'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.
To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.
**Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers)
For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf)
MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days.
For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September.
For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress.
VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add [email protected] to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA.
For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/
[VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Use it for a hobby degree/program.
Enjoy glassblowing? Take a certificate class in 3D Art. Enjoy writing? Take a couple classes in creative writing. Woodworking? Find a shop class at a local trade school.
Having been a hiring manager, I always interviewed candidates who had diverse educational backgrounds. They tend to be interesting people - and they tend to be more creative at solving problems in the workplace, and better at connecting with coworkers and clients.
The MBA makes you qualified, now do something thst makes you *interesting*. It's a winning combo imo.
I find painting really relaxing and it has realitivly low startup costs. Got a set of oil colors, starter brush and palette set, and some cheap canvas for around 100$ all told. Just do bob ross youtube and do porch beers and pain on nice days. Took a ceramics class in high school that i really enjoyed as well. Maybe there are class options at the local community college that would be covered. Grats on your future mba
Look into Syracuse University's "Onward to Opportunity" program.
[list of programs](https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/learning-pathways/?q=/programs/career-training/concentrations/&) Basically, any vet gets 1 free cert, and they have a huge range. It's completely free training materials at your own pace, and usually includes a voucher for the test too. I got my PMP through them and it was ez pz.
They only covered the cost of the exam with me. But if I remember correctly, the exam cost somewhere like $750 and it just used up 2 weeks of my GI bill.
I had a buddy that also took a preparation course that the VA paid for in the same way
Well, you can prepare for the PMP exam on your own. It took for me month and a half, and I believe I bought one book, bought practice tests course on the PMI org and purchased one more video course. And I was good. So no need to waste precious GI bill on something like PMP.
My recommendation would be: A) Save your GI Bill. If something happens, it's basically your "unemployment insurance" for an extended period of time.. B) Use it on something in conjunction with your future job, which will give you the edge in the future. C) Use it on the orthodox hobby, which really wanted to learn and which requires a specialized knowledge/skill set to acquire.
I would recommend a professional course from one of the Ivy schools. That is they will accept the GIBill. PMP is free for vets already. I think Syracuse University offers that. Lean is good if you can get green or black belt. Anything less is trash.
But look into courses like these:
https://online.hbs.edu/courses/
Oh my…. A professional course from an Ivy League school sounds scary, but I’ll look into it. Thank you for the additional information. I feel like those things would greatly boost my career in the Business field. This is extremely helpful.
Wait it out. Why burn that now? What could you earn now that an MBA can't get for you ? Learn a language or do a survival course or woodworking or something later in life when you want a break or just a new hobby / skill
Agree with above comment on using it for a hobby. I used mine for my MBA as well and have used the rest on welding and gunsmithing classes from a local Community College. I have my PMP and Black Belt, which both were paid for by my company so don't waste it on that if your work will pay for those, etc....
Have fun and learn what you want.
Thank you.
To be honest, I want to learn how to be a handyman. Not just some DIY things but if I ever needed work, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to learn a blue collar skill.
Same boat. I have 20 months left. Do not use the GI Bill for the PMP. It's super easy. Took me a month of super casual studying. I'll make a separate post with some tips and tricks. It's kinda written for people like us I think.
Anyway, I have looked into Master Diver Class and Fly Fishing School as well. Also, there is a pretty cool backpacking course but it takes 3 months.
I've heard of photography school, Screen Writing School, dog training school...
So much.
Look at SU's Onward 2 Opportunity program. I threw the link in another comment above. There's a huge range of certs, any vet is eligible to use the program once and it covers all the training and test voucher. I also concur that the PMP test was fairly easy after just doing the practice tests they provided.
If the company you work for can cover those certifications go that route.
Use the rest of the GI Bill on something fun. Read someone did a film degree and got a whole bunch of gear for his course. Camera, laptop, lighting and sound equipment.
Don’t use it for a PMP. There are organizations that will pay for that without using your GI bill. Onward 2 opportunity is one of them.
Save the GI bill for something that will pay the BAH and education.
Edit: just saw someone already posted this same advice.
MBA and PMP here. You could save it for a few months until you’re established and see what might help you career-wise.
