VA Education and Training

Post 9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by a public educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing.

This Post 9-11 GI Bill will pay eligible individuals:

• Tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning.
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• For more expensive tuition, a program exists which may help to reimburse the difference. This program is called the "Yellow Ribbon Program".

• A monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school.

• An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 is paid proportionately based on enrollment; a one-time rural benefit payment is available for eligible individuals.

This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill to dependents.

Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) Chapter 30

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is available for those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. 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 and have received an honorable discharge.

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

Current Payment Rates

$600 Buy-up Program

Some service members may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional contribution must be made while on active duty. For more information contact your personnel or payroll office. Increased monthly rates listing.

Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP) Chapter 1607

REAP  is a Department of Defense 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. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

$600 Buy-up Program

Some reservists may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. You must be a member of a Ready Reserve component (Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, or Inactive National Guard) to pay into the "buy-up" program.

Increased monthly rates listing

Current Payment Rates

Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve – Chapter 1606

The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve is an education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It is the first program that doesn’t require a person to serve on active duty in the regular Armed Forces to qualify.

To be eligible, a reservist must:

• After June 30, 1985, you signed a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, AND

• You completed your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), AND

• You got your High School Diploma or GED before you completed your IADT, AND

• You are in good standing in a drilling Selected Reserve unit

For more information call Toll-Free 1-888-442-4551 or contact your local Veterans Service Office.

Vocational Rehabilitation – Chapter 31

This program allows veterans to go to school or complete training and receive a monthly subsistence allowance in addition to their disability or retirement pay. In addition, VA pays the costs of tuition and required fees, books, supplies and equipment. This benefit is tax free.

Veterans are eligible for vocational rehabilitation if they meet the following conditions:

• Have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable

• Have a service-connected disability rating of at least  10%, or a memorandum rating of  20% or more from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)

• Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess services

Dependents and Survivors Education Benefits – Chapter 35

Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training.

Educational assistance benefits are available to spouses and children of:

• Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a disability arising from active service in the Armed Forces.

• Veterans who died from any cause while rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability.

• Servicepersons currently missing in action or captured in line-of-duty by a hostile force.

• Servicepersons presently detained or interned in line-of-duty by a foreign government or power.

Benefits to a spouse end 10 years from the date VA first finds the individual eligible. Children generally must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive education benefits.

Current Payment Rates

Academic Credit For Military Experience

Service members, reservists, and veterans pursuing a college education may be able to obtain academic credit for military courses they have completed through the military. Prior to enrollment individuals should discuss possible credit with the Veterans’ Coordinator at the college or university they plan to attend; credit received may reduce attendance time and cost. They may obtain information regarding transcripts and potential credit for military experience from the links below.

American Council on Education (ACE)

Department of Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

Transcript Services

Each branch of service provides transcripts for current and former service members that include individual military education, training, and experience, which are evaluated according to ACE standards for recommended college credit:

• U.S. Army: Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS)

• U.S. Navy: Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART)

• U.S. Air Force: Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

• U.S. Marine Corps: Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART)

• U.S. Coast Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Institute (CGI)

• GED: Obtain your GED transcript based on the original testing center.