October 6, 2010
The GI Bill is a fantastic military benefit that helps all military personnel attend college and go on to have exciting, successful careers. Depending on how long you enlist with the Army and the job you choose, you can get up to $81,756 to help pay for college. All you have to do is give $100 a month during the first year of service.
As of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is effective for training. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits.
REAP (Chapter 1607 of title 10, U.S. Code) is a new education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.
Military Spouses may also take advantage of the G.I. Bill benefits. A spouse may use GI Bill benefits immediately, but must use the benefits within 15 years of the member leaving military service. Children may begin using benefits after their parent has served 10 years, and after they have finished high school. They may use benefits until the age of 26. Children may receive housing allowance and a book stipend, though those benefits are not available to spouses. To learn more about Military Spouse Education Benefits, Click here.
TA benefits for active-duty military
For an active duty member, Tuition Assistance (TA) is one of the great benefits awarded to the military. Its availability usually starts within the first few years of a member’s service, often soon after basic training and possibly after initial career training.
TA currently provides $4,500 each fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). If you don’t use up your TA in that fiscal year, that block of money is gone forever! It does not roll over or accumulate. If you leave the service before completing your educational goal, that money is left behind.
Another Post G.I Bill Transfer Program is the TEB Program. It is open to those who provided at least six years of service on or after Aug. 1, 2009 and agree to put in another four years; those who have served 10 years by Aug. 1, 2009 and cannot, by law or regulation, commit to four more years but can provide additional service; and those eligible, but not approved, for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009 and by July 31, 2012 who provide one to three additional years of service, Department of Defense information shows. Applying for the TEB is easy and simple requires that you visit the DoD Transferability Application website to determine if your dependents are eligible. For additional information on the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB), Click here.
Education benefits for veterans
Veteran Administration (VA) education benefits are significant, complex in nature, and can be used while on active duty, as a National Guard or Reserve member, and when you leave or retire from the military. Here are several of the VA educational benefit programs: Here are several of the VA educational benefit programs:
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
- Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
- Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
- Educational Assistance Test Program (Section 901)
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
- National Call to Service Program