 |
 Information About CDL Training & Truck Driving Careers
 |
Jobs After The Military - The G.I. Bill And Career Development
|
|
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.gibill.va.gov/) the Montgomery G.I. bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for:
- College
- Technical or Vocational Courses
- Correspondence Courses
- Apprenticeship/Job Training
- Flight Training
- High-tech Training
- Licensing & Certification Tests
- Entrepreneurship Training
- Certain Entrance Examinations
How does this apply to an individual interested in a career in truck driving or people thinking about civilian careers? Earlier this year the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs had hearings earlier this year which addressed this particular question specifically. Essentially the hearing highlighted the cost of training versus what a veteran would get from the G.I. Bill. Here’s an excerpt from the hearing:
Truck driving training reflects a 120 clock hour program condensed into a three week period. The clock hours per week that a student spends in class determines payment allowances under the G.I. Bill. In this instance, students attend 40 hours a week for three weeks. The current monthly rate for full time school attendance for Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill beneficiaries (hereafter Chapter 30s) is $1,034.00 and for a Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve Educational Assistance (hereafter Chapter 1606) the rate is $ 297.00. For National Guard beneficiaries, the education allowance received is disheartening. Truck driving tuition costs range from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 dollars.
Yet students under the G.I. Bill only receive approximately $775.50 for a Chapter 30 beneficiary and $220.50 for a Chapter 1606 recipient. This essentially equates to students receiving three-quarters of a month’s benefits for full-time attendance. As currently applied, this burdens the VA beneficiaries to find alternative methods for funding the remaining financial need of their education. On the other hand, the same beneficiary attending a conventional college program would receive full benefits, $1034.00 per month for the length of the semester. One answer to this disparity may be to expand the list of accelerated payment programs to include occupations and professions other than high tech programs. Using the current methodology for accelerated payment programs (21 days of school divided by 30 days in a month) the veteran would receive about 70% of the total cost of the program. (Statement for
the record by saran Patterson education program support manager march 22, 2006)
So for those interested in pursing career development after the military and perhaps are interested in a career in truck driving the good news is that you will be ale to use your G.I. Bill to assist you in obtaining CDL Training. In most situations if you’re uncertain as to what you need to do contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or your County Veterans Service Office. (1-888-GI-BILL-1)
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 339,742 veterans used their GI Bill benefits to pay for higher education in 2002. When you consider that more than 215,000 people leave the military each year and millions of people are qualified to use the GI Bill, it is clear that many veterans are not taking advantage of a good thing when pursuing jobs after the military. Find out if you’re eligible then take advantage.
Mike Curts manages news and information for Driver Solutions, a CDL training and placement agency for inexperienced truck drivers. For information on applying for truck driving school, visit: www.otrdrivers.com.
|
|
