EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MONTGOMERY GI BILL – ACTIVE DUTY

WHAT IS THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - ACTIVE DUTY (CHAPTER 30)?

The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible 

veterans for:

• College, Business, Technical or Vocational 

school

• Tuition Assistance: 

“Top-Up”

• Correspondence Courses

• Flight Training (in some 

cases)

• National Tests

• On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship 

Programs 

• Remedial, Deficiency, and Refresher 

Training (in some cases)

• The cost of tests for licenses or certifications 

needed to get, keep, or advance in a job

Note: To find out if your school or program is approved for VA educational benefits under MGIB, 

please click on this link VA's WEAMS Institution Search Tool to search for approved Education and 

Job Training Programs. 

WHO IS ELIGIBILE?

If you are currently in service, you may be eligible after two years of active duty. Please consult with 

the Education Services Officer at your installation, or call the toll-free number 1-888-442-4551 (1-

888-GI BILL 1), for information about your eligibility.

If you are separated from service, you may be an eligible veteran if you:

• Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985;

• Received a high school diploma or equivalent (or, in some cases, 12 hours of college credit) 

before the end of your first obligated period of service;

• Received an honorable discharge;

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your military service can lead to monthly non-taxable compensation, enrollment in the 

VA health care system, a 10-point hiring preference for federal employment and other important benefits. Ask your VA 

representative or Veterans Service Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver 

Program, Career Services, Educational Assistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insurance and/or Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits.
• Continuously served for three years, OR two years if that is what you first enlisted for, OR two 

years if you have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve AND entered 

Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty.

Note: Different rules apply if you entered active duty before July 1, 1985, and in certain other 

cases. Call our toll-free number below for more information.

ARE THERE PITFALLS?

You should be aware that the following pitfalls could cause you to lose all MGIB benefits:

General Discharge. You must have an honorable discharge to be eligible for education benefits. A 

“general” or “under honorable condition” makes you ineligible for education benefits.

Early Discharge. To be eligible with an early discharge, your separation reason must meet certain 

requirements. Call our toll-free number 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI BILL 1), (or if you are on active 

duty, check with your Education Services Officer) for more information.

HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? 

The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of service, and if DoD 

put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers"). Typically, you have ten years to use your 

MGIB benefits. For the current rate see our GI Bill website.

Once you find a program approved for VA training you can apply online.

For more information, call toll-free 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI BILL 1) or visit our GI Bill website. 

Education Service – February 2015