VA Loan Updates

Military veterans frustrated with the bureaucracy in trying to get benefits told their stories Thursday to U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, who both praised them for their service and pledged to do what he could to help. Stearns, R-Ocala, met with veterans who are students at Santa Fe Community College and the University of Florida during a day spent touring several Alachua County spots. "This has been a high point — to see these men and women who have the best intentions but get frustrated. They want to go to college, and they have the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, but there are these frustrations," Stearns said after the gathering. "I'll try to see which one is the most egregious and see if I can help with that one. And then go to the next one." About 10 veterans spoke to Stearns at SFCC about how loopholes and flaws in existing programs curtail the educational benefits they receive from the military. Steve Woodliff, a Navy veteran and UF student, said benefits are at peacetime rates despite the U.S. being at war. "It is considered a peacetime GI bill, if you will, but since 9-11 the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created thousands of war veterans," Woodliff said. "Past wartime generations … enjoyed what was called a wartime GI bill. The GI bill … has yet to really increase significantly given the wartime status of our country." Some veterans, such as National Guard members, find their deployments impact their educational benefits because of time limits on the benefits or conflicts between which agency — the Defense Department or Veterans Affairs — covers the benefits. Air Force veteran Rick Heckerson said veterans often need prep courses when they enter college after years in the military. Those courses count in the 36 months of education benefits to which veterans are entitled, making it difficult to earn a degree within 36 months. Stearns expressed concern over the problems faced by the veterans. "Something is not working," Stearns said to one student having difficulty getting his tuition covered. "Here is a gentleman with a Bronze Star. I would like to think that would qualify you for free tuition on its own." Stearns also toured the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Center for Food Distribution and Retailing, which is working to improve the distribution of fresh produce; met with leaders of high-tech companies at a luncheon at Regeneration Technologies in Alachua; and visited the Gainesville Technology Center. Found here. Sphere: Related Content