Gi Bill suspended For trainees

[cheesehead4life]

Has anyone heard anything about trainees not being able to use the GI bill in training, was told that they suspended the program.

 

[HurryUpandWait]

Yep, heard the same

 

[cheesehead4life]

NATCA is working to resolve this:

The VA has suspended 5 previously approved OJT Programs for GI Bill benefits that are offered by the FAA including Air Traffic Controller-Enroute (FV-2152), Air Traffic Controller Terminal (FV-2152), The reason for the suspension of our programs is related to training at government agency training facilities established under 5 U.S. Code, Part 41, also known as Government Employees Training Act (GETA). 38 U.S. Code, Part 3681 prohibits payments to individuals attending GETA training facilities. The FAA Academy is established under this law and the FAA provides a salary, per diem and lodging (either by Centralized Billing Account or reimbursement).

Issue:

Anyone who was enrolled prior to December 5th can continue to submit hours to receive the GI Bill payment. Any new trainees will not be able to enroll to the GI Bill program at this time. In 2008, when the program initially started, the approval for the program included the time at MMAC and/or anytime that trainees were also receiving per diem. The program has been suspended and the FAA is required to reapply with the new training hours due to the laws noted above. Trainees were identified as collecting both per diem and the GI Bill.

What’s being done:

AJI is putting together training plans for various facilities ranging in lowest level to highest level for each discipline. These plans will indicate the different stages of training and how many hours are contained in each. This will comply with the stages of the 3120.4S Appendix D and E.

For example, plans will be broken up into (Enroute):
Stage 2 Classroom
Stage 2 Simulation
Stage 2 OJT
Stage 3 Classroom
Stage 3 Simulation
Stage 3 OJT


Next steps:

1. AJI to produce training plans and submit to AJG (Air Traffic - 3 days) (Tech Ops – 3 weeks)

2. AJG produces application and submits to VA (approx. 5 days)

3. VA approval (estimated 14 – 90 days)



In Solidarity,

Jamaal Haltom
NATCA National Training Representative
C 302-399-5795

 

[MT]

Is this only for while at the Academy though? Should still work for OJT at a facility unless I’m reading it wrong 🤷‍♂️

 

[My_life_4_auir]

What constitutes being enrolled prior to the date? I used my GI Bill at my old facility, now I’m in training elsewhere but never applied for GI bill benefits here. Am I previously enrolled or not

 

[Phillytroll69]

What constitutes being enrolled prior to the date? I used my GI Bill at my old facility, now I’m in training elsewhere but never applied for GI bill benefits here. Am I previously enrolled or not

Not to be rude but I would submit it to the va saying you were enrolled on x date and you are now training again. If you ask for clarification I think you know what the intent and answer will be.

 

[SquawkHijack]

Is this only for while at the Academy though? Should still work for OJT at a facility unless I’m reading it wrong 🤷‍♂️

Yeah I was wondering the same. I can see why they suspended it at the academy because you’re collecting FAA salary, per diem, lodging AND GI bill benefits (which also include per diem), but why for OJTI?? Jamaal’s quoted email above only talked about at the MMAC.

 

[ManBearPig]

Yeah I was wondering the same. I can see why they suspended it at the academy because you’re collecting FAA salary, per diem, lodging AND GI bill benefits (which also include per diem), but why for OJTI?? Jamaal’s quoted email above only talked about at the MMAC.

The email was ambiguous AF. They talked about the MMAC be specifically suspended, but then talk about facility levels. IDK. If someone has the answers, please post them up.