Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/12/2009

Question
Sir,

I was active duty Air Force 1980-86, honorable discharge as e-4 sgt, and another 2 years active reserve leaving as an e-5. I was in during the only period with no g.i. bill education benefits, except for veep, which was a payroll deduction program i did not opt for. (wish i had). During that period, I was a cop guarding priority resources, and later involved with the Grenada conflict, as a logistics planner and aircraft load planner from green ramp, pope afb. I was never in country. I see all these veterans getting education benefits...my brother just retired after 22 years in the army as an e-8 (he was in iraq), and they are sending him to school for free and paying him a $1200 living stipend to boot. They will also pay for his daughter to go to school. My question is, are there any education benefits available to us vets from that period? Are there any benefits that have been added or made retroactive, or that I can apply for? Doesn't seem right to me. I served my country for 8 years, and even though not engaged in an active in-country experience, I protected nuclear resources by walking a beat in subzero temperatures to extreme heat conditions. As a reservist I trained in rapid runway repair for combat scenarios and was deployment ready. Thanks for your time and any information you can provide in this area.

Answer
Charles,
Is Education benefits all you're interested in?
By not contributing to the Veterans Educational Assistance Program VEAP)you pretty much shot yourself in the foot.  However there are several other programs out there you may qualify for.  You need to contact the real experts on this at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.  I defer to their expertise when it comes to this.  For Education Benefits call: 1-888-442-4551
For other benefits call 1-800-827-1000  I certainly hope they can work you into one of their programs.
Thanks for serving.
Colonel H