20,000 G.I.'s Studying Watchmaking, Jewelry and Allied Lines

From American Horologist and Jeweler magazine, August 1949

20,000 G.I.'s STUDYING WATCHMAKING, JEWELRY
AND ALLIED LINES

Nearly 20,000 World War II veterans are learning to become jewelers, watchmakers, goldsmiths and silversmiths under the G.I. Bill and Public Law 16.


This total was disclosed in a Veterans Administration study of the principal courses and employment objectives of 2,535,385 veterans enrolled in schools and job training establishments under both laws on December 1, 1948.

Three-fourths of the 19,991 veterantrainees in jewelry and watchmaking-or 14,784-are enrolled in trade and vocational schools. The remaining 5,207 are training on-the-job.


Of the veterans in classrooms, 12,038 were enrolled under the G.!. Bill and 2,746 were studying under Public Law 16, an act providing for the rehabilitation of veterans with service-connected disabilities.


The job trainees included 3,219 enrolled under the G.!. Bill and 1,988 training under Public Law 16.


Eligibility for G.!. Bill training consists of (1) active military service some time between September 16, 1940, and July 25, 1947; (2) service of at least 90 days, or a discharge for service-connected disability if released before 90 days, and (3) a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.


For Public Law 16, requirements are (1) military service between the 1940 and 1947 dates; (2) a discharge other than dishonorable; (3) a compensable service-connected disability, and (4) V-A's determination that training is necessary to overcome a handicap.


While in training, veterans may receive a subsistence allowance from V-A.