Education Benefits
The Education Service administers the following benefit programs. We trust you
will find what you are looking for in our program descriptions. If you need additional
assistance, please call our toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1
(1-888-442-4551) to
speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.
The 2008
edition of this booklet lists the variety of federal
benefits available to veterans and their dependents. Selecting
the link above will take you to a PDF version of the
booklet. VA's Office of Public Affairs (OPA) maintains
this booklet. You may also wish to review
other features of the OPA web site by clicking here.
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General
GI Bill Information
General information about Active Duty & Reserve
GI Bill programs including information on eligibility,
how to apply, programs covered by the GI Bill
& payment information.
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General
Information
Pamphlet Adobe PDF
Factsheet MS-Word
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.
See Payment
Rates for current rates of payment.
$600 Buy-up Program
Some servicemembers may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional contribution must be made while on active duty. For more information contact your personnel or payroll office. For a listing of the increased monthly rates click HERE.
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General
Information
Pamphlet Adobe
PDF
Factsheet MS-Word
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,
and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
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.
See Payment Rates for current
rates of payment.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Pamphlet Adobe
PDF
Factsheet MS Word
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new 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 new 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.
$600 Buy-up Program
Some reservists may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. You must be a member of a Ready Reserve component (Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, or Inactive National Guard) to pay into the “buy-up” program. For more information contact your personnel or payroll office. For a listing of the increased monthly rates click HERE.
See Payment Rates for current
rates of payment.
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General Information
Pamphlet Adobe PDF
Factsheet MS-Word
VEAP is available if you first entered active
duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you
elected to make contributions from your military pay
to participate in this education benefit program. Your
contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the
Government. 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.
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Pamphlet Adobe
PDF
Section 901 is an Educational Assistance Test
Program created by the Department of Defense Authorization
Act of 1981 (Public Law 96-342) to encourage enlistment
and reenlistment in the Armed Forces. Benefits are available
to individuals who entered on active duty after September
30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981 (or before October
1, 1982, if entry was under a delayed enlistment contract
signed between September 30, 1980, and October 1, 1981).
NOTE: Although Public Law 96-342
established a beginning date for the test program as
October 1, 1980, the military service departments did
not start offering the test program to new enlistees
until December 1, 1980.
Air Force Eligibility Requirements for Section 901. All
three of the following criteria must have been met
to establish eligibility for this benefit.
- Must
have enlisted between December 1, 1980
and September 30, 1981.
- Enlistment must have
been in one of the following Air Force Specialties:
20723, 20731, 20830, 46130, 46230A, B, C, D, E,
F, G, H, J, or Z, 46430, 81130
- Enlistment
must have taken place at one of the following locations: Beckley,
WV; Buffalo, NY; Dallas, TX; Fargo, ND; Houston,
TX; Jackson, MS; Louisville, KY; Memphis,
TN; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Seattle, WA; Sioux
Falls, SD; Syracuse, NY
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General
Information
Pamphlet Adobe PDF
Factsheet MS-Word
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents
of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related
condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related
condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These
benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and
on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course.
Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Special Restorative Training is available to persons eligible for DEA benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs may prescribe special restorative training where needed to overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental disability for the purpose of enabling an eligible person to pursue a program of education, special vocational program or other appropriate goal. Medical care and treatment or psychiatric treatment are not included. Contact your local VA office for more information.
Special Vocational Training is also available to persons eligible for DEA benefits. This type of program may be approved for an eligible person who is not in need of Special Restorative Training, but who requires such a program because of a mental or physical handicap. Contact your local VA office for more information.
See Payment
Rates for current rates of payment.
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Information
This National Call to Service Incentive program requires a participant
to perform a period of national service to be eligible for benefits.
It is a Department of Defense program that is administered by VA.
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