I'm new to the forums and I searched around trying to find a similar situation, but couldn't.

I'm active duty and I'm about to finish my PPL from a Part 61 school. There is a part 141 school a little further and I wanted to use them to obtain my instrument rating and receive reimbursement under the Post-9/11. It was my understanding from everything I've read that they will cover ratings beyond PPL from a part 141 school. The school I will be attending is a vocational flight school and is not degree-awarding. The VA website states it will reimburse up to ~$11,000 per academic year. I thought, "Perfect! This will cover my IFR rating." But, not so fast...

I spoke with the flight school and they stated the VA would only cover an instrument rating if it were attached to a commercial rating training program. As we all know, this just about triples the cost since it's 141 and I'm not bringing over very many hours. This was the first I've ever heard of this requirement. I was bit skeptical, so I called the VA directly. (sidenote: this was the most painful, frustrating phone call I've made in a long time, my friends.) After about 30-40 minutes of her not being able to read English (her primary language), she confirmed what the school said. The only way to receive reimbursement for an Instrument rating from a part 141 vocational flight school is for it to be in conjunction with a commercial rating program.

Does anyone know why it is this way? Is this just another awesome way for the VA to make using their benefits for flight training just that much more difficult?

I do have friends that are getting everything paid for by attending a degree-granting program. I've looked into that as well, but there are no schools like that here in NC. (to my knowledge)