Military Education/Training
Service members leaving the military sometimes find a gap between the civilian careers they
want and the specific education or training they need to achieve it. The following section
will help you identify the resources to assist you in getting the training and education needed to
help close that gap.
Your Education Benefits: New Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, VEAP, and More
Several programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide financial
assistance to veterans for education programs. This includes enrollment in degree programs,
technical and vocational programs, correspondence courses, flight training courses, and on-the-job
training and apprenticeship programs. To be eligible programs must be approved, usually by a
State-approving agency, for VA purposes, before VA education program benefits are paid.
Three of these programs are the Post-Vietnam-era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program
(VEAP) and the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. These programs are
intended to help you develop skills that will enhance your opportunities for employment. As a
rule, the benefits under these programs must be used within 10 to 15 years of separation from
active duty.The following is a quick summary of each program.
- Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is an educational assistance program that
is available if you elect to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this
education benefit program. The following is a summary of the VEAP.
- The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is an education benefit earned by Active Duty, Selected Reserve
and National Guard servicemembers. The benefit is designed to help servicemembers and eligible
veterans cover the costs associated with getting an education or training. The GI Bill has several
programs and each is administrated differently — depending on a person’s eligibility and duty
status.
- The new Post 9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit that went into effect on Aug. 1, 2009. It
provides tuition, living expenses and a book stipend for qualified service members have served on
active duty 90 consecutive days or more since Sept. 11, 2001. Learn more by downloading the
Department of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 GI Bill Pamphlet (PDF) at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH33/CH33_Pamphlet.pdf
or visit
http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.html
Fill Out VA Form 22-1990, “Application for VA Education Benefits” - Many service
members may qualify for the New Post 9/11 GI Bill. Completing this form and mailing it to the
VA is the one way to verify your benefit eligibility. Download VA Form 22-1990, “Application for VA
Education Benefits” from
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22_1990.pdf
. Service members and Veterans may also to complete their VA benefits application on line. The VA
On line Application (VONAPP) program at
http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application/
will allow Service members and veterans to complete and submit their application. By
completing the form now you will save time later when you are ready to start using your GI
Bill.
Date Last Reviewed: September 28, 2011
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