Faith DesLauriers, Past President, National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators
James Bombard, Past President, National Association of State Approving Agencies
Jerome Sullivan, Executive Director, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Kathy Snead, President, Service Members Opportunity Colleges
Major General (Ret) Robert F. Cocklin, U.S. Army, Legislative Director, Association of the U.S. Army
Master Sergeant (Ret) Michael Cline, Executive Director, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the U.S.
Dennis Douglass, Deputy Director (Ret), Education Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Bill Stephens, Chief, Veterans’ Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Chad Schatz, Director, Veterans’ Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2001-2005
Don Wilson, President and CEO, Association of Small Business Development Centers
Walt Blackwell, CEO, National Veterans Business Development Corporation
SONNY’S SUMMARY
Initiative breeds opportunity, Alan Cranston said. Surveys show that military service gives young Americans a four-year, post-service education and training benefits some could not have afforded otherwise. More than 2.3 million veterans have used the Montgomery GI Bill since 1985. At the collegiate level, about 45 percent of those are enrolled in programs for two-year degrees, typically in specialized technologies.
But that’s not all. Many soldiers do not wait until they leave the military to enroll in college or technical training. For example, 798, 971 active-duty service members were pursuing associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees during off-duty hours in fiscal year 2005. Further, the Montgomery GI Bill helps veterans “earn and learn” with employers through structured, on-job learning of up to two years, and competency based apprenticeships of up to about five years.
Mr. Montgomery
Folks, our previous chapter talked mostly about how the Montgomery GI Bill has worked effectively as an educational incentive for joining our military.
In this chapter, we’ll talk about the extent to which the Montgomery GI Bill has fulfilled one of three new statutory requirements known as “purpose clauses.” The House and Senate approved these purpose clauses in H.R. 1085 when sending it to President Reagan’s desk in 1987.
Excerpt from Title 38, USC.
Our visual highlights the three new “purpose clauses”1 Congress added for the Montgomery GI Bill, as it appears in Title 38, United States Code, Veterans Benefits.2
Title 38 governs the provision of veterans’ benefits and services, primarily by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor.
Our focus will be the purpose clause on affording postsecondary education. We’ll discuss the new Montgomery GI Bill purpose clause regarding workforce development and global competitiveness in Chapter 17.3
I’ve had many veterans tell me how the Montgomery GI Bill helped them pursue college or technical training, including through an apprenticeship or on-job training.
Some say they may not have pursued additional training but for the Montgomery GI Bill. Others tell me they planned to pursue postsecondary training, in any case, and the Montgomery GI Bill made it financially more feasible to do so.4
Let’s hear from the leaders of six professional organizations that have staff located on college campuses or otherwise interact everyday with service members or veteran students.
First, we’ll hear Ms. Faith DesLauriers, past president, National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA), founded in 1975.5
The NAVPA is a nationally recognized professional organization for administrators working at both campus and community based settings that assists veterans, dependent widows, and children of deceased service members, and active-duty military personnel.
Ms. DesLauriers is university director of veterans’ affairs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry-Riddle is perennially ranked the top aeronautical engineering university in America.6
Ms. DesLauriers
Faith DesLauriers
“My experience is that veteran students enter college not necessarily counting on the Montgomery GI Bill to pay tuition and fees, but to pay living expenses. The Montgomery GI Bill is a big help in that way.
“I think many veteran students come from families who would struggle to send their children to college. Plus, many of these veteran students come from smaller towns. They see the military and the Montgomery GI Bill as an opportunity to have a world experience, as well as an education experience.”7
Mr. Montgomery
Second, we’ll hear Dr. Jim Bombard, a disabled combat infantry officer and past president, National Association of State Approving Agencies, founded in 1948.8
Under federal law, State Approving Agencies (SAAs) approve educational institutions for veterans’ training under the Montgomery GI Bill and other VA educational assistance programs. SAAs exist in each state and also approve onjob training (OJT) and apprenticeships for veterans through private/public-sector employers, conduct outreach to veterans, and assist occupational licensing and credentialing entities in their states.
Jim Bombard
“Yes, I suspect there are lots of veterans who—except for their military service—may not have had the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education and training as paid by their parents, for example. That said, America’s sons and daughters who choose to wear the military uniform are highly motivated individuals. When they leave the military after four years they are eager to catch up with their non-veteran peers who chose not to serve. That’s in part why so many veterans go to school year around.”9
Mr. Montgomery
Third, Mr. Jerome Sullivan, longstanding executive director, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), founded in 1910, speaks.
