GI Bill Benefits

02 Feb GI Bill Benefits

The GI Bill is arguably the greatest benefit of serving in the Armed Forces. The GI Bill includes several VA administered education programs including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, The Montgomery GI Bill, MGIB-SR, REAP, VEAP, and vocational rehabilitation. These programs provide a benefit that can enhance your life, career, and future income potential. This section of the Military Education Center is designed to help you determine which program(s) you may qualify for and which best fits your needs.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers benefits for service members and veterans attending education and training programs taken at accredited colleges or universities (or accredited non-college degree granting institutions after October 1, 2011). Post-9/11 benefit payments are tiered based on the amount creditable active-duty service you have since Sept. 10, 2001. These new education benefits include up to 100% tuition and fee coverage, monthly living stipend, up to $1000 a year for books and supplies, one time relocation allowance, and the option to transfer benefits to family members.

Montgomery GI Bill benefits are available for service members and veterans to help with education and training costs by providing over $51,000 in cash and numerous support programs. MGIB can be used to pay for many different programs including college, business technical or vocational courses, distance learning (correspondence courses), apprenticeship/Job training, flight training and licensing and certification exams.

The Montgomery GI Bill SR (Chapter 1606), is available to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as the National Guard. The MGIB SR Chapter 1606 benefit is worth over $11,000. This amount is based on the current monthly full-time student payment rate of $337 multiplied by the 36-month limit. This “payment rate” automatically increases on October 1 each year. You get the increase no matter when you became eligible or start using it.

REAP (Chapter 1607) is a Department of Defense/VA education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation)* as declared by the President or Congress. REAP benefits are potentially payable from December 9, 2001 (90 days after September 11, 2001) for persons who were serving on a contingency operation on September 11, 2001 and who were in school on December 9, 2001. The Department of Defense may provide further guidance as to the retroactive nature of this program.

VEAP is an educational assistance program that is available if you elect to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. VEAP is available if you elect to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The government matches your contributions on a $2 for $1 basis. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess program (also known as Voc-Rehab or Chapter 31) offers disabled vets counseling, training, education and other services needed to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. If you are a veteran who has a VA disability rating and an employment handicap, you may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation & employment services under Chapter 31 of the GI Bill. These services include – but are not limited to – counseling, training, education and job placement assistance.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is available for those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. MGIB encompasses both the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) and The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606). Under Chapter 30, Active Duty members enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months; and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation. Under Chapter 1606, a reservist must be actively drilling and have a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve to be eligible.