UNDERSTANDING THE GI BILL PROGRAM

EARN UP TO FULL COLLEGE TUITION WITH THE GI BILL PROGRAM

The Army offers many education benefits, but the GI Bill program is one of the most powerful benefits available to help pay for a four-year college, trade school, technical school, or trainings. In many cases, Soldiers using the GI Bill program receive full tuition for their military service.

GI Bill benefits can also be used to cover training and certifications including trade schools, licensing and certification courses, on-the-job training, online schooling, and more.

As a Soldier, there are three GI Bill programs available to you: The Post-9/11 GI Bill, The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty, and The Montgomery Bill – Selected Reserve.

THE POST-9/11 GI BILL

The most widely-used GI Bill option, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to full tuition for Soldiers and veterans. Going beyond a traditional scholarship, it offers monthly housing allowances and a stipend for books. Paid directly to the school, the program covers up to full college tuition for public, in-state schools and up to $25,000 per year at private or foreign schools. The tuition money you are eligible to receive increases the longer you serve. For example, most Soldiers or veterans who have served at least three years can attend a majority of state-funded universities 100 percent tuition-free.

For those who joined the Army after 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will not expire, thanks to the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the Forever GI Bill.

POST-9/11 GI BILL REQUIREMENTS

In order to receive any Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you must have served at least 90 days in the Army on active duty after September 10, 2001.

THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

If you are a veteran interested in attending a higher-cost institution, such as a private school or graduate school, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for additional costs not covered by your Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payment. As part of this scholarship, participating schools contribute a portion of the remaining cost and the Department of Veteran Affairs matches that amount. Most schools have a limited number of scholarships available so enrollment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL – ACTIVE DUTY

The Montgomery Bill – Active Duty program uses a combination of your own paycheck contributions and government funding to help pay for education or training benefits for a maximum of 36 months. You can take advantage of these education benefits while you serve or within ten years of completing service. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, these benefits are paid directly to you for every month you are enrolled rather than to the school.

MONTGOMERY GI BILL – ACTIVE DUTY REQUIREMENTS

In order to receive the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty benefits you must opt into the program and begin paycheck contributions within your first three days of service. After contributing $100 a month out of your paycheck for 12 months, and serving on active duty for at least two years, you will be eligible to receive these benefits. The amount of money you can receive depends on your length of service, the type of school or training program, and whether or not you have contributed to the $600 Buy-Up Program.

THE $600 BUY-UP PROGRAM

The $600 Buy-Up Program allows you to contribute money from your own paycheck in order to increase the amount of Montgomery GI Bill benefit payments you receive each month. With a $600 monthly contribution, you can get up to an additional $5,400 each month in benefits.

THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL – SELECTED RESERVE

The Montgomery Bill – Selected Reserve program helps part-time members of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard pay for education and training benefits for a maximum of 36 months, in return for a six-year service commitment. This program pays up to $384 in monthly tuition payments for a maximum of 36 months and a maximum total of $15,483 in tuition. These benefits must be used while you are still serving and can’t be used after your service ends.

MONTGOMERY GI BILL – SELECTED RESERVE REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify for The Montgomery Bill – Selected Reserve benefits, Army Reserve and National Guard enlistees must have a high-school diploma or its equivalent, agree to a six-year service commitment, and complete Initial Entry Training (Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training).

LEARN MORE ABOUT GI BILL BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY

If you need more information about the benefits provided by the GI Bill program, or if you have any specific questions about eligibility and qualifications, talk to an Army representative.

You can also visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website to apply for the GI Bill program and see current benefit rates.