Can I Use This Veterans' Benefit Program for My Education?
Your access to educational benefits depends on when you served in the military and what options you chose when you entered active duty. You must be a high school graduate (or have a GED) to qualify for enrollment. However, 12 hours of college credit can be used to satisfy this requirement. An honorable discharge is usually required for you to use any of these benefits after you leave the military.
When Can I Use Them?
Some programs such as Tuition Assistance can be accessed before you leave the military. Under the MGIB, your benefits need to be used within 10 years from the date of your last discharge from the service. With the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, you have 15 years from the date of your last active duty period (that lasted at least 90 days). There are exceptions depending on individual circumstances. These are rare, so you should make every effort to complete your education in a timely manner.
Eligibility under the Montgomery GI Bill
- If you began active service after June 30, 1985 and paid the $1,200 fee during your first 12 months of duty, you qualify for benefits. All high school graduates were automatically enrolled in this program using DoD Form 2366. You were also given the opportunity to opt out or "disenroll". If you opted out, this decision was final.
- If you enrolled in the MGIB and have served at least 36 months on active duty, you will have access to 100% of the benefits offered under the program. You may be eligible for 24 months of tuition reimbursement instead of 36 months if your enlisted contract was for a shorter period of time.
- If you enrolled and have served at least 90 days but less than 36 months, you will be entitled to a smaller percentage of your MGIB benefits. The exact percentage depends on the amount of time you served on active duty.
- If you are in the Selected Reserves and are entering active duty for two years or more, you may be eligible for these MGIB-AD benefits (if you don't opt out). You may also have the option of choosing between the SR and AD versions of the MGIB in this case.
- If you involuntarily separated from the military, you may still qualify for either full or partial benefits, depending upon the specific circumstances. This may include an HDSP (hardship), CIWD (Condition Interfered with Duty), or EPTS (Existed Prior to Service) type discharge. You must have elected the MGIB and paid your $1,200.
Eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Eligibility under the new GI Bill is similar to the MGIB except that:
- Applicants must have served in the military (active duty) after September 10, 2001.
- The classes that qualify for tuition reimbursement are only those taken after August 1, 2009.
- Those who qualified under the older VEAP program (prior to 1985) are now eligible under the Post-9/11 GI Bill as long as the service date requirements are met.
Transferability of Benefits (MGIB and Post-9/11)
If you qualify under both programs, you will be given the option of remaining under MGIB or transferring the remainder of your benefits to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
You can transfer your benefits to a dependent under some circumstances. For example, in certain critical military occupational specialties (MOS) in the Army, you can do this if you reenlist for another four years. In such circumstances, only a portion of the total MGIB benefit can be transferred.
Transferability to dependents under Post-9/11 requires you to have served at least six years on active duty. You must also be under contract for an additional four years. This can be a good option for service members who want to make a career out of the military.