Veterans Benefits – Montgomery GI Bill
Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB)
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 ten years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. 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. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 1606.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new 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 new 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. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 1607.
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. 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. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 32.
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. 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. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 35.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VocRehab)
You are entitled to vocational rehabilitation services and benefits if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You have a compensable disability as a result of active service during or after World War II;
- You have been or will be discharged, released, or retired from service under other than dishonorable conditions;
- The Veterans Administration determines that you need rehabilitation services because you have an employment handicap, and
- Your period of eligibility has not expired.
Even if you do not meet these criteria above, you may still be eligible under certain circumstances to receive services to assist you to find and adjust to employment. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 31.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for 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. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program 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
- 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 paid proportionately based on enrollment
- a one-time rural benefit payment 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 or still in the military, you will not receive the housing allowance or books and 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.