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Soldiers to Finally Get Benefits

By Justin Foss, Reporter

By Justin Foss

Story Created: Dec 6, 2007 at 7:20 PM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 6, 2007 at 7:21 PM CDT

Cedar Rapids - More than 300 soldiers in the 1-133rd Iowa Army National Guard will finally get their G-I Bill benefits for education.

When the soldiers first came back from their record-breaking deployment to Iraq, many were told they didn't serve enough days to get Chapter 30 status.

The military says a soldier needs to serve 730 days to qualify for the Chapter 30 status. Some of the soldiers said their orders showed they only served 729 days.

Chapter 30 status gives the soldiers an extra $200 a month and extends the time they can receive the benefit.

Rep. Bruce Braley is part of a house committee that is investigating the incident. They want to know if the orders were written short on purpose, or by mistake.

The soldiers started getting notified about the status change this week. Officials at the National Guard office in Iowa say they should have all the Iowa soldiers taken care of by late January.

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