Education Programs

Question 1

Montgomery GI Bill, Select Reserve, Ch. 1606

Answer 1

1. Reserve Component enlistment of 6 years required
2. AIT Qualified requirement
3. Satisfactory Attendance at Drill requirement
4. Provides 36 mos. of benefits, paid directly
5. VA program (not controlled by the unit)
6. BENEFITS END UPON SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES
7. Can be combined with FTA

Question 2

Post 9/11 GI Bill, Ch. 33

Answer 2

GENERALLY ALL THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT WILL QUALIFY FOR THIS
1. At least 90 days qualifying federal active duty (ADOS/ADSW will not qualify until afte 24 mos active duty)
OR at least 30 days qualifying federal active duty AND discharge w/a service-connected disability (automatic 100% benefit)
OR received a Purple Heart (automatic 100% benefit)
EXCEPTIONS:
*Title 32-502F
*Washington DC, SW border, or COVID deployments count towards active duty
*State Active Duty (SAD) orders DO NOT count towards active duty
2. Provides 36 months of benefits, up to 100% of tuition (max. $28,120) AND $1,000/yr for books ($42.50/sem hr pd to student)
3. Children get a monthly BAH stipend equal to that of an E5 + dependents for the zip code of domicile while attending classes
4. If the last day that qualified the SVC MBR was after 01/01/2013, benefits are for life. If before 01/01/2013, benefits are only good for 15 years after discharge from Active Duty.
5. If pursuing a STEM degree, can get a 9-mo extension
6. ONLY BENEFIT THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO DEPENDENTS (covered on separate slide)

Question 3

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)

Answer 3

1. Currently serving
2. No flags (e.g. weight, UCMJ)
3. Programs managed by each branch of service - only Army offers to Reserve components (but keep verifying)
4. Provides up to $4,500/fiscal year (Oct-Sep) BUT not more than $250/semester hr BUT not more than 18 semester hrs/yr
5. Paid directly to the school
6. Can combine with ANY GI Bill

Question 4

Veterans Readiness & Employment, Ch. 31 (Long-term employment training/education)

Answer 4

1. At least 20% VA disability rating
2. In need of additional training/education for sustainable employment
3. New field of employment does NOT aggravate disability
4. Provides 100% of tuition/books AND a stipend AND a laptop, administrative supplies (pen/paper/ink, etc.) AND mandatory equipment
5. Set up on va.gov

Question 5

Survivor & Dependent Education Assistance Program, Ch. 35

Answer 5

1. Dependent(s) of a SVC MBR or veteran who has
   100% permanent and total VA disability level OR
   died on active duty OR
   a reservist who died as a result of a VA disability
2. Provides 36 mos of benefits PER DEPENDENT
3. Stipend of $1532/mo for a full-time student
4. Payments prorated by percentage of time enrolled in school
5. If rating was awarded after 08/01/2023, benefits are good for life; otherwise, spouse has 10 years to use benefits if SVC MBR is living (20 years if SVC MBR is deceased
6. If a dependent child turns 18 after 09/01/2023, benefits are good for life, otherwise benefits are good until age 23
7. Dependent children MUST have either a HS diploma or a GED

Question 6

COOL Program

Answer 6

1. Provides for credentials / certification / licensing educational programs
2. Qualifications/enrollment are branch-specific
3. For non-college/university programs
4. Same qualifications as FTA - must be in good standing
5. DOD-level program: each branch has different qualifications and procedures for processing paperwork
6. Officers will no longer be eligible beginning 04/01/2025
7. Pays $2,000/fiscal yr
8. Individuals can receive no more than TWO certifications every 10 years

Question 7

Post 9/11 GI Bill Ch. 33 Sliding Scale for Benefits

Answer 7

1,095 days or more (36 months): 100% of the full benefit
910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months): 90% of the full benefit
730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months): 80% of the full benefit
545 to 729 days (18 to 23 months): 70% of the full benefit
180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 60% of the full benefit
90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months): 50% of the full benefit

Question 8

Post 9/11 GI Bill Ch. 33 Benefits Transferral to Dependents

Answer 8

1. REQUIRES 90 days of qualifying active duty AND at least one dependent AND 6 years combined military service AND 4 years remaining service obligation FROM THE DATE OF TRANSFER
2. Transfer benefits IMMEDIATELY upon qualification
3. ALWAYS include the spouse (if applicable), divide all benefits except one month among ALL dependents (additions cannot be made after separation, but deletions/changes can be done at any time)
4. ALWAYS retain one month for the SVC MBR (for VB&E eligibility - also, if the SVC MBR dies, any months retained by the SVC MBR die, too, but transferred benefits stay with the dependents)
5. No one individual can use more than 48 months benefits from all GI Bill programs combined
6. All dependents have to register on va.gov individually - will receive Certificate of Eligibility 90 days later with qualification status, % of benefits and # of months
7. GI BILL HOTLINE (1-888-GIBILL1 / 1-888-442-4551) call, but hold the line for a live person

Question 9

Yellow Ribbon Program

Answer 9

1. The University and the VA agree to split 50/50 the difference between the full tuition cost and the normal $28,500 max ONLY if the SVC MBR qualifies for Post 9/11 at the 100% level
2. NO STIPEND paid if the SVC MBR is not attending at least 51% of a full load
3. If classes are 100% online, stipend is only 50% of the qualifying amount

Question 10

Fry Scholarship

Answer 10

1. Paid to spouse/children of SVC MBR who dies on active duty
2. Award is 100% of the Post 9/11 benefit earned by SVC MBR at time of death

Question 11

NGEN