As a veteran who served our nation for 22 years in the US Army, I faced the challenge of deploying more than a dozen times during my service. After waiting until retirement to start a family, I was shocked to discover a hurdle while trying to give my child the educational benefits I had earned. The existing DOD policy requires me, and service persons like me, to go back into service for another four years in order to transfer our educational benefits, entitled under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, to our children.

This requirement, while initially intended to incentivize continued service, has inadvertently made it more strenuous for veterans to offer their children the education benefits they've risked their lives for. Undoubtedly, this provision creates a barrier for many service members who have committed decades of their lives to serving this nation, thereby making this crucial benefit inaccessible.

In light of this, we urge the Secretary of Defense to re-assess and revise this condition as it affects not only the service members who dedicated their lives for the protection of our country, but also their families who wish to utilize the benefits rightfully earned by their loved ones. We believe the current service obligation for transferring benefits should be waived for service members who retire honorably. Please support this cause by signing this petition and make the change possible.