The Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) is celebrating the 77 ^th anniversary of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill® of Rights, signed into law on June 22, 1944 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The G.I. Bill affords active-duty military, veterans, spouses and dependents benefits to be used towards education and training at colleges, vocational schools, on-the-job training programs, apprenticeships, certification testing and more. The GI Bill also includes special programs such as STEM scholarships, Veterans Technology Education Courses (VET TEC), a pilot program offering training for high-tech careers to veterans, and the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP), which offers training to veterans unemployed due to COVID-19.

The State Approving Agency, a division of ODVA, provides approval, oversight and training to educational institutions and employers participating in GI Bill benefits.

“The GI Bill is a valuable resource to veterans and their families,” explained Dr. Brint Montgomery, SAA Administrator. “Through the bill, veterans have access to a plethora of benefits including scholarships, monthly stipend pay, assistance with tuition, books and other fees, as well as tutoring, work-study programs, retraining assistance programs and certifications and licensure.”

For more information on how to apply for benefits offered by the GI Bill, visit https://oklahoma.gov/veterans/education/state-approving-agency.