The GI Bill that was passed into law back in 1944 has decreased its educational benefit offerings to military service members over the years. This is especially alarming when one considers that so many of the soldiers fighting for the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan are college students or future college students. However, USA Today is reporting that several states are offering tuition breaks to service members whom the GI Bill does not cover.

Part-time National Guard and Reserves members are known as "citizen soldiers." They receive fewer benefits than full-time service members in the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. When soldiers leave the National Guard or the Reserves, they lose their educational benefits. But full-time soldiers remain eligible for benefits for as long as 10 years after they leave the military. Since states control the National Guard, they are trying to bridge that benefits gap.

The U.S. Defense Department reasoned that full-time troops are sent far away for long periods of time and do more for their country, while National Guard and Reserves soldiers participate for one weekend per month and a few weeks during the summer. Guard and Reserves members also tend to stay closer to home and are deployed only for short periods of time.

Since September 11, 2001, an additional 13 states have given tuition breaks to service members, bringing the total number of states to 19. Five of those states began their tuition break programs in 2007, and several more are on the way. The new benefits packages include 100 percent free tuition, as well as tuition freezes. It is usually required that service-member students enroll in a state school and meet certain academic criteria.

The Department of Defense has taken the position that the GI Bill's educational benefits are fine the way they are, but it cannot be denied that, since September 11, more than 600,000 Guard and Reserves troops have entered active duty. Many of these troops have served for more than one year, and 133,000 have served more than one tour of duty. Some members of the Guard and Reserves are finding that they must re-enlist in order to maintain their benefits.

The Defense Department fears that the states' cutting of tuition costs for soldiers will hurt the recruitment efforts of the armed services. It is also fears that fewer soldiers will remain in the armed forces in order to pursue an education.

As states continue to provide service members in the armed forces with tuition assistance, the Federal Government also has the issue on its plate. Several senators have backed the Veterans Tuition and Support Act of 2007 (VETS), which would amend the Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003.

The VETS Act would reimburse service members for tuition and fees for college courses that were interrupted when they were called to active duty. It will also force schools to allow soldiers to re-enroll after they have finished their service. Service members will have 13 months before their student loans are due, and will have a fixed interest rate of 6 percent.

Service members would greatly benefit from the VETS Act. Some soldiers have faced failing grades because they left for active duty during the school semester. This has occurred even after the soldier students notified their instructors and schools. Some soldiers have even received collection notices from schools and lenders while on active duty.

It will likely take some time for the government to examine and vote on the VETS Act. Meanwhile, at least some states will continue to implement their own tuition breaks to those who fight for the country. To see a pamphlet explaining the GI Bill in more detail, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/DOD_Flyer.pdf.