Education Benefits

 

The VA administers a variety of education benefit programs. Many veterans and active duty personnel can qualify for more than one education benefits program.

 

A. The Post-9/11 GI Bill

 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

 

 

This program assists veterans who have SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES to prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, vocational rehabilitation offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.  Services that may be provided by the vocational rehabilitation program include:

C. The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (NGIB-AD)
   

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 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

 

D. The 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, as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and vocational flight-training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.  Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.  You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.  Your eligibility for the program normally ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

 

E. The 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 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 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.

 

F. The Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if a veteran elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the government. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency and refresher training may also be available.  Benefit entitlement is from one to 36 months, depending on the number of monthly contributions. Veterans have 10 years from their release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, the portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded.

 

NOTE:  Veteran's educational programs continue to change.  Please contact the VA Education Office at 888-442-4551, the VA's Regional Office at 800-827-1000, or visit the VA's website at About GI Bill Benefits (https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/) for more current information.