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- Monthly housing allowances are paid based on the ZIP code of the school you are attending. The current average monthly stipend is $1,566 but can range up to $2,700 depending on the location of the school you attend.
- A book stipend of up to $1,000 a year is also available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It is paid at the beginning of each term and is pro-rated at $41 per credit hour.
- Service members who have served at least six years of active duty and agree to serve another four years can transfer their benefits to their spouses. At 10 years of service, the individual may transfer benefits to a dependent child. Family members must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) to be eligible to receive benefits. After the benefit has been assigned to a child, the service member still retains the right to change or revoke the transferred benefit at any time.
- The following types of educational training are approved under the Post=9/11 GI Bill:
- Correspondence training
- Cooperative training
- Entrepreneurship training
- Flight training
- Independent and distance learning
- Institutions of high learning undergraduate and graduate degrees
- Licensing and certification reimbursement
- Vocational/technical training, non-college degree programs
- National testing reimbursement
- On-the-job training
- Tuition assistance top-up
- Tutorial assistance
- Vocational/technical training
Montgomery GI Bill
There are two programs under the Montgomery GI Bill that can be used by service members. They are the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve Program.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program
- The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program (MGIB-AD) is also known as Chapter 30. Service members on active duty who elect to enroll and pay $100 per month for the first 12 months they are active duty are eligible to receive education and training benefits up to $61,000 in cash and support programs.
- The MGIB-AD value is based on a currently monthly maximum rate of $1,717 covering a 36-month period. This amount is adjusted annually for inflation and you get the current rate no matter when you signed up for it.
- Some service members can participate in the $600 Buy-Up Program which allows them to contribute an additional $600 in exchange for increased monthly benefits. If you contribute the additional $600, you can receive an additional $5,400 in benefits.
- 36 months of benefits are broken into four academic years of 8 months each, which equates to a typical four-year degree program.
- You generally have 10 years from your date of discharge to use the benefits under the MGIB-AD, but some exemptions are allowed under extenuating circumstances.
- You can augment benefits from the MGIB by also signing up for the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps College Funds.
- The $100 per month deduction is not taxable and cannot be refunded. You can disenroll from the program at any time, but that decision is permanent and irrevocable.
- To qualify for the MGIB Active Duty Program, you must
- Have completed high school or gotten an equivalency certificate. If you complete 12 hours of college courses, this also meets the pre-existing educational requirement.
- You must have completed at least two years of active duty.
- You must meet requirements in one of these categories:
NOTE: This is a very tight description of the categories and I thought it best to leave it exactly as is, pulled from the Department of Veterans Affairs website. Although not a chart, it is the equivalent of one.
CATEGORY I
Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
Continuously served for three years or two years, if that is what you first enlisted for or if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served four years (the 2 by 4 program)
CATEGORY II
Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
Served at least one day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or through 6/30/87 if you entered the Selected Reserve within one year of leaving active duty and served four years)
On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-era GI Bill
CATEGORY III
Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91
OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93
OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1,200
CATEGORY IV
On active duty on 10/9/96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97
OR you entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89, AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96 – 7/08/97
- Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution
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Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve Program
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve Program (MGIB-SR), also known as Chapter 1606, provides education and training benefits to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and the Coast Guard Reserves.
Participating members in the MGIB-SR can access more than $11,000 in benefits.
- The MGIB-SR value is based on a currently monthly maximum rate covering a 36-month period. This amount is adjusted annually on October 1 for inflation and you get the current rate no matter when you signed up for it.
- You can augment benefits from the MGIB-SR by also signing up for the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps College Funds.
- To qualify for the MGIB Selected Reserve Program, you must:
- Complete your initial active duty for training
- Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent
- Commit to a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve or Guard signed after June 30, 1985.
- Officers must have agreed to serve six years in addition to their original obligation.
- Remain in good standing during their service in an active Selected Reserve unit.
- If you are called back to active duty, your eligibility may be extended.
- Your eligibility ends when you leave the Selected Reserve.
- You can get benefits for a wide range of training:
- Undergraduate or graduate degree programs at colleges or universities.
- Independent study programs and courses from accredited institutions
- Vocational, technical or business certificates or diplomas
- On-the-job or apprentice programs offered by a union or an employer
- Flight training
- Correspondence courses
- Remedial or refresher courses that are necessary to help you pursue an approved course of study.
- Training to help you run a small business
- Benefits for a test leading to a license or certification
What is the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)?
- The Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) is also known as Chapter 1607 and provides educational assistance to members of the Armed Forces Reserve who are ordered to active duty due to war or other national emergency.
- Reserve members must serve 90 consecutive days to be eligible for REAP benefits. Service members who were injured or contracted and illness or disease while serving thus causing them to be released before the 90-day period are still eligible for benefits.
- REAP benefits cannot be used in conjunction with other benefits. However if you are eligible for any Armed Forces College Fund benefits, those can be added to any REAP benefits you receive.
- REAP benefits are determined by the number of days a service member was activated.