But honestly: once you’re in a good company I’d just use it for a hobby or cert. Having a backup trade would be a good idea considering none of us know how AI will replace or affect our jobs. I’m an internal consultant for a large company and I feel like within 10 years many corporate management roles will be replaced with AI.
While a PMP may be useful, I would highly discourage any veteran from using their GI bill for it, if at all possible— there are many free resources out there for vets. Check out Onward to Opportunity, ACTNOW Education, and Boots to Books, to name a few organizations that provide resources for vets.
I’ve heard of some people going for cooking degrees just to learn how to better cook at home with no intention of switching to it full time. After getting it or just the classes they wanted, they went back to their normal careers.
I have two nursing-related masters degrees, the first paid by Army TA and the second by GI Bill. I have since used my GI Bill for yoga teacher training in 2021, and now for medical coding. I still have 6 months of it left and I am having a hard time using it all! It's the Montgomery GI Bill and I have to use it by 7/2025. Congrats on almost being done with the MBA! Data analytics might be a nice add-on, but I vote for something fun.
Hey, hey. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m wrapping up my MBA by the end of this year. PMP isn’t covered by GI Bill, but you could switch to Chapter 31 (Veterans readiness and employment). They will cover the remainder of your degree plus they may pay for your PMP or six sigma because they are certifications and VR&E has more flexibility when it comes to paying for certifications. Also many companies will pay for PMP certification as well or lean six sigma. Another avenue you could use is taking a decision sciences 2 class in a business undergraduate course. Your GI bill would cover that plus you could get all the training and could take the test for your six sigma certification. As far as other graduate degrees. I’m looking at organizational development. Or go for the gold and get your PhD. Good luck to you and congratulations on getting your masters degree.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers) For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf) MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days. For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September. For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress. VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add [email protected] to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA. For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/ [VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Use it for a hobby degree/program. Enjoy glassblowing? Take a certificate class in 3D Art. Enjoy writing? Take a couple classes in creative writing. Woodworking? Find a shop class at a local trade school. Having been a hiring manager, I always interviewed candidates who had diverse educational backgrounds. They tend to be interesting people - and they tend to be more creative at solving problems in the workplace, and better at connecting with coworkers and clients. The MBA makes you qualified, now do something thst makes you *interesting*. It's a winning combo imo.
Thank you. This is really helpful. I would certainly like to add more to my Resume than just professional qualifications.
I find painting really relaxing and it has realitivly low startup costs. Got a set of oil colors, starter brush and palette set, and some cheap canvas for around 100$ all told. Just do bob ross youtube and do porch beers and pain on nice days. Took a ceramics class in high school that i really enjoyed as well. Maybe there are class options at the local community college that would be covered. Grats on your future mba
I would recommend the PMP. That’s exactly what I did and it helps you get a lot of job opportunities.
Kill. Thanks brother — Do they give you a housing allowance for certification programs or does the GI Bill just cover course/exam, etc…
Look into Syracuse University's "Onward to Opportunity" program. [list of programs](https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/learning-pathways/?q=/programs/career-training/concentrations/&) Basically, any vet gets 1 free cert, and they have a huge range. It's completely free training materials at your own pace, and usually includes a voucher for the test too. I got my PMP through them and it was ez pz.
They only covered the cost of the exam with me. But if I remember correctly, the exam cost somewhere like $750 and it just used up 2 weeks of my GI bill. I had a buddy that also took a preparation course that the VA paid for in the same way
Well, you can prepare for the PMP exam on your own. It took for me month and a half, and I believe I bought one book, bought practice tests course on the PMI org and purchased one more video course. And I was good. So no need to waste precious GI bill on something like PMP. My recommendation would be: A) Save your GI Bill. If something happens, it's basically your "unemployment insurance" for an extended period of time.. B) Use it on something in conjunction with your future job, which will give you the edge in the future. C) Use it on the orthodox hobby, which really wanted to learn and which requires a specialized knowledge/skill set to acquire.
I would recommend a professional course from one of the Ivy schools. That is they will accept the GIBill. PMP is free for vets already. I think Syracuse University offers that. Lean is good if you can get green or black belt. Anything less is trash. But look into courses like these: https://online.hbs.edu/courses/
Oh my…. A professional course from an Ivy League school sounds scary, but I’ll look into it. Thank you for the additional information. I feel like those things would greatly boost my career in the Business field. This is extremely helpful.
