The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program offers eligible students up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits can be applied toward degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may also be approved under certain circumstances.

In most cases, MGIB benefits must be used within 10 years of your release from active duty.

If you are a first-time applicant, complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits).

If you are transferring from another school or changing programs, complete VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training)

Veterans may be eligible for Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation benefits if they have a service connected disability on or after September 16, 1940, that entitles them to VA disability compensation, and if that disability creates an employment handicap requiring vocational rehabilitation.

Eligible veterans may receive up to 48 months of vocational rehabilitation benefits, generally to be used within 12 years from the date they are notified of their entitlement to VA compensation.

Disabled veterans are encouraged to contact the VA directly for more information on eligibility and benefits.

If you are applying for Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, complete VA Form 28-1900 (Veteran Readiness & Employment for Claimants with Service-Connected Disabilities)

The Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is available to individuals who first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and who elected to contribute a portion of their military pay toward this education benefits. The Government matches these contributions on a $2 for $1 basis.

VEAP benefits may be used toward degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeships, on the job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may also be approved under certain circumstances.

If you are a first-time applicant, complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)

If you are transferring from another school or changing programs, complete VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals who served on active duty service on or after September 11, 2001, or those discharged due to a service-connected disability after at least 30 days of service. An honorable discharge is required to qualify for this benefit.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill took effect for training on or after August 1, 2009. The level of support an individual may receive depends on their location and the type of degree or program pursued.

Approved training includes:

• Undergraduate and graduate degree programs
• Vocational and technical training
• Tutorial assistance
• Licensing and certification test reimbursement

All degree and training programs must be offered by an accredited institution of higher learning (IHL) that is approved for GI Bill benefits.

Tuition is paid based on the highest in-state tuition rate charged by a public institution in the state where the school is located. In some cases, service members may also be eligible to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent child.

If you are a first-time applicant, complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)

If you are transferring from another school or changing programs, complete VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training)

The Department of Defense (DoD) allows eligible members of the Armed Forces to transfer their unused Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits to a spouse or dependent children. To qualify, a service member (active duty or Selected Reserve) generally must have served at least six years and agree to reenlist for four additional years, or have already completed at least 10 years of service.

While still serving, members can designate, modify, or revoke a transfer request through the Transfer of Education Benefits website. After separating from the Armed Forces, members may no longer initiate a transfer through milConnect, but they can still submit a written request to the VA to set a future effective date for use, adjust the number of months transferred, or revoke previously transferred entitlement.

Please note: Once a service member has separated, they cannot designate new dependents to receive transferred benefits, nor can they move the effective date of the original transfer to an earlier date.

For full details, visit the Transfer of Entitlement page on www.gibill.va.gov, which outlines the steps for both the service member and the receiving spouse or child, along with all relevant application links.

The process involves two steps:

1. The service member (transferor) initiates the transfer. Once approved, the transfer information is entered into a secure database shared between DoD and VA. This database also verifies the member’s qualifying periods of Chapter 33 service.
2. The spouse or child (transferee) applies to use the benefit by completing VA Form 22-1990e (Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits), which can be submitted online.

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, also known as Chapter 35, provides education and training benefits to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service connected condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition.

Eligible dependents may receive up to 45 months of education benefits, which can be used toward degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on- the-job training. Spouses may also use these benefits for correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

If you are a first-time applicant, complete VA Form 22-5490 (Dependent’s Application for VA Education Benefits)

If you are transferring from another school or changing programs, complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)

The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program may be available to members of the Selected Reserve, which includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.

MGIB-SR benefits may be used toward degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may also be approved under certain circumstances.

If you are a first-time applicant, complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)

If you are transferring from another school or changing programs, complete VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training)

The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) was established under the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It was a Department of Defense education benefit designed to support members of the Reserve components who were called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) declared by the President or Congress. Reservists activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, were either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits under this program.

Please Note: REAP was discontinued effective November 25, 2015, and is no longer available to new applicants. Reservists who lost REAP eligibility when the program ended may qualify for restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please contact the VA for more information.