GI bill

The military is not getting the number of recruits needed and many wonder why since benefits are significant. Joining the military is not only a patriotic thing but it can help with education. An enlisted man who dies on active duty after 6 years in the army would be an E-7 and his salary would be $4,245 per month. If he dies on active duty he would be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) of $1,560 per month for the surviving spouse plus $387 for each child under age 18 and DIC is tax free. In addition the family would be entitled to $3,262 per month from social security. The DIC continues for life to the spouse and the social security stops when the youngest child is 18 and picks up again when the spouse is age 60. The family income for a spouse with one child would be $5,209 which is about $1,000 per month more than the family income before the soldier died. In addition the service member qualifies for low cost life insurance and most sign up for $100,000 at $7 per month and up to $500,000 for $31 per month. These rates are most favorable to older soldiers since they are not age related like most life insurance. In addition the new GI Bill covers college tuition and fees up to $26,000 per year for four years. Also included is up to $2,700 per month for housing expenses and $1,200 for tutors. You only need to sign up for three years to get these educational benefits. You can also take up to three courses per semester while you are in the military. As a comparison when I went to college in the 1950's the GI Bill paid a flat $90 per month.