett:  Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Learn more about Grantham University: http://rly.pt/GranthamU

Citations:

2014 Commencement: http://rly.pt/2014-commencement

Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.

Education: It’s a Veteran’s Choice

PO3 John Aldrich, US Navy

AVP, Military Relations, American Military University

Those who serve in the military are expected to lead people, operate sophisticated equipment, and routinely make decisions under pressure. Why then, do some lawmakers consider these same highly trained service members to be naïve when selecting a college of their choice?

The education benefits offered to active-duty members and veterans are the best in the nation. In fact, these exceptional educational incentives are a major recruiting tool and one of the top reasons why individuals join the military. In 2013, approximately 272,000 active-duty, Guard and reserve personnel used Tuition Assistance benefits to enroll in over 800,000 college courses; over one million veterans used their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

With such a large volume of students using federal funding for school, it is quite understandable for members of Congress to be concerned with abuses and return on investment for the funds that are expended. Unfortunately, the quest to uncover unscrupulous practices and abuses has unfairly targeted an entire segment of higher education; namely for-profit colleges.

Although traditional state schools and non-profit colleges offer a wide range of educational alternatives to include flexible scheduling and online classroom options, for-profit colleges are attractive options for career-minded veterans who desire a wider variety of cutting-edge degree programs.  According to William G. Tierney, Co-Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education, University of Southern California, the benefits of for-profit education goes beyond flexible scheduling and online classroom options. For-profit education is uniquely positioned to partner with employers because focusing on careers is built into the fabric of for-profit education. They can respond more fluidly to booming, emerging fields because of their willingness to embrace new forms of learning like competency-based learning. 

There are thousands of veterans successfully attending for-profit institutions. Many earned degrees at for-profit colleges while successfully applying for advanced degrees at state or non-profit private colleges and universities. Many of these veterans who complete their degrees with for-profit institutions are experiencing positive outcomes. In fact, four out of five of the top providers of education serving members of the Department of Defense are for-profit colleges (Bilodeau, 2014). 

We can all agree that veteran benefits are important for our nation to attract and retain the best and brightest to the military. We can also agree that our leaders are placed in a unique position, especially considering public outcry regarding some nefarious treatment of veterans. However, painting an entire industry with a broad stroke has far more reaching implications than just education. How and where veterans should use their hard-earned benefits should be left up to those who have served. Veterans have earned the right to be trusted to make the right decisions about their benefits.

Resource:

OUSD Voluntary Education Program Update: Dawn Bilodeau. February 2014.

About the Author 

John Aldrich is the associate vice president for military and community college outreach at American Military University (AMU). John’s past assignments for AMU include serving as director for military outreach, west region senior manager for military outreach, and education coordinator, California and Hawaii.

Prior to joining AMU, he served as an education services specialist for Marine Corps Base Twenty-Nine Palms California; director of career services and job placement at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort, South Carolina; education specialist for Navy College Programs, Sicily, Italy; academic advisor for undecided students and student athletes at the University of Rhode Island; and as a Naval Hospital Corpsman, Fleet Marine Forces.

John earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences and Services and a Master of Science in College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island. 

Comment below or start the conversation here and connect within the military community.

*These opinions belong to the writer and in no way reflect the views of the DoD or other departments of the US government.