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Hi everyone, I'm SGT L and I write the blog 'Soldier to Student'. The purpose of this blog is to help recently separated veterans gather information on their education benefits. Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be very overwhelming, so my hope is that veterans looking to start school can read my blog and feel more comfortable and confident while going through the process. I got out of the Army last July and started school at Illinois State University last August. Now that I have completed one semester and have started my second, there is so much I wish I knew when I was just starting the process. Again, that is why I hope this blog is able to help someone feel a little less lost than I once felt. To give a bit more of my military background, I served just over three years active duty Army as a Fire Support Control Specialist. I transferred to the National Guard in August starting a three year contract still in FA (field artillery). I am a Sergeant and love being able to mentor and lead soldiers. I also love being able to share my experiences which is why I chose to make this blog. Lastly, a bit about me outside the uniform. I am super active and love working out, I'm an avid gym goer and when the weather is good I'm also a very slow outdoor runner (and walker). In my free time I fall victim to binging TV shows and currently just finished Lioness (10/10 recommend)! I also prioritize spending time with my friends and family as much as possible. This year I made a new year's resolution to read a book every month, so hopefully I can add that I am a dedicated reader to my list of hobbies a year from now. As for right now my biggest trait is being a student though because that takes up most of my time. I look forward to writing content that can be helpful and relatable to those starting a new chapter in their life. Please leave me comments and interact with my posts, I would love to hear from you all! Also if you do not want to leave a public comment feel free to email me at soldiertostudent@gmail.com :)

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Four Grants that Could Apply to You

Hi everyone and welcome to the blog ‘Soldier to Student”. This blog is going to cover the four educational grants you may or may not be eligible for. Since these grants are very complex, this post will be more of a broad overview with future posts going more into depth on individual grants. These grants include the Post 9-11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Illinois Veterans Grant, and the Illinois National Guard Grant. The Post 9-11 GI Bill (PGIB or Chapter 33): This is a federal grant given to those who have served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve for 90 or more days after Sep. 10, 2001. The payment rate depends on how much active-duty time or federal service a member has. What it can pay may include… Tuition and fees Money for housing  Money for books and supplies Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school      Below I am going to link the official page for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs  which will include a more in-depth...
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How to Apply for the GI Bill

Hi everyone and welcome (or welcome back) to the blog ‘Soldier to Student”. This blog is going to cover how to apply for the GI Bill.  Step 1 : Find out if you are eligible! Click on the following link and read through to determine if you meet the criteria. https://www.va.gov/education/eligibility/   Step 2 : Gather the following documents and information. Social Security number Bank account direct deposit information Education and military history Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend or are attending now Step 3 : Click on the link below that directs you to the application for VA education benefits. https://www.va.gov/education/apply-for-education-benefits/application/1990/introduction   Step 4 : Sign in (or create an account) and follow the on-screen instructions for the application. Step 5 : Submit application, you should receive a confirmation message which you can print out for your records.  Step 6 : The VA will review your ...
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Post 9-11 GI Bill vs. Montgomery GI Bill

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