CHAPTER 30 Montgomery GI Bill® for Active Duty
The Montgomery GI Bill® program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training and correspondence courses but must be pre-approved by the Veterans Administration. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
CHAPTER 31 Vocational Rehab
A veteran of World War II or thereafter may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if they have a service-connected disability (20 percent or higher) that entitles them to VA disability compensation, and if they are in need of vocational rehabilitation because their disability creates an employment handicap. Vocational rehabilitation may be provided for up to 48 months, and an eligible veteran now generally has 12 years from discharge or release from active duty to use these benefits. Disabled veterans are encouraged to contact the regional VA office in their area to obtain detailed information and to request VA form #28-1900, Disabled Veteran’s Application for Vocational Rehabilitation.
CHAPTER 32 VEAP (Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program)
VEAP is available to veterans who first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and elected to make contributions from their military pay to participate in this education benefit program. These contributions were matched on a $2-for-$1 basis by the government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
CHAPTER 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You need to have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The benefit is capped annually at private institutions such as USC.
CHAPTER 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program
The children and/or spouse of a veteran may be eligible for educational assistance if the veteran died while on active duty; died after release or discharge from active duty for a service-connected disability (80-100 percent); became permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability; died while a service-connected disability was rated permanent and total; or has been listed as missing in action, captured, detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power for more than 90 days. Eligible persons are entitled to 45 months of educational assistance and are paid benefits on the same basis as a veteran with no dependents.
CHAPTER 1606 or 1607 Montgomery GI Bill® for Selected Reserve
Basic eligibility exists for a person who (after June 30, 1985) enlists, reenlists or extends an enlistment in 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 National Guard and the Air National Guard. An eligible reservist is entitled to a maximum of educational assistance available, based on full-time training (or the equivalent based on three-quarter or half-time training.)
CHAPTER 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 160
REAP was established as part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation), as declared by the president or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, either eligible for education benefits or increased benefits.