“The AACRAO is a non-profit, voluntary professional association of more than 10,000 admissions and registration professionals who represent approximately 2,500 institutions.”10
A professional usually assigned to the campus Office of the Registrar often serves as the Department of Veterans Affairs “certifying official.” This person helps veterans, as well as service members serving on active-duty or Reserve-duty, to electronically complete VA Montgomery GI Bill application forms. After VA determines the applicant eligible, the on-campus official certifies to VA that the veteran is enrolled, is pursuing an educational program at the institution, and is maintaining academic progress. In effect, the certifying official is the person veteran students seem to seek out first for help, no matter what the issue.
Mr. Sullivan
Jerome Sullivan
“I don’t think there’s any question that the Montgomery GI Bill helps young people access higher education who otherwise might not have done so. Veterans also can qualify for grants and loans like other students. The Montgomery GI Bill, coupled with other federal or state grants and loans, is a powerful package. Since World War II, our on-campus certifying officials have taken pride in their partnership with veteran students. Working with them is special because of the commitment and maturity they bring to campus.”11
Mr. Montgomery
Fourth, we’ll hear from Dr. Kathy Snead, president, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), founded in 1972.
SOC is a consortium of more than 1, 800 colleges and universities that provide educational opportunities to service members who may have unique challenges meeting academic residency requirements for a college degree due to periodic change of duty station or deployments. Through SOC, military students enroll in courses in their off-duty hours at or near military installations in the United States, overseas, and on Navy ships.12
Dr. Snead
Dr. Kathy Snead
“A service member who perhaps was not financially positioned to pursue postsecondary education or training after high school is positioned to do so while in the military due to the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program, administered under Title 10, USC.
“Each service branch administers this program through a civilian education services officer stationed at U.S. military installations here and throughout the world. Under federal law, while on active duty, service members may use tuition assistance paid for by their service branch to pursue off-duty education.
“Service members may also use their Montgomery GI Bill while on active duty. But many service members like to save their Montgomery GI Bill eligibility for when they leave the military.
“In fiscal year 2006, 798, 971 service members used the tuition assistance program while serving on active duty.14 And during the year, 26, 633 earned associate degrees, 7, 958 earned bachelor’s degrees, and 8, 822 earned master’s degrees.15
“Noted Anthony Principi, former chairman of the Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance and also former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, ‘Our highly engaging and resourceful military represents America’s largest university. Larger than all the Ivy League schools combined….’”16
Fifth, Major General (Ret) Robert Cocklin, legislative director, The Association of the U.S. Army, speaks.
Established in 1950,17 The Association has a long-standing record of advocacy for educating soldiers, both during and after military service.
Maj. Gen. Cocklin
Major General (Ret) Robert Cocklin
“A college education is the dream of a large segment of our youth… and their parents…. For many the cost is prohibitive, and for some they have not yet discovered a field of endeavor in which to focus their time, talents, and efforts. It seems to us there is not a more economical and socially constructive way for the government to apportion precious resources than to reward military service to the nation by providing the financial means for higher education of America’s top-quality young men and women. It is not a grant; it is not a giveaway program; it is smart business and a prudent investment in human resources.”18
Mr. Montgomery
Sixth, National Guard Master Sergeant (Ret) Michael Cline, executive director, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States:19
Master Sgt. Cline
Master Sergeant (Ret) Michael Cline
“The National Guard, established on the village green in Salem, MA, in 1636, is an enduring part of America’s heritage. The Guard represents a valued contingency force whether it’s for a natural disaster, war-time service, or peace-time emergencies.
“The Selected Reserve aspect of the Montgomery GI Bill20 gives Guard and Reserve members the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education and training for up to a 14-year eligibility period while an active member of a Guard or Reserve unit.
“The Montgomery GI Bill gives Guard and Reserve members the opportunity to use education benefits as they are serving—rather than having to wait until after they complete their service obligation.
“In this sense it: first, provides the Guard or Reserve member access to postsecondary education, and, second, serves as a retention tool because once the Guard or Reserve member leaves the Selected Reserve, Montgomery GI Bill benefits discontinue.
“Congress specifically designed the Montgomery GI Bill program with these two purposes in mind.”21
Mr. Montgomery
Folks, I’ll conclude this section by agreeing with Ms. DesLauriers, Dr. Bombard, Mr. Sullivan, Dr. Snead, Major General Cocklin, and Master Sergeant Cline.
