EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID FRY SCHOLARSHIP

WHAT IS THE MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID FRY 

SCHOLARSHIP? 

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to the 

children and surviving spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty while on active duty 

after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive: 

• Up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level

• Full tuition & fees paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students. For those 

attending private or foreign schools tuition & fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount 

per academic year

• A monthly housing allowance

• A books & supplies stipend

NOTE: Fry Scholarship beneficiaries are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 

Children of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after September 10, 

2001, are eligible for this benefit.

• A child may begin an approved program of education before the age of 18

• Eligibility ends on the child’s 33rd birthday

• A child’s marital status has no effect on eligibility

Surviving spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after 

September 10, 2001, are also eligible for this benefit. 

• A surviving spouse can receive benefits for terms beginning on or after January 1, 2015 

• A surviving spouse’s eligibility generally ends 15 years after the Servicemember’s death 

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.
Contact us: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill April 2015 

• A spouse will lose eligibility to this benefit upon remarriage if this occurs during the 15 year 

period

RULES FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN SERVING, OR WHO HAVE SERVED, IN THE ARMED FORCES

• If the child or surviving spouse is eligible under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, 

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, and/or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program 

(REAP), then he or she must relinquish eligibility under one of those programs to receive 

benefits under Post-9/11 GI Bill

• A child’s character of discharge from his or her own service does not impact eligibility resulting 

from the line of duty death of a parent or spouse

• A child or surviving spouse on active duty will receive benefits at the active duty benefit rate

• A child or surviving spouse eligible for benefits under the Fry Scholarship Program can also be 

eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits based on his/her won service, and may also eligible to use 

transferred entitlement

INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE USED OR WISH TO USE ENTITLEMENT UNDER DEPENDENTS’ 

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE (DEA)

Children eligible for the Fry Scholarship may also be eligible for DEA. Effective August 1, 2011, children 

are not able to establish eligibility for both Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits based on a parent’s death in 

the line of duty.

• A child whose parent died after July 31, 2011, must make an irrevocable election between the 

Fry Scholarship and DEA when applying for benefits.

• A child whose parent died before August 1, 2011, may still be eligible for both benefits, but 

he/she may only use one program at a time, and combined benefits are capped at a total of 81 

months of full-time training.

Surviving spouses eligible for the Fry Scholarship may also be eligible for DEA. Surviving spouses are 

not able to establish eligibility for both Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits based on a parent’s death in the 

line of duty. Surviving spouses must make an irrevocable election of which benefit he or she wishes to 

receive for any and all school enrollments beginning on or after January 1, 2015.
Contact us: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill April 2015 

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply, obtain and complete VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits. 

Send it to the VA Regional Processing Office with jurisdiction over the state where you will advance 

your education and training. If you are a son or daughter, under legal age, a parent or guardian must 

sign the application. 

Be sure to explore potential programs and how much you could receive using the GI Bill by visiting 

the GI Bill Comparison Tool. 

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