GI Bill Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty [MGIB-AD])
The following information was found in several sites containing cited material about the program, and official existing SIUE documents. Their information and citations can be found at the end of the document.
Program Information
MGIB-AD provides education benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers who have at least two years of active duty.
Important Information
- Benefits may be used for college degrees and certification, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses.
- Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses can be approved under certain circumstances.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant falls under one of the four following categories, whose specified requirements and exceptions are listed in the section below:
(Category 1)
i. Entered active duty after June 30, 1985.
ii. Did not decline the MGIB in writing upon entry into active duty.
iii. Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months.
iv. Continuously served for three or two years, if first enlisted for that length of time.
v. Entered Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served four years (“2 x 4” program).
(Category 2)
i. Entered active duty before January 1, 1977.
ii. Served at least one day between October 19, 1984 and June 30, 1985, and stayed on active duty through June 30, 1988 (or through June 30, 1987 if they entered the Selected Reserve within one year of leaving active duty and served four years).
iii. On December 31, 1989, had entitlement left from Vietnam-era GI Bill.
(Category 3)
i. Was involuntarily separated for certain reasons.
ii. Was separated under the VSI (Voluntary Separation Incentive) or SSB (Special Separation Benefit) program.
iii. On active duty on September 30, 1990 and separated involuntarily after February 2, 1991 OR involuntarily separated on or after November 30, 1993 OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program.
iv. Prior to separation, had military pay reduced by $1,200.
(Category 4)
i. On active duty on October 9, 1996 AND had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND elected MGIB by October 9, 1997.
ii. OR entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between July 1, 1985 and November 28, 1989, AND elected MGIB between October 9, 1996 and July 8, 1997.
iii. Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution.
For all categories listed, the applicant must meet the following additional requirements:
a. Must have received a fully honorable discharge.
i. Discharges “under honorable conditions” and “general” discharges do not establish eligibility.
ii. If the applicant has more than one period of service, and has received an other than honorable discharge from one period, they may be able to qualify if they received an honorable discharge from another period of service.
iii. A period from which the applicant was discharged in order to reenlist may meet eligibility requirements.
b. Must have completed high school.
i. An equivalency certificate or completion of 12 hours toward a college degree may also meet requirements.
- An in-depth and thorough listing of requirements and exceptions for the program can be found in the program pamphlet, with information provided by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Covered Costs
- College and vocational school (including entrepreneurship courses with SBDCs or The Veterans Corporation):
- a. Monthly payments based on training time (full time, three quarter time, or half time).
- i. Trained at least half time = paid tuition and fees with a lump sum payment.
- ii. If tuition and fees amount to more than would be paid at the half time rate (or quarter time rate if training at quarter time or less), payments will be limited to the half time or quarter time rate.
- a. Monthly payments based on training time (full time, three quarter time, or half time).
- On-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeship programs:
- Monthly payments based on length of time in program.
- i. Rates decrease twice, once after first six months, then again after second six months.
- Correspondence courses:
- Quarterly payments based on 55% of the approved chargers for the course, up to remaining MGIB entitlement.
- Tests for licenses or certifications:
- One-time lump sum payment per test, for reimbursement of 100% of the charges up to a maximum of $2,000 per test, and up to remaining MGIB entitlement.
- National tests for credit or admission:
- VA will reimburse for required test fees, but has no authority to reimburse a person for any optional costs related to the testing process.
- Flight training:
- Monthly payments based on 60% of the approved charges for the course, up to remaining MGIB entitlement.
- High-cost, high-technology programs:
- One-time lump sum payment, issued only after course start, of 60% of approved charges for the program, up to remaining MGIB entitlement.
- Specified rates, effective October 2015, can be found here.
Timeline of Benefit Use
- Servicemembers typically receive up to 36 months of benefits, and usually have 10 years to utilize them, but the timeframe can be smaller depending on personalized situations.
Application Process
- Complete the online application.
- Ask the institution of attendance to clarify your enrollment to the VA.
Campus Requirements/Steps
- Obtain DD form 2384-1.
- Verify selected program is available for VA training.
- Complete VBI sheet found in Office of the Registrar on campus or online. This must be completed each semester.
- Submit all documents to Bobbi Wojcik in the Office of the Registrar (located in Rendleman Hall).
- NOTE: If benefits are used at another school, applicants must complete VA form 22-1995 instead of 22-1990. VBI is to be completed each semester, and all forms are submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
