Using the GI Bill

Who would have thought that using the GI Bill would be such a pain in the ass!?  Are we extremely grateful that the hubs' education is paid for by the VA, yes absolutely.  However, the process sucks!  There are so many rules and regulations when using it, it gets a bit ridiculous.  The hubs was a mechanic on the Amtracks in the Marines.  So, logically he is going to school for his associate's degree/certification in auto mechanics.  So, he has to go full time in order to get full time BAH, no problem.  All of his classes that he takes have to be on the list of required classes for his degree program, no problem, until you see that a few of the classes have prerequisite classes that are considered "remedial" classes.  According to the VA coordinator at his school, the remedial classes must be taken on campus and not online (even though he has to go to campus for the other auto classes, it's not like he's taking all online classes) in order for the VA to cover the class.  Please tell me why this makes any flipping sense?!  It's an entry level math course, he could probably do it in his sleep but now he has to drive the 25 minutes to campus an extra 2 days a week during the winter to take the class in person so they will cover it!?  Why?!  Asked if he took the class online and paid for it himself if the VA would still consider him full time, nope because he is not taking the class in the required manner.  I really want to know who makes up these dumb rules.  Really, who even thinks of a rule like that?!  I can see wanting to make sure that the veteran is going to some on campus classes to ensure that it really is the veteran taking the class and getting paid to go, but one very simple class, come on people!


I'd have to say though that the VA really has not been much of an issue and that the greatest issue and frustration is with the school and their "VA department."  I really believe they are either extremely lazy and inadequate or just ill-informed and ill-trained in VA education matters.  We typically have to pay upfront for his classes because they do not get the paperwork in in a timely fashion and we personally have to remind them numerous times to send it in, even though it's "supposed" to be done automatically each quarter.  And then since they wait until so late to send in the form that if there are any issues, like said class above, it's too late to really do anything about it.  And we are not the only ones who have this issue.  I'm just very frustrated by this whole process and I wish it was easier.  I mean I really do not see how people who cannot pay for these things upfront can even afford it.  Thankfully we can just put it on the credit card and pay it off when we get the money.  I really think that service members who are going through the checkout process though should be made aware that they will likely have to pay upfront for school costs and be reimbursed later due to most colleges being extremely behind on VA verifications.  And I know so many people at different colleges that have this problem so I really think that in order for a school to be certified or verified, whatever it is, to receive VA funds, then they need to have better training and awareness for their VA coordinators.  VA coordinators should be veterans or spouses of service members/veterans, haha.  School and getting out is stressful enough on veterans and their families, I just think we should be able to make the process go as smoothly and easily as possible.
I would like to say that we are very fortunate for him to have this opportunity and for the VA to pay for him to go to school but sometimes you just want to scream at the people who make it so damn difficult to process it!