adjustment Act of 1944. The current Montgomery G.I. Bill, enacted in 1984, uses optional tuition benefits to serve as an incentive to military service. It is a voluntary plan that requires a contribution on the part of the soldier in order to earn tuition benefits. Though the program has cost the U.S. Government an estimated $70 billion over the years, it is widely considered one of the best single investments the federal government has ever made. A 1986 Congressional Research Office study indicates that every dollar invested in the G.I. Bill has returned between $5.00 and $12.50 in the form of increased taxes paid as a result of higher incomes. As the U.S. economy grows increasingly reliant on a skilled workforce, having a college education is of paramount importance to developing a successful career. Where once a high school diploma was all that was necessary to ensure a comfortable middle-class life, opportunities for those without a college or trade education are diminishing. For those unable to afford the rapidly rising cost of tuition, the G.I. Bill provides an opportunity to earn money toward a college degree, as well as gaining valuable workplace skills training in the military. ...
