Hey all!

Well, I really don't know why everyone wants me to have a plan, when every one of them gets blown out of the water. I say this because, now, my military shrink is telling me I have to serve a full tour to get my G.I. Bill, and that aint gonna happen, as to do so, Luana will pretty much be completly locked up again!  :-[

So now it looks like my timetable for getting out just got bumped up, as my shrink is telling me that if the military gets ANY word, I get a dishonorable or other then honerable discharge.

So my question is, any of you go to college in transition and where, and any websites you know that can help me get some grants or scolorships? I will get student loans if necissary but would like to avoid it.

Hi Luana.

You are to be commended for you desire to attend college.  It is a must in this day and age.  You will probably want to get the College Handbook  2005 or 2006 versions.  It gives detailed info on 3,600 colleges.  It covers financial aid, costs, housing and much more.   A quick call to the college registrar should answer your question regarding how they treat TG on campus.  Most schools are quite diverse, I don't see this as being a problem.  The school you want to  attend is also the best place to find info on scholorships and grants.  Contact them as soon as you make your choce, they will usually have info packets or your can check this on line.

The College Handbook costs less than $30 and you can get it at any major bookseller.  If you don't want to buy it you can go to a store that has it on the shelf and find one of those easy chairs and get the info you need.  In some stores you can even buy coffee.  What could be easier?

What concerns me more is your mention of a dishonorable or less than honorable discharge from the military.  Please avoid this if it all possible.  I don't know your exact circumstances, but this will follow you for the rest of your life.  I sincerely hope you can get released with an honorable discharge.

all the best dear,


joanna

Thanks Joanna for the quick response!

The Doc was just warning me today that my situation is equivalent to a political minefield. For instence, if anyone knew about me going to TGEA meetings, or even took a picture of me being associated with TS girls, I could be charged with "Behavior unbecoming of military personell". She says I probably should not leave next week, but the longer I stay in, the better my chances of being caught. She says my voice rising from voice lessons alone can have me put under survallince, and military courts arn't to picky on how evidence is obtained.

So in short, I never realized before just how serious my situation is, and getting out safely is now my utmost concern, worst case is I will go home for a month or two. But I have to get out yesterday.

Hi Luana,

Okay, I'm going to take a major leap here and break ranks. College University whatever is not the end all or be all of your future. Education is an important element in anyones life. Knowledge is power. Knowledge comes from many sources. The value of self education should not be underestimated.

Ross Perot was quoted as saying "I wouldn't give you two cents for an MBA". Obstacles are just something to be overcome. I have met the enemy and he is us. You are your own worst enemy and nothing anybody else can do to you is as powerful as that which you do unto yourself. I have been out of the military since 1976 and not once has anybody even asked me to produce my discharge papers except when I went to the DMV to get my free drivers license which in the state of Georgia costs a whole ten dollars. So I wouldn't place a whole lot of emphasis on that discharge.

If I had known how insignificant it really was I would have taken the dishonorable if it would have gotten me out. However I would not have gotten the benefits I received. That is something to consider. The only real power the military has over you is that which you give them. If the benefits are worth it then yes bite the bullet and do your tour. If not bail.

Those who have made fortunes all say that if you work for someone else you will never be rich. I'm not saying you have to be rich but if what they say is true where does your future lye.? You create your future. Not the government. Our system was set up for the individual not the government and the government should not rule your decisions. If there is any room left in our sytem for individuality then by all means carpe deim.

Thats my two cents

Cassie

P.S. Viva Cuervo(caveate emptor)

First have a college that you would like to attend.

Find out the designator (Should be a 5 digit number for that University of College)

Apply to that college using whatever application that particular college requires.

Fill out an application for a Pell Grant (Something you don't have to pay back and usually you have to apply for a pell grant before your even eligible to get a student loan).  I think you can fill out or have up to 5 colleges in mind on the Pell Grant submission and give them all 5 codes so you don't have to be dead positive about which university your going to be attending, you just have to have it narrowed down.  You can fill it out online, you will need to have done the following things.

1. Get accepted at those Universities
2. Have the College Designators
3. Have a copy of your tax return.
You can apply online here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

You can do all of the above right now because you want to apply as early as possible for a Pell Grant, usually on your initial submission it will take roughly 4-6 months before they give the University the money.

Once you have applied you have to wait until you get an answer (I think) talk to that Universities "Financial Aid" Office.  But once you have an answer, you can apply for student loans, most student loans require you to have already submitted your pell grant application.  There are unsubsidized and subsidized student loans, the difference is this:

Subsidized
You won't be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during deferment periods. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods.

With unsubsidized your charged the interest on the loan which gets built back into the loan during your deferrment period (The time your in school not paying on the loan)

However, all of the loans are really low interest but you can shop around for the best student loans.

The Best Part, you can get ALL THREE

Example
Semester 1
2,000 Pell Grant .... 2,000 Subsidized Loan.... 1,000 Unsubsidized Loan
Total applied for Semester 1: 5,000

You also get to keep any of the money that wasn't spent on University fees and tuition!  The University sends you a check!

Then, after you have all of that locked down. Check with the University about different University scholarships (Presidential, Honors, etc...these are University Level Scholarships).  Then check with your college department (For instance if your going to be an education major check with the department that runs that major) and see what sort of scholarships are out there for that major, generally the department will have a list.

