Frequently asked questions

Valerie Vigil, a Marine Corps veteran and member of American Legion Post 27 in Arizona, has been director of veterans affairs at Mesa Community College for the past 25 years. She serves on the legislative committee of the National Association of Veterans' Program Administrators and as a member of the executive board for the Western Association of Veteran Program Administrators.

Questions about the GI Bill can be directed to her by e-mail at askvalerier@legion.org for possible publication in American Legion media. This column will be frequently updated. Visit VA's Web site for an interactive FAQ list.

• After 20 years with the US Marine Corps, I am going to be discharged in a few months. How do I transfer my benefits to my spouse or children?


• After 20 years of service in the Army, I'm retiring. How do I transfer my GI Bill education benefits to my spouse or children?


• If I have already used part or all of my education benefits, am I still eligible to switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill?


• As discharge nears, what are the proper steps to enroll in college?


• What determines how much I will receive in Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits?


• I am a 100-percent unemployable veteran who has retired from the Navy. I served on active duty from July 1981 until August 2005, which makes me fully eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. VA turned me down for vocational rehabilitation prior to my rating because I was so sick. Does that denial affect my eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? I am currently stable with pain medication.


• I am a 53-year old construction worker, who has been laid off from work. I want to go back to school. Where do I start?


• Is it possible to receive financial aid while I am using my GI Bill benefits?


• I enlisted in 2005 for the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund. If I elect to switch my benefits to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, do I lose Army College Fund benefits?


• How do I transfer my educational benefits to my spouse or children?


• I was discharged from the Marines on Jan. 24, 1999. What can I do to extend the 10-year limit on my Montgomery GI Bill benefit?


• Will latent PTSD qualify me for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program?


• How do I use VA education benefits while I am training to become a police officer or another profession with on-the-job training?


• How am I affected by the GI Bill if I plan to attend an institution that is not a state university or state college?


• I just left service. How should I prepare to use my GI Bill benefits?


• What is contained in the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act?