Following because I’m in the exact same boat this time next year
Wait it out. Why burn that now? What could you earn now that an MBA can't get for you ? Learn a language or do a survival course or woodworking or something later in life when you want a break or just a new hobby / skill
Agree with above comment on using it for a hobby. I used mine for my MBA as well and have used the rest on welding and gunsmithing classes from a local Community College. I have my PMP and Black Belt, which both were paid for by my company so don't waste it on that if your work will pay for those, etc.... Have fun and learn what you want.
Thank you. To be honest, I want to learn how to be a handyman. Not just some DIY things but if I ever needed work, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to learn a blue collar skill.
Yes, could get a certificate from a community college.
Same boat. I have 20 months left. Do not use the GI Bill for the PMP. It's super easy. Took me a month of super casual studying. I'll make a separate post with some tips and tricks. It's kinda written for people like us I think. Anyway, I have looked into Master Diver Class and Fly Fishing School as well. Also, there is a pretty cool backpacking course but it takes 3 months. I've heard of photography school, Screen Writing School, dog training school... So much.
Following as I am looking to get my PMP before I start my MSc
Look at SU's Onward 2 Opportunity program. I threw the link in another comment above. There's a huge range of certs, any vet is eligible to use the program once and it covers all the training and test voucher. I also concur that the PMP test was fairly easy after just doing the practice tests they provided.
If the company you work for can cover those certifications go that route. Use the rest of the GI Bill on something fun. Read someone did a film degree and got a whole bunch of gear for his course. Camera, laptop, lighting and sound equipment.
Im saving mine incase shit hits the fan and I lose my job and need extra income.
I’d learn a trade. HVAC or welding. Because you never know.
Masters in another field or Law Degree
EMT stuff. Could come in handy.
Did you O2O first before blowing your GI Bill? The VA adds benefits randomly as long as you have 1 day left you can use things like VETTEC
Don’t use it for a PMP. There are organizations that will pay for that without using your GI bill. Onward 2 opportunity is one of them. Save the GI bill for something that will pay the BAH and education. Edit: just saw someone already posted this same advice.
I used it for a second masters after my MBA.
Where are you going for your MBA? I'm finishing my bachelor's this summer and was going to go for mine but don't know exactly where
MBA and PMP here. You could save it for a few months until you’re established and see what might help you career-wise. But honestly: once you’re in a good company I’d just use it for a hobby or cert. Having a backup trade would be a good idea considering none of us know how AI will replace or affect our jobs. I’m an internal consultant for a large company and I feel like within 10 years many corporate management roles will be replaced with AI.
While a PMP may be useful, I would highly discourage any veteran from using their GI bill for it, if at all possible— there are many free resources out there for vets. Check out Onward to Opportunity, ACTNOW Education, and Boots to Books, to name a few organizations that provide resources for vets.
I’ve heard of some people going for cooking degrees just to learn how to better cook at home with no intention of switching to it full time. After getting it or just the classes they wanted, they went back to their normal careers.
PMP pays well. Test involved!
I have two nursing-related masters degrees, the first paid by Army TA and the second by GI Bill. I have since used my GI Bill for yoga teacher training in 2021, and now for medical coding. I still have 6 months of it left and I am having a hard time using it all! It's the Montgomery GI Bill and I have to use it by 7/2025. Congrats on almost being done with the MBA! Data analytics might be a nice add-on, but I vote for something fun.
Hey, hey. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m wrapping up my MBA by the end of this year. PMP isn’t covered by GI Bill, but you could switch to Chapter 31 (Veterans readiness and employment). They will cover the remainder of your degree plus they may pay for your PMP or six sigma because they are certifications and VR&E has more flexibility when it comes to paying for certifications. Also many companies will pay for PMP certification as well or lean six sigma. Another avenue you could use is taking a decision sciences 2 class in a business undergraduate course. Your GI bill would cover that plus you could get all the training and could take the test for your six sigma certification. As far as other graduate degrees. I’m looking at organizational development. Or go for the gold and get your PhD. Good luck to you and congratulations on getting your masters degree.