Had I known now, what I knew then, I wouldn't have gone in to the Navy in the first place.  You don't *need* the Montgomery G.I. Bill.  It's nice to have certainly, but it isn't essential because the money from the loans and pell grant is capped, and they include the GI Bill.

So if you were getting the G.I. Bill your pell grant would figure that money in to the equation and you would get much less from the Pell Grant.

Also go to Fastweb and fill out all the data, it's like 9 pages of info, but it will help match you up with national and state scholarships that you are eligible for. The website is: http://www.fastweb.com/

Even if you aren't immediately eligible for a lot of scholarships, after your 1st or 2nd semester, do really well those semesters and sort of 'prove' your ability to make good grades and a lot of additional scholarships opportunities will open up.

I hope I helped.

Jessica

edited for grammer.

Oh Cassie,

I'm shattered. I'm 45 still at school and now I find out it's not that important after all. LOL

I would have to say that it will be much easier to find acceptance in Uni/College than in the military (I've been in both).

I would advise however for you to decide your reason for opting for Uni/College, is it the pursuit of knowledge or gaining acceptance?

A little of both is fine but you won't get through the mound of study without some serious interest.

Shelley

Well thanks for even more info!

I already have been looking at Fastweb, looks like alot of scholorships I can shoot for.

As for why I think it is important to be accepted at a college? I don't, but the Doc says it is an important thing to consider. Personaly I would rather say screw them and just get on with getting my degree, but I don't want to go through all this work if the college has a history of abuse to TS men/women.

Transition costs money, big money.

How much can you save a month flippin burgers?  How much can you save with a first class education?

Do the xetra time getin larnin und makin biger bux eqal out wht yud mak bean a booger fliper?

Self education is important and there is a lot to be said for life experiences.  Here in New York, the state college system will give you college credit for life expereinces.

However...  (You knew that this was coming, didn't you?)

Today, a Bachelor's degree is the rite-of-passage you need to have a career, not just a job.  (No offense is meant to my sisters and brothers who have a high school degree.)  In a lot of ways, the BS/BA degree today is what the high school diploma was 50 years ago.  Even an Associates degree from a community college is an asset.  (A girlfriend of mine will be graduateing from a community college with 4 Associate degrees.  Each one covers a different aspect of her career goals.)

Speaking of which, look for a "2+2" program at your community college.  This would be 2 years at a community college followed by 2 years at a four-year school.  This lets you get the basics taken care of at a reduced price.  It also let you see if college is for you.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Chaunte

Good luck with everything.  A college education can be a plus but it depends on what you want to do when you get out.

Even if you don't go for a college degree, at least get certified in a trade. Otherwise, like Leigh said, these days it's burger flipping. Getting certified in a trade can mean you can work part of the way through, making it less expensive, and you can be out there earning money sooner.

Dennis

Hi Luana.
While I applaud you for wanting to get an education (by whatever means) and I understand that living in the military under your circumstances if very difficult, I am concerned.
This thread has worried me.  I am very concerned that you may seriously consider a "dishonarble" discharge or even "bad conduct" discharge.  This is not a good idea.  There are more ramifications than you may know.  Please research what that means to your future.  This apparently does does NOT just affect your job prospects.  This can affect citizenship, SS benefits, eligibility for many different types of government sponsored programs not just GI benefits (including educational assistance), voting rights, possession of firearms, drivers license (depends on the state), loss of umemployment insurance benefits, denies you the ability to be an "independent student", which means no matter how old you are you have to report your parents financial status to be considered for any financial aid.  It is apparently worse than a felony conviction.  This is not to be taken lightly.

Apparently the only way to get a "dishonarble" discharge (or bad conduct discharge) is to go through a general court martial.  This is the catch.  Because we are at war or state of emergency, the general court martial can be convened at any time, but in the case of death, dismissal, bad conduct discharge, or dishonorable discharge, the UCMJ REQUIRES appellate review at the supreme court level which may be delayed until up to six months after the cessation of hostilities or state of emergency.   During which time you will be required to serve.  Generally with prejudice.  And no matter what you say or do, the court may decide that discharge from military service is not going to happen.  You still may not get out.  They can also include other judicial punishments as well, including imprisonment.  A sentence including a dishonorable discharge almost always includes jail time. 

Please research this out before jumping in.  It may be with your situation that this wouldn't apply but I wouldn't take it lightly at all.   I hope that we are wrong and none of this would apply to you but please make sure first.

check out this site and see if it gives you any help on getting out.
http://girights.objector.org/gettingout/other.html

Best of luck and I hope everything works out well !!
xagira and wajdi
Jess's parents

Hey all, back online at your local cafe!

Thank you all for your concern, you too xagira! But worries are,(mostly) unfounded. I say this because the military doc is planning to give me a administrative sepertation for a personality clash with the military. Meaning I am unfit for military life, which is true. Even with the war, I have seen people get discharged with a general or better because of them being unfit for military life. This dosn't mean I can relax, and I won't, but it makes me a little less worried. However, I plan to hold off as planned till next fall at the earliest, that is only 6 more months.

I am not taking this lightly, but I need to start preparing. If I have to stay I will, but the doc wants to avoid any messes as much as I do, which means leaving. I wish there was an alternitive, but unless the rules change significantly in the next few months...

Anyway, wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers. I don't know when I will be back on but I shall post when I can.

Adios!

Good Luck Luana,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Cassie

Good Luck Luana,

Know that our thoughts and best wshes are with you.

We'll still be here when you get a chance to pop back.

Hugs Shelley