What is the deal with "V.A"

[joel_MQY]

First off, I apologize if this is a stupid question.
(With the disclaimer out of the way)

I have noticed a bunch of schools that say "V.A." approved. My flight school is about to get the approval as well. What does that include?

One more question for our Military folks - I am seriously considering joining. What are some typical good Aviation jobs to get in the military? I got pretty decent ASVAB scores. (I don't remember the exact number.)

Thanks for any help!

[bike21]

I am still new the VA program, so someone correct me if i'm wrong, but usually the reimbursement is around 60% of your Instrument & Commercial. They do not reimburse for the Private.

Anyone have anymore info?

[USMCmech]

[ QUOTE ]
I have noticed a bunch of schools that say "V.A." approved. My flight school is about to get the approval as well. What does that include?

One more question for our Military folks - I am seriously considering joining. What are some typical good Aviation jobs to get in the military? I got pretty decent ASVAB scores. (I don't remember the exact number.)

[/ QUOTE ]

VA approval is required if a veteran wants to get reinbursed for their flight training. I used this for my flight training, and it paid for much of it.



I was enlisted in the Marines for five years in 1996, it was the best thing I ever did. Read what I wrote in the perspectives section for the full story.

http://www.jetcareers.com/persp_18.htm

If you look into enlisting in the military, be careful that you understand what is and is not garuented in your enlistment contract. Listen to what the recruiters have to say, but know that they have a quota to fill every month. Don't let yourself be pressured unless you are ready.

In the Marines, you could enlist with your preference of career feilds, my first choice was "Aviation Maintence" within that field the Marines chose what I was most qualified for and where they needed me. In my case it was airframe repair, but it could have been several other jobs as well.

I would recomend staying away from ordance, and crash fire rescue if possible. Ordance is the guys who load the bombs, this field has little application in the civilian world. Crash crew guys are basicly firemen. Unfortunatly, they have little to do on a day to day basis. I knew some of them at Quantico, and I always felt that I would be bored to tears with their job.

Feel free to ask about any specific questions you have here, we have guys from every service.

[joel_MQY]

Thanks! So if I were to serve out a 4 year deal, would I be eligible? I was look over the Air Force Website and they had an "Airfield Management Apprentice" job that looked pretty tempting. (Inspection of Runways, etc.)

A figure of 60% of the flight training paid is a hell of a deal! Is it very difficult to get approval for the loan?

Thanks again for the information!

[bike21]

[ QUOTE ]

Is it very difficult to get approval for the loan?

Thanks again for the information!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not usually, if you have decent credit and pay your bills on time it should go well for you. I used a co-signer (nice parents i have!) back in the day as I was fresh out of college and didnt' have a real credit history builit up yet other than some credit card debt

Here are some loan options...

Key Bank
Sallie Mae
Pilot Finance

I think there are some others out there as well, those are the ones I am familiar with. Good luck!

[Windchill]

[ QUOTE ]
What are some typical good Aviation jobs to get in the military?

[/ QUOTE ]

Pilot

Nav, Flight Engineer are other cockpit slots. Loadmaster and flying crew chiefs are other positions. If you do medicine, you could find a unit with an Aeromed squadron.

[Flight81]

Also keep in mind only Officers can fly. So if your wanting to be a Pilot, Nav/WSO, your gonna have to have a degree and gone through ROTC or apply to OTS which is EXTREMLY hard to get into right now and even harder to get a Pilot slot through. I'm in Air Force ROTC right now so if you have any Air Force specific questions I can help....Hopefully!

[joel_MQY]

Was doing a little research and I noticed that the FE is a commissioned position! Sounds pretty sweet.

[pilotnate23]

Right now I'm in the Air Force airfield operations officer arena and it's great. Enlisted controllers and airfield managers fall into the same category. Both are pretty sweet deals...FAA certification as an air traffic controller or alot of aircrew interaction and experience in AM. So I would definitely suggest either one of those routes.

FYI...only pilots and navs are officer positions, all others (FE, loadmasters) are enlisted. When I was a CFI in college we had a few instructors on staff that did their training through VA loans, it's a pretty sweet deal.

Nate

[C650CPT]

[ QUOTE ]
A figure of 60% of the flight training paid is a hell of a deal! Is it very difficult to get approval for the loan?

[/ QUOTE ]

Careful there partner, its not a loan, it is tuition reimbursement which means you pay for everything ( 100%) up front, submitt your paper work and wait to be reimbursed by the VA The flight school, if pt. 141 and VA Approved will help you with the paperwork but it is really up to you to follow up and get your money. The flight school expects to be paid in full and in a timely manner. Once you "crack" the VA code and establish eligability and receive your first reimbursement, the rest usually follow without a hitch ... but that first one can be a challenge. You have to elect to participate when you first join the Military and you have a contribution of about $100 per month for the first year, then you have the benefit extended to you. I'm pretty sure you can start to use the benefit after that 12 month period. It is a great opportunity for further education. I used my VA benefits for my Instructor rateings and those reimbursement checks were very welcomed.

