GI BILL® PROGRAMS

Overview
The GI Bill Programs are statutory entitlements that are administered by the military services and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). This is given to those who enlist in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. For the most current GI Bill information visit the DVA website.

Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33

Overview

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an education program for Service Members who serve on qualifying active duty after September 10, 2001, and receive an honorable discharge.
(Reference: Title 38 USC Chapter 33, DODI 1341.13)

1. How Do I Qualify?

  • Serve at least 90 days in a period of qualifying active duty on or after Sep 11, 2001. Qualifying Active Duty is:
    • Service in any active component
    • Title 10 U.S.C., Sections 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12301(h), 12302, 12304, 12304(a), 12304(b)
    • Title 32 U.S.C., Section 502(f) in Support of Operation Noble Eagle between September 11, 2001, and May 31, 2002
    • Title 32 U.S.C., Section 502(f) in support of Southwest Border Mission/Operation Guardian Shield between February 15, 2019, and January 20, 2021
    • Title 32 U.S.C., Section 502(f) in support of COVID-19 between March 22, 2020, and July 1, 2022
    • Title 32 U.S.C., Section 502(f) in support of the Capitol Police (59th Inauguration) between January 11, 2021, and May 23, 2021
  • Serve in a qualifying duty status for more than 30 continuous days and separate due to a service-connected disability or injury.
  • Purple Heart recipients eligible at 100% payment tier.
  • Check this site often or check with your state ESO for newly added periods of qualifying active duty.

Basic Training and AIT can be added to established qualifying time if:

  • You have already completed 24 months of qualifying active duty time; and
  • Your Basic Training and/or AIT occurred on or after 9/11/2001

The following service time does NOT qualify for Post-9/11:

  • Title 32 ADOS/ADSW/FTNGD-OS (unless listed above)
  • The Service Obligation from a Service Academy Contract
  • The Service Obligation from a ROTC Active Duty Contract (Dedicated Guard only)
  • Active Duty used for Active Duty Loan Repayment (Title 10 Sec. 109)
  • Active Duty period receiving less than Honorable Discharge

2. What Do I Get?

Tuition and Fees

  • Up to 100% of in-state tuition if you are attending a public school
  • Maximum payment of $26,381.37 per year for private or foreign school

Book and Supply Stipend 

  • Up to $1,000 per academic year ($41.67/credit hour)

Monthly Housing Allowance 

  • Equivalent to BAH of E-5 with dependents
  • Based on zip code where attending classes
  • Must be attending more than half-time to qualify
  • If attending only online classes: $988.00
  • Soldiers serving on Qualifying Active Duty are NOT eligible for the Housing Stipend

Payment Tiers
Payments for all three benefits are pro-rated based on your percentage tier. The Book and Supply Stipend as well as the MHA are also adjusted based on your enrollment (number of credit hours).

QUALIFYING SERVICE PERCENTAGE TIER
At least 36 cumulative months, or Purple Heart recipients 100%
At least 30 cumulative months 90%
At least 24 cumulative months 80%
At least 18 cumulative months 70%
At least 6 cumulative months 60%
At least 90 cumulative days 50%

Effective August 1, 2022

 

Timeline/Expiration of Benefits:

  • If your last day of qualifying Active Duty is before January 1, 2013, your benefits expire 15 years from your last day of Active Duty
  • If your last day of qualifying Active Duty is on or after January 1, 2013, your benefits never expire
  • You can reset your expiration date by completing another qualifying period of service of at least 90 consecutive days
  • Submit VA Form 21-4138 with your new DD214 to the VA Regional Processing Center

3. How Do I Apply?

  • Submit the Veterans Online Application
  • Notify the School Certifying Official at your school so they can certify your enrollment
  • Verify your enrollment each month online

Montgomery GI Bill “Kicker”

Overview

The Kicker incentive is an additional education payment to attract Soldiers to specific units, skills, or positions to meet and sustain ARNG readiness requirements (Reference: DoDI 1322.17).

1. How Do I Qualify?

  • Be eligible for either Chapter 1606 or Chapter 30 GI Bill
  • Agree to serve in a current critical skill/critical unit or enter an officer commissioning program (ROTC, Officer, and Warrant Officer)
  • Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Complete IADT or BOLC Phase 1
  • Sign a valid Kicker contract
  • Not be on Military Technician or AGR/Active Duty Status
  • Not be flagged for AWOLs
  • Not be using a Dedicated Army National Guard ROTC Scholarship

$200 Enlisted Accessions (EA) 

Non-Prior Service

  • ASVAB score of 50 or above (Cat IIIA or higher)
  • Education Tier level 1 (High school diploma or equivalent)

Prior Service 

  • ASVAB or AFCT 50 or above
  • DMOSQ E5 or below
  • Meet RE and SPD code requirements for if affiliating from active duty
  • If affiliating from a service other than Army, meet the requirement to be awarded a MOS at the time of affiliation/enlistment and be coded DMOSQ in IPPS-A

$350 Re-Enlistment/Extension (RE) 

  • Reenlist or extend DMOSQ grade E7 or below
  • May extend any time after completing three continuous years of service in the Army National Guard, but prior to completing 14 years of service
  • Deployed Soldiers with a 999K excess code are eligible
  • Soldiers in the ARNG Medical Management Activity (MMA) are not eligible while medically non-available

$350 Officer Commissioning (OC)

Supplemental (Bump-Up)

  • Have previously contracted and established eligibility for enlisted accession MGIB-SR kicker at the $100 and $200 rate
  • Have completed or agree to complete the original six-year service obligation
  • Be enrolled in a commissioning program
  • Complete the Supplement MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435-1) after entry into the Commissioning program, and prior to commissioning

Officer Candidate School (OCS)

  • Complete MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435) after completion of OCS Phase 1, and prior to commissioning, have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
  • Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC)

  • Be enrolled as a Simultaneous Member Program (SMP) as an MSIII Cadet
  • Complete SMP Agreement (NGB Form 594-1)
  • Complete Kicker Addendum prior to commissioning (NGB Form 5435)
  • Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
  • Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC)

  • Complete Kicker Addendum after entry into the commissioning program and prior to commissioning (NGB Form 5435)
  • Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
  • Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Standard Officer Kicker (SOK)

  • Within one year of commissioning, complete the MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum and sign a DA 544-7R for a period of six or more years on the same day
  • Commissioned Officers without a bachelor’s degree and Direct Commissioned Officers are eligible for this incentive

Notes:  

—Receiving a Dedicated Guard ROTC Scholarship (Title 10 USC 2107) will terminate a Soldier’s MGB-SR (Chapter 1606) basic benefit and kicker (if applicable)

2. What Do I Get?

A Soldier may receive a maximum of 36 months of benefits under the Kicker program.

  • $200 or $350 per month depending on the contracted rate
  • Is in addition to your basic GI Bill payment
  • Payment made directly to you each month. Can use with any GI Bill but must be eligible for either Chapter 1606 or Chapter 30 to retain eligibility

3. How Do I Apply?

For More Information: