Calling all Vets!

Does anyone know if the GI Bill has a provision to reimburse us for courses taken through SANS? I know that SANS isn't set up to accept GI Bill payments, but I wonder if I could go the other way and have have the VA reimburse me for a class...

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dmoore44

Nobody? I have a phone call scheduled with an education advisor at the VA on Friday, so if nobody answers prior to that, I'll post another reply with details from the conversation.

networker050184

VA adviser is your best bet. They are the only one that can give you a current go or no go.

zrockstar

Try searching around on the forum. There was a thread a couple months back about boot camp courses and the GI Bill. I remember reading that it was possible, if you can't find the thread or hear otherwise from the VA, please let us know.

AnthonyF

On the face of it the VA will only pay for the testing not the class. But like was suggested earlier your VA rep will know all.

http://www.sans.org/mentor/faq

GIAC certification is now available for VA reimbursement for Chapter 30 and Chapter 35 veterans and eligible dependents. Please note that VA reimbursement is only for GIAC certification and does not include SANS training fees. Certification may be earned in conjunction with SANS training or separately as a Challenge Certification. The reimbursement can be applied retroactively for any GIAC certifications received since November 15, 2001.

The following certifications apply for VA funds:

GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC)
GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
GIAC Certified Firewall Analyst (GCFW)
GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator (GCWN)
GIAC Certified UNIX Security Administrator (GCUX)
GIAC Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA)
GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA)
GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)
GIAC Assessing Wireless Networks (GAWN)
GIAC Certified ISO-17799 Specialist (G7799)

Veterans can apply using VA Form 22-1990 or a letter to the VA Regional Processing Center that handles their state.
To request reimbursement of the exam fee under LACAS, Students must include a copy of their test scores, their receipt for payment of the test fee, and sign a statement authorizing the VA to verify test results with SANS.

Information about the program is at the VA website under Education benefits.

BillHoo

As I recall, the GI Bill Never paid the school.

If the school is a recognized, accredited institution, you register with the VA. Pay for the courses upfront and out of pocket.

Each month, your school submits your records indicating you are still enrolled in the course and they reimburse you for each month's tuition. At the end of the semester, you submit your grades. If you failed to pass the minimum number of credits as a fulltime student with at least a 2.0 gpa, you have to pay the government back, or they will not pay for future classes.

At least that's how it was done when I was in school way back when...

mdomino

If you are talking about them reimbursing for a certification I just got some word on that from the VA office in Buffalo. This is only relevant if using the Ch. 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill, though.

They will reimburse any TESTING costs, not materials, if you pass the certification. The downside is that they will deduct an entire month of your benefits from your account.

So if that is the case, you need to ask if it's worth losing a month of BAH, book stipend and tuition

RogueJD

BillHoo wrote: »

As I recall, the GI Bill Never paid the school.

If the school is a recognized, accredited institution, you register with the VA. Pay for the courses upfront and out of pocket.

Each month, your school submits your records indicating you are still enrolled in the course and they reimburse you for each month's tuition. At the end of the semester, you submit your grades. If you failed to pass the minimum number of credits as a fulltime student with at least a 2.0 gpa, you have to pay the government back, or they will not pay for future classes.

At least that's how it was done when I was in school way back when...

That's the MGIB. The Post 9/11 pays the school.

colemic

Ch 30 GI Bill will reimburse 60% of the costs for a certification 'course' (i.e., bootcamp) and 100% of the testing costs, pass or fail. I don't have any knowledge about the post-9/11 GI Bill.

Just a sidenote for those who still have Ch 30, it is fabulous for WGU, I come out about 2k/semester ahead.