<p>Ok folks, sorry to rain on your wonderful Jim “Jarhead” Webb, bash Bush lovefest, but the new GI Bill isn’t nearly so good.</p>
<p>The reason Bush held it up was Transferability, something Webb didn’t address. Without it, dear 0311 Marine who gets killed on the battlefield (good chance being 0311) could not have elected to transfer his GI Bill benefits to his child. As it is, you can only do it if you just are now enlisting and the service gives you the option. Yes, all the veterans of OEF/OIF who have seperated or retired get NO option to transfer GI bill to a dependent.</p>
<p>Yes, so as far as transferability goes, we give it to new troops, those who may not serve in OIF/OEF. These troops have the ability to take their GI Bill and give it to their spouses after four years, but the recently retired SNCO/CPO, the glue that kept the military going, well he/she can’t give a dime to their kid. The same kid who suffered through Mom/Dad’s deployments, wondering if they would see them alive again. Most retired senior enlisted go get a new job, pay a mortgage and deal with the bills…including their kid’s college expenses. Why did Webb not worry about them in addition to using this as a recruiting tool for more 0311 Marines?</p>
<p>USMC 0311, congrats on getting into UCSD and thank you for your service, I think this bill really shafts the retired enlisted as much as it helps you.</p>