The Yellow Ribbon
Program: A Hallmark of Veteran Care
We’re fortunate in America in that we live in a society which not only values our service people, but also strives to make provisions for them once they’ve finished acting duty.
Amongst all the political in-fighting, economic turmoil and almost daily controversies reported in the press, our duty of care towards veterans is something which remains constant (and rightly so).
Getting Veterans into Civilian Work
Giving back to veterans and providing employment opportunities has always been prevalent, but it’s particularly something which the public at large has become aware of over the last decade. This is, arguably, down to the events which followed the 9/11 atrocities, coupled with the rise of mainstream Internet use – as a result, there are now some great resources and initiatives online (such as Military-Civilian!) which help ex-service people back to work.
We’re fortunate in America in that we live in a society which not only values our service people, but also strives to make provisions for them once they’ve finished acting duty.
Amongst all the political in-fighting, economic turmoil and almost daily controversies reported in the press, our duty of care towards veterans is something which remains constant (and rightly so).
Getting Veterans into Civilian Work
Giving back to veterans and providing employment opportunities has always been prevalent, but it’s particularly something which the public at large has become aware of over the last decade. This is, arguably, down to the events which followed the 9/11 atrocities, coupled with the rise of mainstream Internet use – as a result, there are now some great resources and initiatives online (such as Military-Civilian!) which help ex-service people back to work.
In addition, an increasing number of employers are setting up great benefit
packages for veterans, and also recognizing the unique skillset they bring to
the table.
But what if a veteran is looking to get back into education following a return to civilian life?
Funding for Public Education
While the official list of military friendly employers is relatively new, something which has been around for decades is the GI Bill of Rights, and it’s one of the most successful pieces of legislature ever introduced.
The bill started out immediately after WWII, and ever since its introduction millions of veterans have taken advantage of the support network which has gotten them back into employment and training. However, as you can imagine, the bill was looking a little outdated as it passed its seventieth birthday – as such, it was revised in 2010 to better represent service people returning from the latest struggles in the Middle East.
In a nutshell, the new Post 9/11 GI Bill is a triumph in that it drastically reduces financial strain for veterans looking to get back into education to advance their career.
In most cases, 100% of tuition fees are covered, and provisions are also made for relocating closer to the target school as well as monthly housing payments. There are a few stipulations for eligibility, but for the most part benefits are open to any veteran who has served for over 90 days (accumulatively) since 9/11 and has received an honorable discharge from service.
The funding can even be used at private schools, with tuition fees paid directly to the school (resulting in a hassle-free enrolment process).
However, in some cases the private institution’s fees may be more than the total amount available from the GI Bill; but even if that’s the case, further help is available in the form of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Why the Yellow Ribbon Program is Important
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a representation of everything that is right in America. It is a scheme, which shows that even when funding falls short, both the state and privately run institutions are happily willing to dig into their own pockets to provide further help.
But what if a veteran is looking to get back into education following a return to civilian life?
Funding for Public Education
While the official list of military friendly employers is relatively new, something which has been around for decades is the GI Bill of Rights, and it’s one of the most successful pieces of legislature ever introduced.
The bill started out immediately after WWII, and ever since its introduction millions of veterans have taken advantage of the support network which has gotten them back into employment and training. However, as you can imagine, the bill was looking a little outdated as it passed its seventieth birthday – as such, it was revised in 2010 to better represent service people returning from the latest struggles in the Middle East.
In a nutshell, the new Post 9/11 GI Bill is a triumph in that it drastically reduces financial strain for veterans looking to get back into education to advance their career.
In most cases, 100% of tuition fees are covered, and provisions are also made for relocating closer to the target school as well as monthly housing payments. There are a few stipulations for eligibility, but for the most part benefits are open to any veteran who has served for over 90 days (accumulatively) since 9/11 and has received an honorable discharge from service.
The funding can even be used at private schools, with tuition fees paid directly to the school (resulting in a hassle-free enrolment process).
However, in some cases the private institution’s fees may be more than the total amount available from the GI Bill; but even if that’s the case, further help is available in the form of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Why the Yellow Ribbon Program is Important
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a representation of everything that is right in America. It is a scheme, which shows that even when funding falls short, both the state and privately run institutions are happily willing to dig into their own pockets to provide further help.
In the case of private schools, veterans are still able to use the full
entitlement offered to them under the standard GI Bill. However, if this does
not meet the full cost of tuition, schools which have opted into the Yellow
Ribbon Program may contribute up to 50% of the remaining fees. In turn, the
government will match this donation, meaning that the prospective student is
still able to have all tuition costs covered (as well as having access to the
supplementary benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill).
It’s important to note however that not all private schools are part of the Yellow Ribbon Program since the scheme operates under an opt-in policy. That said, a surprising array of schools are getting involved with this fantastic program.
The New York Film Academy Joins the List
Once of the most recent additions to the Yellow Ribbon Program roster is the New York Film Academy. With a dedicated tuition team at their LA campus, the film school is keen to get ex service people on the road to a successful career in the industry and has a variety of openings as part of its veteran benefits scheme.
It’s important to note however that not all private schools are part of the Yellow Ribbon Program since the scheme operates under an opt-in policy. That said, a surprising array of schools are getting involved with this fantastic program.
The New York Film Academy Joins the List
Once of the most recent additions to the Yellow Ribbon Program roster is the New York Film Academy. With a dedicated tuition team at their LA campus, the film school is keen to get ex service people on the road to a successful career in the industry and has a variety of openings as part of its veteran benefits scheme.
For more info on the NYFA’s Yellow Ribbon involvement and learning programs, visit: http://www.nyfa.edu/veterans/
For more on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, see: http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/
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