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The GI Bill -

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several benefits and there are many external VA scholarships available to veterans who are looking for assistance in furthering their education and obtaining a college degree.  Some of these benefits include Tuition Assistance "Top-Up," Entrepreneurship Training, the Veterans Educational Assistance Program, Military Education Scholarship Program, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, the Work-Study Program, and a Tutorial Assistance Program.  Perhaps the most well known education benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs is the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty. Learn more about online degree possibilities from Online Degree World.

The Montgomery GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits for veterans who are eligible for college courses, technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses, apprenticeship/job training and flight training.  Any veteran who has received an Honorable Discharge, and a High School Diploma or GED (or in some cases 12 hours of college credit) may be eligible for the benefits provided by the GI Bill.  In order for veterans to be eligible they must also apply to one of the following categories:

CATEGORY I
* Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
* Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 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 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 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88 (or 6/30/87 if you entered Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years).  On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam Era GI 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 National 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

The amount that eligible veterans receive through the GI Bill depends on a number of things.  The type of training the veteran takes, the length of their service, their category, and whether or not the Department of Defense has put extra money in their GI Bill fund, determines the monthly payment rate for veterans.  Usually, benefits of the GI Bill can be used for up to 10 years at any college or university (traditional or online), although that time can be shorter or longer depending on a number of things. Continue reading about the GI Bill.

 

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