Initiative breeds opportunity.22 Many service members and veterans who did not have the financial access to postsecondary education and training simply have gone out and created that opportunity for themselves.23 It’s an earned opportunity valued in 2008 at about $39, 63624 through the Montgomery GI Bill.
I’m going to ask Mr. Dennis Douglass, deputy director (Ret) of the Department of Veterans Affairs program that administers the Montgomery GI Bill, to give us a breakdown of the types of training the 2.3 million veteran students have pursued under the Montgomery GI Bill since 1985.25 In essence, they’ve gained skills that help build both their post-military careers and our national workforce.
Mr. Douglass
Dennis Douglass
“Mr. Chairman, I am honored to do so.26
“Of the 2, 332, 577 veterans who have used the Montgomery GI Bill since 1985, 1, 991, 653 have trained at the college level. This is broken down by 894, 120 who have enrolled at two-year colleges, 959, 381 at four-year institutions, and 147, 612 at graduate institutions.
“As the numbers indicate, at the college level about 45 percent (894, 120 of 1, 991, 653) choose education and job training that often gives them marketable skills in two years. Classroom training, especially in two-year specialized technology degrees, can go a long way toward meeting the workforce needs of private-sector employers.
“At institutions other than two- or four-year colleges, another 153, 014 veterans have used the Montgomery GI Bill for vocational-technical training, on-job training, apprenticeship, correspondence, or flight training.”
Mr. Montgomery
I’d like to focus now on three ways to use the Montgomery GI Bill that, in my opinion, are not that well-known: occupational licensing and certification; apprenticeship; and on-job learning. Then I’d like to talk about entrepreneurship.
First, let’s discuss the occupational licensing and certification aspect of the Montgomery GI Bill that helps veterans obtain the professional credentialing they need to perform their skills in our civilian economy.
The Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses a veteran up to $2,000 for the cost of an occupational licensing and certification test.
In today’s business and governmental climate, a license is required for most professions and for jobs that are subject to state or other government regulations.
Whether you are a heavy equipment operator, medical technician, computer network engineer, public accountant, teacher, plumber, or surgeon, you’ll need to successfully pass a “competency” test to be certified to practice your profession.
Led by Representatives Jack Quinn (R-NY) and Bob Filner (D-CA), Congress enacted the licensing and credentialing program aspect of the Montgomery GI Bill in 2001.27 In 2005, VA reimbursed 4, 706 veterans for the cost of their tests.28
Here are two final questions to close this section on licensing and credentialing.
Does a service member’s military occupational specialty help in civilian life? May a service member “transfer” that skill to a civilian career for which he or she might need to pursue a civilian occupational license?
Yes and yes!
As of January 2005, 92 percent of Army military occupational specialties have civilian job equivalents that are subject to licensure or certification; and 95 percent of the Army’s more than 400,000 enlisted soldiers serve in these specialties.29
A second—and often overlooked—way for using the Montgomery GI Bill is through an apprenticeship program30 in which veterans “earn and learn” simultaneously.31
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that today 858 professions32 can be mastered through apprenticeships. Apprenticeships and the Montgomery GI Bill represent an opportunity to build a career.
Under the Montgomery GI Bill, VA pays the veteran a monthly amount that, by design, attempts to close the gap between the training wage paid at the entry level and the wage of the journey worker who has completed his/her apprenticeship.
For the first six months of the apprenticeship, VA augments the apprentice’s training wage by $825 per month, for the second six months by $605, and for the third and any successive six months by $385.33
Notes Bill Stephens of the Pennsylvania Department of Education:34
Mr. Stephens
Bill Stephens
“As Mr. Montgomery said, under the law, VA provides monthly assistance to supplement the training wage until the journey worker wage is reached and the training program is finished. For most apprenticeships you have to demonstrate competencies for each training module before you can go on to the next one. Some apprenticeships, such as those in the electrical and avionics fields, for example, are very rigorous and about five years in length. VA pays the veteran monthly until he or she completes his training objective, qualifying as a journey worker. It’s a fantastic way to learn not just a job—but to build a career.”
Mr. Montgomery
A third way to use the Montgomery GI Bill is through the on-job training (or on-job learning) program. Veterans may participate in this structured training for up to two years. The Montgomery GI Bill pays the veteran the difference between the trainee wage and the journey worker wage.
Notes Chad Schatz of the Missouri Department of Education:35
Mr. Schatz
Chad Schatz
“Employers like the employees they get under VA’s apprenticeship and OJT program. The National Association of State Approving Agencies received survey responses from 496 employers in 14 states.
