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Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits - Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)

The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty MGIB-AD) is one of the four major education and training programs available to veterans. MGIB-AD is also known as Chapter 30 benefits.

Eligibility

The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) provides a program of education benefits to active duty service members and to fully honorably discharged veterans who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985. Discharges "under honorable conditions" and "general" discharges do not establish eligibility. Active duty includes certain full-time Reserve and National Guard duty performed after June 30, 1985. To receive the maximum benefit, a participant must serve on active duty for three continuous years. An individual also may qualify for the full benefit by initially serving 24 continuous months 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), service members 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 beginning training. 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.

Previously, veterans had to meet the high school requirement before they completed their initial active duty obligation. Those who did not may now meet the requirement and reapply for benefits. If eligible, they must use their benefits either within 10 years from the date of last discharge from active duty or by Nov. 2, 2010, whichever is later.

Additionally, every veteran must establish eligibility under one of the following four categories.

Category 1 - Service after June 30, 1985

For veterans who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, did not decline MGIB in writing, and had their military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months.

Service members can apply after completing two continuous years of service. Veterans must have completed three continuous years of active duty, or two continuous years of active duty if they first signed up for less than three years or have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve (the 2x4 program) and enter the Selected Reserve within one year of discharge.

Service members or veterans who received a commission as a result of graduation from a service academy or completion of an ROTC scholarship are not eligible under Category 1 unless they received their commission:

1. After becoming eligible for MGIB benefits (including completing the minimum service requirements for the initial period of active duty).

2. Or after Sept. 30, 1996, and received less than $3,400 during any one year under ROTC scholarship.

Service members or veterans who declined MGIB because they received repayment from the military for education loans are also ineligible under Category 1. If they did not decline MGIB and received loan repayments, the months served to repay the loans will be deducted from their entitlement.

Early Separation: Veterans who did not complete the required period of service may be eligible under Category 1 if discharged for one of the following:

1. Convenience of the government--with 30 continuous months of service for an obligation of three or more years, or 20 continuous months of service for an obligation of less than three years.

2. Service-connected disability.

3. Hardship.

4. A medical condition diagnosed prior to joining the service.

5. A condition that interfered with performance of duty and didn’t result from misconduct.

6. A reduction in force (in most cases).

Category 2 - Vietnam Era GI Bill Conversion

For veterans who had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill on Dec. 31, 1989, and served on active duty for any number of days during the period Oct. 19, 1984, to June 30, 1985, for at least three continuous years beginning on July 1, 1985; or at least two continuous years active duty beginning on July 1, 1985, followed by four years in the Selected Reserve beginning within one year of release from active duty.

Veterans not on active duty on Oct. 19, 1984, may be eligible under Category 2 if they served three continuous years on active duty beginning on or after July 1, 1985, or two continuous years of active duty at any time followed by four continuous years in the Selected Reserve beginning within one year of release from active duty.

Veterans are barred from eligibility under Category 2 if they received a commission after Dec. 31, 1976, as a result of graduation from a service academy or completion of an ROTC scholarship.

However, such a commission is not a bar if they received the commission after becoming eligible for MGIB benefits, or received the commission after Sept. 30, 1996, and received less that $3,400 during any one year under ROTC scholarship.

Category 3 - Involuntary Separation/Special Separation

For veterans who meet one of the following requirements:

1. Elected MGIB before being involuntarily separated.

2. Or were voluntarily separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive or the Special Separation Benefit program, elected MGIB benefits before being separated, and had military pay reduced by $1,200 before discharge.

Category 4 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program

For veterans who participated in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) and:

1. Served on active duty on Oct. 9, 1996.

2. Participated in VEAP and contributed money to an account.

3. Elected MGIB by Oct. 9, 1997, and paid $1,200.

Veterans who participated in VEAP on or before Oct. 9, 1996, may also be eligible even if they did not deposit money in a VEAP account if they served on active duty from Oct. 9, 1996, through April 1, 2000, elected MGIB by Oct. 31, 2001, and contributed $2,700 to MGIB.

Certain National Guard service members may also qualify under Category 4 if they:

1. Served for the first time on full-time active duty in the National Guard between June 30, 1985, and Nov. 29, 1989, and had no previous active duty service.

2. Elected MGIB during the nine-month window ending on July 9, 1997.

3. And paid $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-the-job training programs for individuals 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; (9) licensing and certification tests approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (10) "Top-Up" benefits to cover costs approved for Tuition Assistance from the military that Tuition Assistance alone does not cover.

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. They may also help at national or state veterans' cemeteries in addition to assisting in outreach services furnished by State Approving Agencies, which are state organizations that review, evaluate and approve education and training programs for GI Bill participation.

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.

Payments

Effective October 1, 2009 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 $1,368 a month in basic benefits for 36 months (full-time institutional training). Those who enlist and serve for less than three years will receive $1,111 a month. VA will pay an additional amount, commonly called a "kicker," if directed by the Department of Defense. Rates are lower for Apprenticeship and On-Job training, or for less than full-time training programs.

NOTE: Additional information for school officials, veterans and dependents can be found on VA's Education Services Web page at http://www.gibill.va.gov/, or by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Source

Some information for this topic was drawn from the VA website at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm

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