College First, GI Bill, Kicker and so on and so forth......

[live4christp1]

Brief historyH - 36 decides to join NG in April of this year.....wanted to change careers, go back to school, etc. Decided NG was best option. He singed 6X8 in 25U with the college first option. Recruiter said that he is not deployable the 1st year as that is BCT and AIT, and that has proved correct as when he returns to Fort Gordon on Jan. 4 he will have about 11 weeks left for completion of AIT. From the info I can find on line he has to be accepted into college within 90 days of completition of AIT or he looses his college first status.

Where can we find more info on the GI Bill, Kicker, what paperwork needs to be filled out, etc. His recruiter went active with one of our NG units that deployed to Iraq. Should he go through the Family Assistance Specialist here at our local armory where he will be based. Does he wait until he returns here to the unit and go through his unit commander? Can't find a lot of info online about all this. Also the DSGTS at BCT and AIT have told them all that it doesn't matter if they did sign college first that they are all getting deployed anyway. I know with the guard that they have to activate the entire unit, they can't activate just an individual so I try to encourage him not to worry about it so much.

Sorry for the long post. Any info is appreciated!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I don't know very much when it comes to NG. I would make sure that you have a few copies of your husband paperwork where it shows in writing that your husband has the college first option.

Your husband needs to be doing the legwork and not you because I doubt that anyone besides the family specialist will talk with you about the stuff. I'd start with the unit commander or rear detachment commander if the unit is deployed. Does your husband know what unit he will be in and who his unit commander will be? If so, then I would have him start to call or email the CO and see what he/she needs regarding paperwork. There should be some education assitant somewhere that helps fill out the paperwork for tuition assitance or to help with the GI BIll paperwork.

Does your husband know where he is going to go to school? Online or in house? Does he have to start within 90 days or just be accepted? This is stuff you need to know because if he has to start school within 90 days that will put him in either summer school or online classes.

Honestly I wouldn't worry what the Drills are saying but I do know many individuals that have been called up for active duty and the unit remain back at home. I'm not trying to worry you but unless rules have changed somehow it can happen.

If all else fails with the unit commander, go back to the recruiters office even if the recruiter isn't there. The recruiter who has replaced him should have copies of the contract your husband signed and can explain in detail what he needs to do and the time period he has to do it in.

 

[live4christp1]

Hi Tina. The unit commander is who I think he needs to go through first also. He will be in the 225th when he finishes his AIT. I don't know if he will have the same unit commander as he has had while drilling in RSP. He has told me not to contact anybody about anything unless it is something I need through the family assistance center. He is scared to death of getting an article 15 etc for not following the proper chain of command.

The info I found said they have to be accepted in 90 days, not start but I think he wants to do some summer classes as mid March would be to late to get in for the winter semester. Recruiter encouraged him to go to Chatt State of another local community college for the first 2 years and then transfer into the ROTC program at UTC for Officer Candidate school the only catch is you have to have a squeaky (did I spell that right) clean record to be accepted from what I understand (not that I am worried DH won't) and good scores. He scored really well on the ASVAB and his PT's are well above where he has to be for his age.

I'm really to much of a planner and just want to make sure all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted and not let anything fall through the cracks. On the other hand DH tends to wait to the last minute to take care of all this which freaks me out.

 

[jsmith]

Okay -the state has an education officer whos job it is to help soldiers thru all of this stuff-your husband-not you-will need to contact him when he returns home from BCT/AIT or OSUT which ever he is at-that person should be able to guide him thru things. That indivudual will be in the State JFHQ which is located in your state capital-the state Family Program office-NOT your unit FRG leader or FRSA-will be able to point you in the right direction.. As for Deployment-it depends on how the state handles it-in the State my husband is in the guard-College students do deploy if they are considered misson essential personnel-if hes 25U whether he is ME will depend on the units mission. The Universities out here are very accomodating and they try to let them finish the semester they are in before they pull them to mobilize so no credit is lost-the amount of lead time that guard units get before deployment is sufficient to let you plan-unless he is called as a cross level he will know a minimum of 6 months in advance-my husband already knows he is mobilizing in July of this year to support planning for a deployment that will not happen until July of 09-quiet frankly i liked not knowing til 30 days before better.
Anyway-place to get your info is your state education office-thats thier job.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

My dh has ETS'ed and he takes care of all the G.I. Bill stuff through the VA reps at the colleges themselves. It took a few months to get it going the first time, but now it's pretty easy to renew each semester.