By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton, 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE — The Airman and Family Readiness Center held Barksdale’s first Post 9/11 GI Bill briefing July 31.
The briefing educated Airmen on the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill which gives eligible Airmen up to 36 months of entitlements based on their length of service. The Post 9/11 GI Bill can also be transferred to family members aged 18 years and older.
“We’ve set this class up to clarify what the educational benefits are for the Post 9/11 GI Bill,” said James Snyder, A&FRC community readiness consultant. “Anybody with a military ID card can come to the class.”
Some of the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill include tuition fees and a monthly housing allowance. It also provides a book and supply stipend of no more than $1,000 paid to the recipient.
The briefing covers all eligibility information, and Airmen who have already signed up for the Montgomery GI Bill can learn how to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Staff Sgt. Anishka Farrington, 2nd Maintenance Group knowledge operator, attended the course to get information about how she can better pay for continued education.
“I’m separating to go to school,” Farrington said. “Right now I have the Montgomery GI Bill so when I separate, I’m going to transfer it to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and I needed information on how to do that. The benefits would help cover my tuition.”
JoAnna Lester, Veterans Affairs military service coordinator of the New Orleans regional office instructed the class on the bill’s benefits.
“If Airmen weren’t in the military, they’d have to absorb the cost of education that could be in tens of thousands of dollars,” Lester said. “The Post 9/11 GI Bill is great because if you’re going to make a career in the Air Force, you can go to school while on active duty, and you have an option of transferring what you don’t use to your spouse or dependents.”
