VA approves four more TEEX programs for GI Bill education benefits

COLLEGE STATION – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved four additional Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) courses for GI Bill^? education benefits. TEEX’s VA-education benefit programs now number 16.

The programs recently receiving approval are Solar PV Installer, Fire Instructor I, OSH500 Construction Industry Train-the-Trainer and OSH501 General Industry Train-the-Trainer.

The number of veterans enrolling in TEEX programs has increased since the Post 9/11 GI Bill^? went into effect last fall, allowing veterans to use their education benefits at non-college degree-granting schools, said Steven Robinson, TEEX’s Veterans Liaison Officer.

Under the Post-9/11 benefit, the VA pays the tuition and fees directly to the school, based upon the approved benefit level of the veteran, who may also qualify for a monthly housing allowance and book and supplies stipend. TEEX also accepts the Montgomery GI Bill^? (MGIB) Chapter 30 education benefits, added Robinson, who serves on the executive board of the Western Association of Veteran Education Specialists (WAVES).

“One of the advantages of TEEX is that a veteran can receive training, obtain a certification and begin work at a job quicker than they would through a two- or four-year college program,” Robinson said. “This makes many of our programs attractive to veterans who are looking to get their training done so they can start earning money and providing for their families as soon as possible.”

TEEX is working with The Texas A&M University System in reaching out to veterans who wish to use their education benefits to pursue additional training or college degrees. To help get the word out, TEEX recently placed an ad in the March/April 2012 edition of Civilian Job News, which is distributed nationwide.