http://theguardsman.com/2010/03/gi-bill-payments-stall-student-veterans-suffer/
10 March 2010
By Greg Zeman, Tania Cervantes and Robert Romano
The GI Bill, the United State's promise of support to its returning
veterans since World War II, is not serving the needs of all student
veterans in a timely fashion.
According to the City College Veteran's Educational Benefits Office,
approximately 400 City College students are relying on the Veterans
Administration to pay for their education and housing expenses
through Chapter 33 of the GI Bill called the "Post 9-11 GI Bill."
"The big difference in this new GI bill is money is given according
to zip codes and students that attend City College receive more money
as San Francisco is a more expensive city," said Fay Caroline, a
counselor with the City College veteran's educational benefits
office. "What we are now seeing is a big influx of students under the
33 chapter that have chosen City College because they will get more money."
She added that the massive influx of students has caused Chapter 33
benefits to kick in late often six to 10 weeks behind schedule.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America reports that more than 1.7
million veterans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, which could
explain the large number of veterans seeking GI Bill benefits.
Student veterans have faced additional difficulty due to extensive
budget cuts to public education.
In order to receive GI Bill benefits, veterans must be enrolled in
approved classes. Those unable to register for classes or those who
have had their classes cut are left without any money.
Because summer semester has been canceled, veterans seeking benefits
during summer semester will have to attend another college, possibly
one that qualifies them for less benefits or they may not receive
benefits at all.
Jordan Towers is a City College history student who joined the
Marines after graduating high school.
"I wasn't ready for college and I needed funds," Towers said. "Money
is a huge reason why people join."
Towers had to wait three months to obtain his benefits during his
first semester at City College.
"They provide, but they are really slow," he said.
Some student veterans like Anthony Meade have faced eviction because
of these delays in payment.
"I received the benefits only with intense hardships," Meade said. "I
did get them, but only after Senator Dianne Feinstein's office
intervened to the Veterans Affairs on my behalf, and that was really
the reason I got paid."
A veteran who who will be referred to as George because his claim
with the VA is still pending, , said he is tired of waiting.
"They keep telling me, 'just a little longer,' but my landlord
doesn't want to hear that anymore," George said. "It's not like I'm
asking for a handout. I was promised these benefits when I enlisted."
George said when he was in boot camp, he was required to set up a
checking account with either the Pentagon Federal Credit Union or
Bank of America. George chose Bank of America, which denied his
request for a loan to make up for late VA payments.
"It's not like I even want to take a loan when people owe me money,"
he said, adding that nobody is answering his calls at the national VA
education office in Omaha, Neb. and that he keeps getting a recorded message.
Nobody could be reached at the national VA office for comment. A
recorded message explained that the office was, "getting an
unprecedented number of claims."
Not all student veterans have faced such difficulty. Moe Awobo, a
City College dance student and seven year Air Force veteran, said
that being in the military helped her overcome personal obstacles and
get an education.
"My life was not going in a direction I liked. I was in a rut, my
life had stalled," Awobo said. "Now I'm definitely getting school
paid for. It's nice to be able to study what I love."
According to the decision in Levy v. Brown a 1993 case heard by the
U.S. Court of Veteran's Appeals verbal agreements between a
military recruiter and a recruit do not constitute an actual
contract. Many people who speak with military recruiters on campus do
not realize that, unlike their decision to serve as a soldier for
eight years, promises made to them by recruiters are not legally binding.
"When I spoke to a recruiter, they told me that women don't serve in
combat and so I should not worry," said Omaira Duran, a City College
student considering enlistment in the military. "I know they
sugarcoat everything, but if I actually don't serve in combat, then I
think it can be a good experience."
Awobo said that the idea that women do not see combat is ridiculous.
"My recruiter was a female and she never told me that," she said. "A
lot of my homegirls have set foot in Baghdad and Afghanistan. Once
you put on that uniform, there is no distinction. If they need a
body, then you're going."
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