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Education and Training

The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) provides a program of education benefits to individuals who enter active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, and receive an honorable discharge. Active duty includes certain full-time National Guard duty performed after June 30, 1985. To receive the maximum benefit, the participant must serve on active duty for three continuous years. An individual also may qualify for the full benefit by initially serving two continuous years on active duty, followed by four years of Selected Reserve service, beginning within one year of release from active duty.

To participate in the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), servicemembers have their military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months of active duty. This money is not refundable. The participant generally must have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before the first period of active duty ends. Completing a minimum of 12 credit hours toward a college degree meets this requirement. Credits granted by colleges for life experiences may be used to meet this requirement. Individuals who serve a continuous period of at least three years of active duty, even though they were initially obligated to serve less, will be paid the maximum benefit.

Benefits under this program generally end 10 years from the date of the veteran’s last discharge or release from active duty, but some extenuating circumstances qualify for extensions. A veteran with a discharge upgraded by the military will have 10 years from the date of the upgrade.

Vietnam Era GI Bill Conversions and other MGIB Enrollment

Also eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits are individuals who had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill on Dec. 31, 1989, and served on active duty between Oct. 19, 1984, and July 1, 1985, and continued to serve on active duty to July 1, 1988, or to July 1, 1987, followed by four years in the Selected Reserve. An individual who converts from the Vietnam Era GI Bill must have had a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before Dec. 31, 1989. Completion of 12 credit hours toward a college degree meets this requirement. Certain other individuals who are involuntarily separated from active duty after Feb. 2, 1991, may receive MGIB benefits, but they must agree to have their basic pay reduced by $1,200. Additionally, individuals who voluntarily separated on or after Oct. 23, 1992, under the Voluntary Separation Incentive or the Special Separation Benefit programs may participate in the MGIB program if they agreed to have their basic pay reduced by $1,200.

Discharges and Separations

For the Montgomery GI Bill program, the discharge must be honorable. Discharges designated "under honorable conditions" and "general" do not establish eligibility. An honorable discharge for one of the following reasons may result in a reduction of the required length of active duty: (1) convenience of the government; (2) disability; (3) hardship; (4) a medical condition existing before service; (5) force reductions; (6) physical or mental conditions which prevent satisfactory performance of duty.

Education and Training Available

The following are available under the Montgomery GI Bill: (1) Courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees, and accredited independent study; (2) Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; (3) Apprenticeship or on-job training programs forindividuals not on active duty; (4) Correspondence courses, under certain conditions; (5) Flight training, if the veteran has a private pilot license and meets the medical requirements upon beginning the training program; (6) Tutorial assistance benefits if the individual is enrolled in school halftime or more, and refresher, deficiency and similar training; (7) State-approved teacher certification programs; (8) Preparatory courses necessary for admission to a college or graduate school.

Work-Study

Participants may be paid a work-study allowance if they train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. They may elect to be paid in advance a portion of the allowance equal to 40 percent of the total. Participants under the supervision of a VA employee may provide VA outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform other VA approved activities.

Counseling

Educational and vocational counseling may be available for individuals who are eligible for VA educational assistance; who are on active duty and within 180 days of discharge; or who have been discharged one year or less. VA will help individuals understand their educational and vocational needs, and plan an educational or vocational goal. VA also may help individuals plan a job search.

Payments

Veterans who served on active duty for three years or more, or two years active duty plus four years in the Selected Reserve or National Guard, will receive $536 a month in basic benefits for 36 months. Those who enlist and serve for less than three years will receive $436 a month. VA will pay an additional amount, commonly called a "kicker," if directed by the Defense Department.

Eligibility

The Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve) provides education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and to members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. To be eligible for the program, a reservist must: (1) have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985, or, if an officer, agree to serve six years in addition to the original obligation; (2) complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT); (3) have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT; and (4) remain in good standing in a Selected Reserve unit.

Education and Training Available

Reservists may seek an undergraduate degree, go for graduate training, or take technical courses at colleges and universities. Flight training also is allowed. Those who have a six-year commit-ment beginning after Sept. 30, 1990, may take courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; apprenticeship or on-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; tutorial assistance; remedial, refresher and other training; and state-approved certification programs for training alternate teachers.

Period of Eligibility

If a reservist stays in the Selected Reserve, benefits end 10 years from the date the reservist became eligible for the program. VA may extend the 10-year period if the individual could not train due to a disability caused by Selected Reserve service. If a reservist leaves the Selected Reserve because of a disability, the individual may use the full 10 years. VA may also extend the 10-year period if the reservist was ordered to active duty. In other cases, benefits end the day the reservist leaves the Selected Reserve, except that certain individuals separated from the Selected Reserve due to downsizing of the military between Oct. 1, 1991, and Sept. 30, 1999, will have the full 10 years to use their benefits. If the 10-year period ends while the participant is attending school, however, VA will pay benefits until the end of the term. If the training is not on a term basis, payments may continue for 12 weeks.

Work-Study

Participants may be paid a work-study allowance if they train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. They may elect to be paid in advance a portion of the allowance equal to 40 percent of the total. Participants under the supervision of a VA employee may provide VA outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform other VA approved activities.

Counseling

Educational and vocational counseling may be available for individuals who are eligible for VA educational assistance; who are on active duty and within 180 days of discharge; or who have been discharged one year or less. VA will help these individuals understand their educational and vocational strengths and weaknesses and plan an educational or vocational goal. VA also may help individuals plan a job search.

Payments

The full-time rate is $255 a month for 36 months.

Eligibility

VEAP participants may pursue associate, bachelor or graduate degrees at colleges or universities. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools may also be taken. Other opportunities may include apprenticeship or on-job training programs; cooperative courses; correspondence courses; tutorial assistance; refresher, deficiency and other training; and state-approved alternative teacher certification programs. Flight training also may be pursued, including solo flying hours up to the minimum required by the FAA for the rating or certification being pursued. Before beginning training, the veteran must have a private pilot license and meet the medical requirements for a commercial license throughout the training program. A participant may study abroad in programs leading to a college degree and in programs which offer, as part of the curriculum, nontraditional training away from school. A participant with a deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance benefits if enrolled halftime or more.

A veteran has 10 years from the date of last discharge or release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. This 10-year period can be extended by the amount of time the veteran could not train because of a disability or because of being held by a foreign government or power. The 10-year period may also be extended if the veteran re-enters active duty for 90 continuous days or more after becoming eligible. For periods of less than 90 days, the veteran may qualify for extensions under certain circumstances. The extension ends 10 years from the date of discharge or release from the later active duty period. A veteran with a discharge upgraded by the military will have 10 years from the date of the upgrade.

Participants may be paid a work-study allowance if they train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. They may elect to be paid in advance a portion of the allowance equal to 40 percent of the total. Participants under the supervision of a VA employee may provide VA outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform other VA approved activities.

Educational and vocational counseling may be available for veterans who are eligible for VA educational assistance; who are on active duty and within 180 days of discharge; or who have been discharged one year or less. VA will help individuals understand their educational and vocational needs and help plan an educational or vocational goal. VA also may help in the search for a job.

When the participant elects to use VEAP benefits, the Defense Department will match the participant’s contribution at the rate of $2 for every $1 the individual put into the fund. Defense also may make additional contributions to the fund in exchange for special duties performed by the participant.

Tel: 1-252-728-8440
FAX: 1-252-728-8582

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