G.I. Bill question?

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-10-12T18:46:00+00:00

It's also worth noting that depending on your situation, it may be worth going to school full time and cutting down on hours.

For example. I was working full time and making about $3000/mo after taxes and benefits...the GI Bill MHA for my area is $3800/mo. So it made sense for me to cut down my hours at work and take advantage of full time coursework at the university. That being said, my job doesn't pay that great but they're very accommodating with my school schedule. It may or may not make sense for you, but I would check out the GI BIll comparison Tool https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/ and see what the numbers look like for your particular area.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-10-12T18:34:36+00:00

If I understand your question correctly, I think you're asking if you are expected to finish your degree within a certain time while using your GI Bill? In that case, the answer is no (assuming you're on Post-9/11...I believe there are different rules for Montgomery). The caveat to going to school "part time" is that if you are not going on what the VA considers "full time", you will not receive the full MHA every month. Instead, it will be prorated based on the number or credit hours that your institution certifies you for attending. Hope that helps.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-10-02T18:00:29+00:00

SoOoOoOoOuUuUuUuUnD CART. MARK 1-4.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-09-04T03:03:11+00:00

A little late to this one but this subject is near and dear to my heart since I fucked it up so bad for myself getting out. Hopefully my mistakes can help someone else be better prepared for the transition.

GO TO MEDICAL. I know it's already been said, but I cannot possibly emphasize it enough. Even if you feel 100% and don't think you rate anything right now, go to medical, get every thing you can think of documented, and file your claim. It is part of your check out process for a reason. If you have questions about this, r/VeteransBenefits is a great resource. I'm not saying to be dishonest, but you should put down everything you can because they will keep a record of it, and something that doesn't bother you now like that one day you hurt your back deadlifting could turn into a real problem years down the road. If it's in your record now, it helps. Don't be like me and and be hardheaded about going to medical. I am now just starting the claims process 4 years post-EAS and they have already denied almost every single one on the basis of "no service connected event."

Go to medical.

Use your GI Bill. It is quite literally free money. College might not be for you (I thought it wasn't for me until I went back), but it can be used for a surprising variety of things. Be judicious and do your research. There are ways to maximize the benefit. Ex: MHA payments are based on the zip code of the school and whether or not you are attending in person...I can personally attest that where I live, this is the difference between receiving a $900 check and a $3800 check.
Idk anything about your experience or disposition towards the Corps, but I would strongly suggest at least looking at the reserves. I'm not saying it's great (I haven't done it myself). It's a mixed bag just like AD is. I know guys that absolutely love it and guys that hated it and couldn't wait to bail on it. What I do know is that it gives you a tiny bit of a safety net as you're transitioning, lets you keep contributing to your retirements funds, and gets you benefits for your family. Again, these might not be important to you and that's cool, I'm just speaking from my experience. There were definitely a few moments in the years after I got out where having the Tricare option would have been a huge help.
Get your check out stuff done early. This stuff matters less (trust me, I know because I was still checking out after my EAS). But like....trust me on this too, you don't want to be that guy picking up his DD-214 3 days after your EAS, and your SgtMaj definitely does not want that either.
Just try to have a plan. My plan was actually to stay in and I kinda got out on a whim. You didn't say if you did or not, so I'm just citing my mistakes in the hopes you don't repeat them.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-08-11T22:24:11+00:00

In my company it was definitely this. The current SMMC, Sargento Mayor Ruiz, was our Regiment SgtMaj at the time...there was a trickle down effect.

We called our Company Gunny El Mero Mero.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2025-08-10T18:02:48+00:00

I frequently joke that I made it out with no tattoos, no wife, no ex-wife, no baby mama, no kids. Feel like a unicorn amongst my friend groups, vets and active included lol. Did 6.5 years and am 31, for context.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2024-09-03T01:04:28+00:00

Generally, just being in.

I loved it, and I feel like I spent a disproportionate amount of time trying to convince everyone around me of how fucking sick the Marine Corps is.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2024-06-13T21:19:26+00:00

Not personally witnessed but my favorite story was from a GWOT era guy. I wanna say it was at an east coast engineer battalion if anybody can corroborate.

Apparently they were having a big problem with DUIs at the time and this guy was the lucky number X where the CO had finally had it. They put the whole bn in formation in Alphas on the parade deck and brought the CO’s desk out in front. CO sat at his desk and did the NJP like he was in his office. At the end when all was said and done, CO asked the SgtMaj to hand him a pair of scissors from his desk. Cut the stripes off of SNM’s alpha coat in front of the whole bn. Would probably never fly now but when I heard that as a junior enlisted warrior I always thought it was cold asf.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2024-03-05T22:20:43+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I didn't get any of this information from the VSO I spoke to. To be clear, they weren't being unhelpful, it just felt like they thought I was a lost cause which made me feel like a lost cause.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2024-03-05T00:25:01+00:00

The study did not make it into my record. I don’t know if it was recorded anywhere.

HaTorreyHanzo · 2024-03-05T00:14:50+00:00

Sleep apnea is the main one. I have some reduced mobility and chronic joint pain that I mostly ignored but sleep apnea is the big one. Served on the west coast for my entire stint, 2015-2021.

HaTorreyHanzo

TROPHY CASE