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    Your Guide to Summer Success: Supporting Veteran Students Through The GI Bill®

    As summer approaches, veterans using VA education benefits may be continuing their education, preparing for graduation, or considering their next career move. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (38 U.S.C. Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30), and the Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606), eligible veterans and service members have access to a range of resources designed to support academic and career success during and beyond their time in service.

    Please refer to the flyer attached as a quick-reference resource for students and stakeholders.

    Maximize Your Benefits This Summer

    • Academic Skills Training: The Warrior-Scholar Project offers free academic boot camps that help transitioning service members and veterans build college-level reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Space is limited—interested veterans should apply early.

    • Certification and Licensing Reimbursements: In addition to tuition, the GI Bill® covers licensing and certification exams, including prep courses. This is ideal for veterans pursuing careers in healthcare, EMS, IT, or other credentialed fields. Learn more at VA GI Bill® Licensing & Certification.

    • Scholarships for veterans: Veterans seeking additional financial support can search Scholarship America, which offers scholarships specifically for the military community.

    • Career Planning Resources CareerOneStop: Supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, connects veterans to job centers, apprenticeships, and training programs tailored to their background.

    • Entrepreneurship Support: Veterans interested in starting a business can explore Boots to Business, Veteran Business Outreach Centers, and the Veteran Entrepreneur Portal through the Small Business Administration (SBA).

    Important Reminders About Your Benefits

    • Understand Your GI Bill® Award Letter: If you’ve received an award letter and aren’t sure what it means, a step-by-step guide is available to help you understand your entitlements.

    • Verify Enrollment Monthly: Some students must verify enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving payments. This can be done via text, email, Ask VA, or the Education Call Center. Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is:

    • Prorated if classes don’t span the entire month

    • Not paid during school breaks

    • Paid in arrears (e.g., your May payment is received in early June.)

    In Crisis? Help is Available

    If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1. Help is confidential and available 24/7.

     

    Summer Fun For Veterans: Find Community And Wellness With PGA HOPE

    As the weather warms up, summer is the perfect time for veterans to get outdoors, stay active, and connect with others—and PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) offers the ideal way to do just that. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, designed to introduce and teach golf to veterans and active-duty military members at no cost.

    Whether you're new to golf or picking it up again, PGA HOPE welcomes all veterans—no clubs or prior experience required. With programs in 47 states and more than 340 locations, there’s likely a course near you ready to tee up a summer of fun, connection, and personal growth.

    Led by PGA professionals trained in both adaptive golf and military cultural competency, these sessions go beyond sport. They’re about building community, supporting mental health, and finding peace through focused activity. As PGA of America’s Chris Nowak puts it, “Golf offers a moment of clarity—when you’re on the course, the rest of the world fades, and healing can begin.”

    This summer, thousands of veterans will join PGA HOPE for weekly rounds filled with camaraderie, laughter, and plenty of sunshine. Many describe the experience as life-changing, not just for the game, but for the friendships and mental well-being it fosters.

    Veterans across the country are discovering that summer fun can be as simple—and powerful—as walking onto a green with new friends and a shared purpose. Find a PGA HOPE program near you and get started today.