By serving your state and country, you earn great education benefits. In addition to Federal Tuition Assistance to get your education started, you may qualify for additional GI Bill benefits.
Earn up to $345 monthly expense allowance—totaling over $12,000 in a four-year period. And if you qualify for the Army National Guard Kicker, you’ll earn even more. Best of all, this money is sent directly to you (not to your school) to spend on books, supplies—anything you want.
Most of these benefits can be used to pay for a college degree, a trade or apprenticeship program, and many other training or professional licensing programs. And some benefits may be transferable to dependents. Learn more at any of the links below.
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), Chapter 1606
The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve, Chapter 1606, is an education assistance program for individuals serving in the Selected Reserve—including the National Guard and other Reserve forces.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), Chapter 1607
The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), Chapter 1607, provides education assistance to members of the Ready Reserve who were called up to Active Duty on or after September 11, 2001.
Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Chapter 30
The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Chapter 30 program provides education assistance to eligible Service Members who have served a sufficient period of Active Duty on or after July 1, 1985. Find out if your service qualifies.
Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33
For Soldiers with at least 90 days of Active Duty service on or after September 11, 2001, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover up to 100 percent of your tuition, depending on the length of time you’ve served. You may also be eligible for a housing allowance and a stipend for books and supplies, and your benefits may be transferable to your dependents.
You’ll also find information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help pay higher private school, graduate school or out-of-state tuitions.
Army National Guard Kicker
The Army National Guard Kicker, supplement to the Montgomery GI Bill, pays up to $350 per month in living expenses—up to $12,600 over 36 months—on top of your GI Bill benefits, for recruits and Soldiers in critical military jobs and units. You’ll need to apply and qualify for this program.
Dependents and Transferring Benefits
If you’re an active member of the National Guard or Reserve, you may qualify to transfer your Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit entitlement to your dependents. Find out if you qualify, and learn how to apply to make the most of your earned benefits. You can also find specific information for Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA).
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, Chapter 31
As a disabled Veteran, you may find it challenging to find employment or live independently while you recover. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, Chapter 31, offers many services that can help you transition as you recover, including employment assistance, job training, counseling and rehabilitation services.
Each of these Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits has its own requirements and application procedures. You'll find detailed instructions at each of the links listed above.
To determine which GI Bill version will offer you the greatest benefits, based on your military experience, use the Benefit Comparison Chart. Payment rates for VA educational assistance programs vary, depending on the type of education or training you pursue, as well as your enrollment status. You'll find a list of current payment rates at the VA's Rate Tables page.
A Note About VA-Approved Programs:
The first step on the road to using your VA education benefits is identifying an education or training program that is approved by the VA. There are two ways to identify these programs:
For more information about GI Bill benefits—including which GI Bill is best for you—talk to your state Education Services Officer (ESO), call the GI Bill Support Team at 1-866-628-5999, or email them by clicking here.
Current Guard Soldiers can get information on education programs by emailing the Guard Support Center or calling 1-866-628-5999. If you would like to join the Guard and take advantage of these benefits, click Join the Guard below.
Your total enlistment period will be eight years, but you can serve as little as three or six years, and spend the remainder in IRR (Individual Ready Reserve).
Learn moreAbsolutely. Your Guard service is only part time—just one weekend per month, and one two-week period each year.
See how the Guard helps with school.Recruits need to meet certain standards of height, weight, age, fitness and education in order to enlist.
Learn about the Guard's eligibility requirements.Yes. Guard members can be mobilized to protect and defend America in battle domestically or overseas.
Learn more about about training.MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station, METS stands for Military Entrance Testing Site.
Learn moreThe Guard is a military branch that serves both state and federal governments, at home and overseas.
Find out more about the Guard.Guard pay is based on your rank and the number of years you've served, along with incentives like hazardous-duty pay.
Contact a representative to learn more.Your pay depends on a few different factors, but you won't make less than $183 for every weekend you drill.
Find out more about Guard pay.Different states may offer commissioning bonuses for critical skill positions. Please check with your local Guard representative for current bonus information.
Learn more about becoming an officer.Yes, you will be paid for every day you work.
Find out about Annual Training pay.There are different ways to become an officer. If you’re heading to college, the ROTC program is the way to go.
View how to become an officer.The training period varies for each job.
Learn moreFor certain career specialties, particularly medical professions, the Guard will reimburse student loans.
Contact a Guard representative.Find jobs in your area on our Job Board.
Learn moreIn two major ways: getting promotions and activating retirement benefits.
Learn more from a Guard representative.If you've completed Army or Marine Corps Basic Training, you won't need to repeat BCT. Most other prior service personnel will need to attend BCT (except USAF and USN Special Operations personnel). Your recruiter has details.
Talk to a Guard representative.Yes, provided you can complete 20 years of total military service by age 60.
Learn more about retirement benefits.As a National Guard Soldier, you get good pay and great benefits, and continue building toward a military retirement—while serving your country in a part-time status.
Learn moreYou are eligible for this benefit only once in your career. Once it has ended, it cannot be reinstated, even with a new enlistment contract.
Learn more.Your Chapter 1606 GI Bill benefit is suspended while you are AGR. You may need to extend your enlistment to have it reinstated once you return as a traditional drilling Soldier.
Learn more.Eligibility for Chapter 1607 is based on Title 10 Active Duty periods. The Border Mission is Title 32 and not considered a mobilization eligible for Chapter 1607.
Learn more.If you are released from Active Duty prior to completing 90 days due to an illness or injury in the line of duty, you will receive Chapter 1607 benefits at a 40 percent rate.
Learn more.You cannot receive payment from more than one benefit program at a time.
Learn more.Your estimated total for the first year.
*DetailsPlease understand that these calculations are only estimates and that a recruiter will have the most up-to-date information about benefits.
Because of the broad range of pay options, the Pay Calculator does not apply to Medical Professional Officers.
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