“One question we asked was whether employment and training of VA/OJT benefits recipient(s) was beneficial to their company. On a five-point scale with one meaning strongly disagree and five meaning strongly agree, 235 employers marked a five and 172 employers marked a four.
“Another question we asked was whether the skills and knowledge attained from this OJT or apprenticeship training have enhanced the employee’s earned income and potential. Two hundred forty-two gave a five score, and 165 gave a four.
“Learning is earning under the Montgomery GI Bill, Mr. Chairman!”
Mr. Montgomery
Lastly, the Montgomery GI Bill empowers veterans by helping them start and grow small businesses. As Anthony Principi noted in his aforementioned Commission’s 1999 report to Congress:
Mr. Principi
President George W. Bush and Anthony Principi.
“Small businesses are the bedrock of our economy.36
“We as a nation want to ensure that veterans have a full opportunity to participate in our free-enterprise system their military service has sustained.”37
Mr. Montgomery
Small Business Development Centers and The National Veterans Business Development Corporation help in this way.
Notes Don Wilson, longstanding president and CEO of the Association of Small Business Development Centers:38
Mr. Wilson
“Mr. Chairman, small business success is our success at our nation’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).39
Don Wilson
“Congress created the Small Business Development Program in 1980 under Public Law 96-302. Located in every state, the Small Business Development Center network provides management and technical assistance to more than 1.3 million small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs each year.40 In Fiscal Year 2006, our SBDCs furnished face-to-face business consulting of an hour or more to more than 201, 823 clients, including 18, 367 veterans; and training sessions for 465, 837 attendees, including 23, 224 veterans.41
“For those who have fought to protect our personal, political and economic freedoms… it is extremely important they be afforded every opportunity to prosper economically in this free society with its free market economy that they have invested so much to protect.42
“The veterans who we assist each year are well positioned to add value to our economy because of the challenges they have met in the military.
“Indeed, the small business sector of our economy currently accounts for 52 percent of the nation’s gross national product.43 Fifty-one percent of non-farm, private-sector workers are employed by small businesses.44 Small businesses in the last decade accounted for roughly 70 percent of the new jobs created in our economy.45
“And the best part is that veterans can use their Montgomery GI Bill to enroll in the many courses our centers offer in starting and growing small businesses.
“… It’s very easy to start a business in the United States. A recent study by the World Bank shows that the United States, at five days, ranks behind only Canada and Australia in terms of the number of days required to start a business, and has the fourth lowest administrative costs to start a new business.”46
Mr. Montgomery
Congress established The National Veterans Business Development Corporation in 2000 under Public Law 106-50.47 Notes Walt Blackwell, CEO of the Corporation:48
Mr. Blackwell
Walt Blackwell
“Mr. Chairman, when veterans succeed America succeeds.49
“Mr. Chairman, Congress created The Veterans Business Development Corporation—known as The Veterans Corporation50—to give veterans and disabled veterans the tools they need to start and grow small businesses, including:
• Access to capital;
• Access to business services; and
• Access to entrepreneurial education.
“The success rate of veterans’ business start-ups is high compared to other business startups, partially due to the experience veterans have gained in our military.
“Data from various national surveys, including the November 2004 SBA-sponsored Waldman Associates Survey, indicated approximately 5.5 million veterans, including 759,000 service-disabled veterans, currently own small businesses.
“Veterans and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses contribute more than $202 billion to the U.S. economy per year. You can see state-by-state figures at www.veteranscorp.org.51
“Mr. Chairman, through our very small headquarters staff and partners,52 TVC furnished face-to-face services to 14, 206 veterans in 2006.53
“With the advent of Internet-based, on-line services, the publicly funded service delivery model changed dramatically, allowing TVC to reach service members anywhere in the world, at any time. In FY 2006, through www.veteranscorp.org, 119, 431 current and former service members received value-added information on starting and growing small businesses.54
“Add in TVC’s Virtual Business Incubator, Virtual Business Center (in cooperation with SBA’s SCORE program), and Virtual Veteran Resource Center, and we furnished information and assistance to another 325, 982 veterans.55
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
Sonny’s Lessons Learned
The stated purposes or objectives of a law—as expressed in the law itself—can be many and varied. Multiple purposes, as was the case in the Montgomery GI Bill, can strengthen—not dilute—what Congress wants laws to accomplish.
WHAT’S NEXT
In Chapter 17, we look at the effect of the Montgomery GI Bill as a tool in developing the U.S. workforce.