For many members of the military who are through serving theircountry, and even those who are between deployments and militaryresponsibilities, furthering their education is next on the to-dolist. While finding the time to complete the training you need foryour next job can be tough, military families have tools that canhelp make the financial burden of a secondary education easier tobear.

Assistance for members of the military comes in many forms, frommilitary grants for veterans from the federal government, tospecial programs offered from military-friendlycolleges. Here are a few assistance programs that members ofthe military should look to benefit from as they continue theireducation.

Federal grant programs: Check with a representative at theDepartment of Veterans Affairs to see what type of grant programsare available to help you pay for college. For example, thePost-9/11 GI Bill offers military members who have served at least90 days of service after Sept. 11, 2001, and received an honorabledischarge assistance up to the highest in-state tuition from apublic educational institution in your home state. Another popularprogram, the Montgomery GI Bill, allows active and reserve membersto receive education benefits in exchange for a small personalcontribution during their service.

Grants from colleges: A number of military friendly collegesoffer additional benefits to veterans. For example, AmericanInterContinental University provides an AIU Online Veterans Grantfor military members to help defray the costs of theireducation.

Assistance for military families: Grant programs also offerassistance for other members of a military family in certain cases.Spouse education benefits, as well as benefits for dependents,are available through a number of government programs. For example,the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows military members to transfer anyunused benefits to a spouse, children or a combination of both.

As a military member, you’ve worked hard and risked your lifeprotecting your country. Needless to say, you’ve earned thebenefits that you’re eligible to receive and you should be sure totake advantage of all that is offered. By enrolling in a schoolthat offers both financial and practical support, you’ll make surethat the next chapter of your life is just as rewarding as yourtime spent in the military.

Information in this article was provided by the ColoradoTechnical University. Contact CTU today if you’re interested indeveloping marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with anindustry-current degree program. (CTU cannot guarantee employmentor salary.)