one day short of the number needed to be eligible for expanded educational benefits under the GI Bill ...

CNN: 'Day short' troops now 'fighting the Army they served' | David Edwards and Muriel Kane | Published: Tuesday October 9, 2007

The 2600 members of a Minnesota National Guard unit that returned from Iraq in July after serving there longer than any other ground combat unit were shocked to be told that their total time overseas of 729 days was one day short of the number needed to be eligible for expanded educational benefits under the GI Bill. Many of the soldiers wondered if this was done deliberately and they and Minnesota's senators asked the Secretary of the Army to look into it.

1st Lieut. John Hobot, a spokesman for the unit, told CNN on Monday that he believes it was simply a bureaucratic mixup, saying, "There's people that got off the same plane from Iraq ... and their orders read 730 days, whereas 1162 soldiers' orders say 729. These guys did the same exact tour." Hobot just wants the Army to fix the orders so that the soldiers, some of whom are already back in school, can receive the additional $500 to $800 a month.
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CNN then asked Lieut. Col. Darryl Darden at the Pentagon what was taking so long. Darden praised Hobot for looking out for his men and said, "We know there has been an injustice and we have put together a process ... to seek redress for this bureaucratic mixup. ... We believe that by January 8 they should be able to receive their benefits." ....