Area veterans like what Webb bill offers
College tuition, books and monthly stipend checks for veterans are all part and parcel of a bill from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that was signed into law Monday, and those with affiliations to the military couldn't be hap-pier.
World War II veterans were the first to receive free higher education in return for military service. But in the years since, the benefit has been whittled a bit—and 17 months ago, Webb began work on legislation to reinstate the deal for those who have served since Sept. 11, 2001.
"Glad to see somebody is bringing it back," said B.J. Richardson, the immediate past post commander for Hawkins-Reeve Post 7916, the Woodbridge chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, now located in Occoquan. "It's hopefully going to help most all the kids that are in today. Of course, they got to have to drive to get it. Just because you have a free college education, doesn't mean you're going to take it."
Richardson, a Vietnam veteran with 23 1/2 years of service in the Navy, entered as a private at the lowest pay grade for enlisted but retired as an officer, earning a free four-year degree in the process.
"Back in Vietnam in 1968, we were getting the benefits," Richardson said. "Then it went away. They came up with all these stupid new benefits. It got to the point the soldiers had to pay so much money out of their meager pay and then they got [a matching contribution]. It's good they brought this back … we do all support it."
An unidentified member who answered the telephone at the Francis Cannon VFW Post 7589 in Manassas declined to comment on the issue or Webb's legislation, referring questions instead to a state agency. And neither Prince William County Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, who holds several memberships with various veteran groups, nor Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, whose district is comprised largely of military families, could be reached for comment in time for deadline.
For his part, Webb's response to President Bush's signing ceremony—which was an oddly quiet affair, by other media accounts—was of satisfaction.
"I would like to again express my appreciation to the veterans' service organizations, many of whom communicated their support of this bill directly to a skeptical White House, and to the 58 Senate and 302 House cosponsors of this landmark legislation," he said, by way of a press release.
Webb's bill, which was S. 22, goes into effect immediately, though agency officials still have to draft the rules of implementation. It will provide nearly $63 billion in the next 10 years to soldiers with at least three years' service to attend in-state public colleges for free. More specifically, the benefit covers tuition, up to $1,000 each year for books, and provides a monthly stipend of various amounts.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
An outstanding bill indeed. Will it discourage re-enlistments? Not really. If the military life is in you and you love it enough, you’ll re-up for another term. But now this affords some options to those who would be leaving active duty. In my opinion, there’s no excuse now not to go to college after your time in service.
As for the relatively short enlistment length, I think the argument back is that in previous wars, you weren’t looking at 2 combat tours or more in a 4 year period.
No one is enlisting these days without facing the reality of war—and their probable deployment, so very different than those who may have signed up during times of peace largely motivated by the benefits alone. I personally don’t think we will see a huge increase in the numbers on people choosing not to re-enlist based on this benefit alone. Now, if they choose not to re-enlist because of fears of redeployment or being away from a growing family . . .that is the reality already.
What about those who have served for over 20 years and never went to college because once they got out they couldn’t afford to go. This will afford them the opporutnity to go now. Yeah for Jim Webb!
The main criticism of the bill, with which I agree, is that it will make it much more difficult to get re-enlistments. Who would re-enlist when they can just quit and go to college.
Look, I’m in favor of good benefits, but the level of benefit should have been linked to yrs of service, with at least 6 yrs to get full benefit.
Advertisement