If you are thinking of joining the Military talk to our friend Lloyd, but remember to duck if you mention chAir Force.

My only recomendation to you is DO the 4 yr. College thing before anything else in your career, it will open up doors of opportunity unlike anything you could imagine.

Jim

[bullmastiff]

In the Air Force, any of the Enlisted Aviator Positions. I beleive the AFSC will all start with a "1". For example. Air Battle Manager(AWACS,JSTARS,Gunship Sensor OPerator) is 1A451..............Not sure what loadmaster, boomer etc. are
PM me if you have any questions

[TaterSalad]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A figure of 60% of the flight training paid is a hell of a deal! Is it very difficult to get approval for the loan?

[/ QUOTE ]

Careful there partner, its not a loan, it is tuition reimbursement which means you pay for everything ( 100%) up front, submitt your paper work and wait to be reimbursed by the VA The flight school, if pt. 141 and VA Approved will help you with the paperwork but it is really up to you to follow up and get your money. The flight school expects to be paid in full and in a timely manner. Once you "crack" the VA code and establish eligability and receive your first reimbursement, the rest usually follow without a hitch ... but that first one can be a challenge. You have to elect to participate when you first join the Military and you have a contribution of about $100 per month for the first year, then you have the benefit extended to you. I'm pretty sure you can start to use the benefit after that 12 month period. It is a great opportunity for further education. I used my VA benefits for my Instructor rateings and those reimbursement checks were very welcomed.

If you are thinking of joining the Military talk to our friend Lloyd, but remember to duck if you mention chAir Force.

My only recomendation to you is DO the 4 yr. College thing before anything else in your career, it will open up doors of opportunity unlike anything you could imagine.

Jim

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you might be mixing GI Bill and tuition assistance together. GI Bill requires you to pay the $1200 in ($100/mo for the 1st 12 months), and you get somewhere around $30k nowdays for college once you get out (after a 4 yr enlistment.........it's prorated if you only finish 2 yrs, 3 yrs, etc due to medical discharge or other). I used that to pay for my college, and then took a loan for flight training. But, you can also use GI Bill to pay for advanced flight training (ie: anything above the private pilot level).

The tuition assistance is a whole nother thing, at least by that name. TA allows you to take classes while on active duty, and they pay something like 80% of the tuition. This doesn't require you to pay into the program initially, just be enlisted. I don't believe TA can be used for flight training, as they wouldn't let me use it (got my private while in the Navy).

What I'd recommend, is take as many classes as you can towards a degree while active duty, letting them pay for 80% of the tuition. Then when you get out, you only have to use a small portion of your GI Bill to finish your degree, leaving the rest for flight training!

If a school is listed as VA approved, it means you can use your GI Bill for flight training at that school.

[bullmastiff]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A figure of 60% of the flight training paid is a hell of a deal! Is it very difficult to get approval for the loan?

[/ QUOTE ]

Careful there partner, its not a loan, it is tuition reimbursement which means you pay for everything ( 100%) up front, submitt your paper work and wait to be reimbursed by the VA The flight school, if pt. 141 and VA Approved will help you with the paperwork but it is really up to you to follow up and get your money. The flight school expects to be paid in full and in a timely manner. Once you "crack" the VA code and establish eligability and receive your first reimbursement, the rest usually follow without a hitch ... but that first one can be a challenge. You have to elect to participate when you first join the Military and you have a contribution of about $100 per month for the first year, then you have the benefit extended to you. I'm pretty sure you can start to use the benefit after that 12 month period. It is a great opportunity for further education. I used my VA benefits for my Instructor rateings and those reimbursement checks were very welcomed.

If you are thinking of joining the Military talk to our friend Lloyd, but remember to duck if you mention chAir Force.

My only recomendation to you is DO the 4 yr. College thing before anything else in your career, it will open up doors of opportunity unlike anything you could imagine.

Jim

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you might be mixing GI Bill and tuition assistance together. GI Bill requires you to pay the $1200 in ($100/mo for the 1st 12 months), and you get somewhere around $30k nowdays for college once you get out (after a 4 yr enlistment.........it's prorated if you only finish 2 yrs, 3 yrs, etc due to medical discharge or other). I used that to pay for my college, and then took a loan for flight training. But, you can also use GI Bill to pay for advanced flight training (ie: anything above the private pilot level).

The tuition assistance is a whole nother thing, at least by that name. TA allows you to take classes while on active duty, and they pay something like 80% of the tuition. This doesn't require you to pay into the program initially, just be enlisted. I don't believe TA can be used for flight training, as they wouldn't let me use it (got my private while in the Navy).

What I'd recommend, is take as many classes as you can towards a degree while active duty, letting them pay for 80% of the tuition. Then when you get out, you only have to use a small portion of your GI Bill to finish your degree, leaving the rest for flight training!

If a school is listed as VA approved, it means you can use your GI Bill for flight training at that school.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is how it was when I went through.......I hear now, you do not have to pay ther 100 a month the first year of enlistment....Can anyone confirm?