Children of military will on average face 6 to 9 different school systems from kindergarten to 12th grade. The impacts of reassignment and deployments will impact in a number of ways:

• High School Graduation Requirements
• Prerequisite Course Requirements
• Records Transfers
• Extra-Curricular Activities
• Redundant or Missed Testing

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children seeks to address these issues by developing interstate and intrastate solutions that are comprehensive and cohesive.

According to the Council of State Governments (”CSG”), 22 states are participating in this voluntary compact with more on the horizon. If your state is not a member of this compact, make sure you let your state legislator know to join. We need to lessen the burden on the military children whose parents have made huge sacrifices to serve and protect our country.

Here are a couple of related links:

• Council of State Governments Interstate Compact
• Military Impacted Schools Association (”MISA”)

To apply for transferring benefits, an Airmen needs to:

1. Talk to a counselor about your GI Bill options
2. Sign a Statement of Understanding to acknowledge the active duty service commitment
3. Verify family member information in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (”DEERS”)

A couple things to consider:

• An Airman can change which family member receives the benefit as long as that family member was included on DEERS before the Airman left the service
• New family member can be added to a member’s application as long as that member is in the military and not separated or retired

We’ll get to that but first, let’s start with some history and basic G.E.D. 101.

The G.E.D., General Educational Development, is a test designed to help adults move on to better paying jobs and/or post-secondary education who don’t have a high school diploma. Many colleges and employers consider the G.E.D. a credential equivalent to a high school diploma.

The test has five sections covering reading, writing, math, science, and social studies and test takers must score higher than 40 percent of graduating high school seniors. It is developed by the American Council on Education and can be taken at more than 3,200 official testing centers in the United States and Canada.

The truth about the G.E.D. is that in today’s information driven world, this credential is a gateway to post-secondary education and training rather than a stopping point. There’s research out there that shows that it’s not enough to become economically self-sufficient (i.e. make enough money to support yourself) with only a G.E.D. and that those who got post-secondary education or training, make significantly more money than those who did not. It was almost $9,000 more in wages per year.

Many states now combine G.E.D. preparation with education - through online courses and video-on-demand instruction. It has proved to help a lot of high school drop-outs bypass the lowest paying jobs for higher paying ones that require more skills training. it’s wise to check with your state on the types of work-force training that come along with the G.E.D. preparation.

The G.E.D is a great start but it’s only a stepping stone to more education, a higher paying job, and/or moving ahead in today’s society.

Here is a helpful article and video talking about how some service members who’ve sustained injuries in service are recovering and getting the skills to make that transition. They are doing this at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which provides comprehensive health care to service members, family members and retirees.

Going to college and real world training are two very typical but different paths. Keep in mind that school may not be for everyone and you shouldn’t feel that it’s what you should do because it’s what you see your friends doing.

It’s completely a personal choice. You need to decide on what you feel you’d be most happy doing 7 days a week 8 hours a day. It might be huddled in a lab tinkering with microscopes as a lab technician or rebuilding car engines in an apprenticeship at an autoshop.

There a number of key questions to ask yourself and think through so that you fully understand what you are trying to achieve.

• Where do I want to be in 5 years? 10 years? For example, if I want to be a high school school coach and teacher, I’ll need to get a degree or get certified in teaching which means more school. Know what the requirements and qualifications of the job/career you want to be in.
• Will education get me there or is practical training more appropriate?
• Does school or training fit the lifestyle that I have and want? For example, you may have siblings or children to support that may prevent you from going to school full-time.
• How much will it cost? And how will I pay for it? Does the GI Bill cover and how much? Do all of your research here because the VA will take care of you.

If you can answer these questions and let it settle over a few days, you will make a more confident choice which will lead you down the path that’s right for you.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a smart and low-cost way for high school seniors who want to serve in the military and also get a college education or vocational training. Basically, if you do a three year hitch in any of the five branches of service, you will get full tuition at any state college including $1,000 for living expenses and $1,000 for books and materials. It’s not a bad deal to consider especially when when the average college kid comes  out of school with $22,000 in student loans.

• Compile, process, and maintain medical records that are consistent with medical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. Check and review patients’ medical charts and records and assigning proper codes to aid in the billing process.

Salary Range*:

• $30,000 - $38,000.

Job Growth:

• 17.8% from 2006-2016.
  

Education Required:

• Associate’s degree minimum.

Relevant Military Job:

• Medical Record Technicians; Medical Care Technicians.

Branch of Service Offering Job:

• Air Force; Army; Coast Guard; Navy.
  

Core Skills:

• Strong reading comprehension and written skills. Attention to detail with ability to communicate in written and spoken form upon identification of key issues. Develop working knowledge of proper procedures.

Examples of Employers:

• State and local hospitals, health insurance providers.

Job Openings:

• 76,000 total from 2006-2016.

Difficulty for Entry:

• Lower, due to growing supply of jobs and level of education requirements.

Sources: PayScale; Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*Note: Salaries will vary based on years of relevant work experience,
education, and other employer requirements.

• Responsible for cleaning and polishing teeth, educating patients on proper oral hygiene, and assisting dentists on surgeries and dental procedures.

Salary Range*:

• $44,000 - $50,000.

Job Growth:

• 30.1% from 2006-2016.
  

Education Required:

• Associate’s degree minimum.

Relevant Military Job:

• Dental Specialists.

Branch of Service Offering Job:

• Air Force; Army; Coast Guard; Navy.
  

Core Skills:

• Prepare for patient examinations and oral surgery. Conduct teeth cleanings and rovide guidance to patients on dental care. Assist dentists by preparing dental compounds and operating dental equipment. Perform administrative duties, such as scheduling office visits, keeping patient records, and ordering dental supplies.

Examples of Employers:

• Dental offices, mostly private practices.

Job Openings:

• 82,000 total from 2006-2016.

Difficulty for Entry:

• Lower, due to growing supply of jobs and level of education requirements.

Sources: PayScale; Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*Note: Salaries will vary based on years of relevant work experience,
education, and other employer requirements.