NERA continues to press for retirement pay based on all points earned. The result is the current Montgomery GI Bill. Prior to the mid 80s, GI Bill benefits were earned only during periods of active duty of 180 days or more. The current GI Bill provides educational benefit for drilling Reservists who reenlist for 6 years. Improvements to the GI Bill include the addition of vocational, technical, correspondence and apprentice-ship training for Reservists.
Flight training is also currently available.
NERA is now working to add graduate programs under the GI Bill. The death gratuity is paid by the United States to the beneficiary of a service member killed while on active duty. The death gratuity is intended to provide an immediate sum of money to cover some of the costs associated with the untimely death of a service member. The program provides basic dental insurance on a voluntary basis for approximately 889,000 members of the Select Reserve. The plan covers diagnostic, preventive, restorative, oral surgery and emergency dental services.