Looking for some clarification on Hazlewood Act eligibility. I meet all of the criteria in terms of my military service. However, I'm hung up on the "entry into Active Duty" portion for being eligible. This is the criteria:

• designated Texas as Home of Record;
• or entered the service in Texas;
• or was a Texas resident;

I went to A&M as an out of state student, so I know I do not qualify for the 1st and 3rd bullets. However, I was in AFROTC (and later commissioned). My "place of enlistment" on my DD Form 1 is listed as College Station, TX.

Would that not qualify me for Hazelwood, or is the "entered the service in Texas" more nuanced than I am understanding?

I emailed the Hazelwood POC on their site (https://tvc.texas.gov/education/hazlewood/) and the response seemed to ignore the crux of my question. This was the response:

Since you were not a Texas resident at the time of entry and Texas was not your Home of Record, you would not meet the eligibility requirements for the Hazlewood Exemption.

Anyone have experience with this?

Not sure why you're hung up. Your DD1 documents Texas as your service entry location and your A&M transcript may also establish Texas residency at the time of your service entry.

About a hundred years ago (actually 1966) I arrived as an out of state fish. Parents lived in Virginia. After that year I spent 3+ years in the Army, the last year in Mineral Wells. I got married the last year. My parents moved to Houston. I got back into A&M and they told me I was an out of state student with no official residence. I kept disputing but was getting nowhere until he noticed I had a wedding ring. Turns out being married to a Texas Resident gave me residency.

I hear what you're saying, and I agree...I just find it odd that their official rep emailed me with basically: 'you're ineligible.'

was hoping for some firsthand experience.

Call the University.

They have a team of folks that navigate this daily.

I used my benefits for a master's degree in environmental science and another Masters Degree in military history. I still have a lot of credit hours and wanted to take just some odd classes at St Philip's College in San antonio. I wanted to take first aid, welding, diesel mechanics, and other like classes. But they wouldn't let me because the rules have changed. You have to do a degree in the allotted time or they won't let you use Hazelwood

Yes. I think you have to be "degree seeking."

I remember a few years ago when the leg was debating extending Hazlewood to spouses and children. There was a big push back from the schools because the state doesn't reimburse them. The Hazlewood recipient goes on the school's dime, not the state's.

GI Bill is different. The VA actually pays the school (and the student).

Not saying I agree with he policy, but I do get the schools' position. They lose money in Hazelwood students.

Wait I thought the Hazelwood act was transferable to dependents, am I missing something?

it is transferable.

and thanks for all the help all.

it sounds like my kiddos will be able to use it. as i suspected, my dd-214 does say "place of entry: college station, tx."

two things stood out to me, though. 1) being told for the past ~15 years that i couldn't get Hazlewood because Texas wasn't my HOR, and 2) being emailed the exact same thing 5 days ago by their office.

no biggie, though. just goes to show you that you need to find a way to yes...went through something very similar with my post 9/11 GI Bill.

Hincemm said:

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it is transferable.

and thanks for all the help all.

it sounds like my kiddos will be able to use it. as i suspected, my dd-214 does say "place of entry: college station, tx."

two things stood out to me, though. 1) being told for the past ~15 years that i couldn't get Hazlewood because Texas wasn't my HOR, and 2) being emailed the exact same thing 5 days ago by their office.

no biggie, though. just goes to show you that you need to find a way to yes...went through something very similar with my post 9/11 GI Bill.

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It's a fantastic benefit. My daughter is at A&M and I end up only having to pay for sports passes, parking, meals and a couple of other things.

have to pay for housing too right?

my parents live in bryan, and i've threatened my son that he'll have to move in

Hincemm said:

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have to pay for housing too right?

my parents live in bryan, and i've threatened my son that he'll have to move in

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Yes. Left that one off. Can you imagine the college experience while living with your grandparents