DVA CH 30 GENERAL INFO

§ Category I:

§ Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985

§ Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months

§ Continuously served for 3 years, OR 2 years if that is what you
first enlisted for, OR 2 years if you entered the Selected Reserve
within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years (“2 by 4” Program)

§ Category II:

§ Entered active duty before January 1, 1977

§ Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85m and stayed active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years)

§ On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-Era G.I. Bill

§ Category III:

§ Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II

§ On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after  2/2/91,

§ OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93,

§ OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program

§ Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1200

§ Category IV:

§ On active duty on 10*9*96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97

§ OR entered full-time Nation Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89 AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96, through 7/8/97

§ Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a  $1200 lump-sum contribution

Chapter 35: Dependents and Spouses Education Assistance (DEA)

DVA CH 35 GENERAL INFO

§ You must a son or daughter, or spouse of:

§ A veteran who is deceased or permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability.  The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.

§ A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.

§ A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.

§ A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.

§ A servicememeber who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.  This change is effective December 23, 2006.

§ Additional eligibility requirements:

§ Dependent must be between the ages of 18 and 26 (with some exception)

§ Dependents must not be on active duty in the Armed Forces

§ If dependent is a veteran, must not have been discharged under dishonorable conditions

§ IF you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA determines your eligibility or from the date of death of the veteran.

§ For surviving spouses (spouses of servicemembers who dies on active duty), benefits end 20 years from the date of death.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery G.I. Bill – Selected Reserve

DVA CH 1606 GENERAL INFO

§ To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

§ Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to service six years in addition to your original obligation.  For some types of training, it Is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990;

§ Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT);

§ Meet the requirements to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT.  You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement.

§ Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.

If your Reserve or Nation Guard unit is deactivated during the period October 1, 1991, through September 30, 1995, or you are involuntarily separated (e.g., reduction in force) from Reserve or National Guard service during this same period, you will retain eligibility for MGIB – SR benefits for the full 14 year eligibility period.  You will also retain MGIB – SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct.  Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty. 

§ The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve 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 Nation Guard and the Air Nation 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 distributes the payments for this program. 

You may be entitles to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.

If your eligibility to this program began on or after October 1, 1991, your period of eligibility ends 14 years from your beginning date or eligibility, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

If your eligibility to this program began prior to October 1, 1992, your period of eligibility ends 10 years from your beginning date of eligibility, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. 

You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.  Your benefit entitlement ends 14 years from the date of your eligibility for the program, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

One exception to this rule exists if you are mobilized (or recalled to active duty from your reserve status), in this case your eligibility may be extended for the amount of time you are mobilized PLUS four months.  For example, if you are mobilized for 12 months your eligibility period is extended for 16 months (12 months active duty PLUS 4 months.)  So even if you leave the reserves after mobilization, you may have additional eligibility to the MGIB-SR.

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

DVA CH 1607 FAQs