WILL GI BILL REIMBURSE FOR EARLY TUITION PAYMENTS? 

Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off

 I am a soldier currently serving in Iraq.  I have applied for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and am awaiting notification that I qualify.  I am going to transfer the benefit to my son who will be attending a university this fall.

We have already started receiving tuition bills and other charges.  Will the GI Bill cover these expenses?  That is, will it reimburse us for our initial payments?  I cannot find anyone who can answer this.

KEVIN CARRIGAN

Major, USA

Victory Base, Baghdad

By law, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to make Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payments directly to colleges on behalf of eligible veterans and dependents.  So if you have to make payments early that the GI Bill then will covers, the school would be responsible for refunding those payments to you. – Tom Philpott

VEAP: A PALE COMPARISON

Congress screwed many veterans, including myself, with the old Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program [offered to new entrants to the armed forces after Dec. 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985.]

I am angered over the way the current crop of veterans is treated, when we had to shell out money and then take loans for school.  I received $235 month for tuition to a state university. The money was a drop in the bucket, enough for books only! There was no service-provided tuition assistance.

I served 20 years, and spent many holidays and many nights at sea, and that is what I received for education benefits?

When is Congress going to take care of us?

CHARLES ANDREWS

DuPont, Wash.

TRICARE VS. MTF

It seems the purpose of TRICARE, since its introduction, has been to replace military treatment facilities.  And it’s succeeding, big time!

The billions of dollars going to major health care firms, at the expense of MTFs, show why they cannot properly provide the medical services needed by our retirees, their families and other beneficiaries entitled to MTF care.

If and when we need a military health care system because of a major war, how are those TRICARE contractors going to provide the needed services?  Will the Department of Defense draft TRICARE civilian providers?

I think not!

PAUL L. BALAICH

Master Sergeant, USAF-Ret.

Via e-mail