World War II not only changed the course of humanity, but completely reinvented the American way of life. World War I veterans felt severely cheated by their government. Returning World War I veterans experienced great difficulty finding jobs and assimilating back into civilian life. To make up for past mistakes and prevent another possible Great Depression, Congress signed the G.I. Bill, giving World War II veterans an essentially free education and loans backed by the Veterans Authority.
Enlisted active duty and most reserve forces of the military qualify to receive the Montgomery G.I. Bill. How much you receive depends on your classification and your status as a student. Reserve members receive around one fourth as much educational assistance as an active duty member of the military. Full time enrollments at a college receive the maximum amount under the G.I. Bill, part-time enrollments usually receive a prorated portion based on the number of hours taken.
To increase enlistment during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars Congress passed a new type of G.I. education grant: the Post 9-11 bill. Even if you served in the military before 9/11/2001, you must decide between the Montgomery and the 9-11 bill. The 9-11 bill potentially offers more money than the Montgomery bill depending on where you attend college and where you live while attending school. Those who qualify for both can generally switch to a different education grant.
If you already plan on attending college or currently attend college, the military can still offer to help pay for your education. The Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC programs prepare students for a post-college military career. ROTC scholarships cover tuition and offer a modest living allowance as long as you apply and are accepted before you earn enough credit to be considered an upperclassmen.
The military sometimes provides benefits to active duty members and their families, usually when a soldier dies or becomes disabled due to active duty service. The military also gives education benefits to families of soldiers declared missing. To receive benefits, children need to be between the ages of 18 and 26, with some exceptions such as early graduation or extenuating circumstances.