[trackone]

My experience is a bit old (2008 ish) so things might have changes.

I had the GI Bill. I submitted paper work each month that showed I was taking a certain number of credits towards my degree to the VA dept at the school. Money was deposited into my bank account a couple weeks later. I could use that money for anything I wanted. Sounds like this is what your friends had/have.

There are other programs such as paying off student loans when you join up, but I am not familiar with them.