VA Educational Chapters

If you are a member of the Selected Reserves, you may be eligible for this program. The Selected Reserves includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. You must have a six-year obligation to service in Selected Reserves and have completed basic training.

A monthly benefit is paid to students based on their training time and/or training program. You may receive up to a maximum of 36 months of benefits. Veterans have 14 years from the date you became eligible for the program in order to use the benefits.

Detailed information on the Chapter 1606 program is available at the Department of Veterans Affairs website. To apply, complete the form either online through VONAPP, or by mail VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Educational Benefits.

• Career Choice – understand the best career options based on your interests and capabilities
• Benefits Coaching – guidance on the effective use of VA benefits and/or other resources to achieve education and career goals
• Personalized Support – Academic or adjustment counseling and personalized support to help remove any barriers to success

Eligibility: Transitioning servicemembers within six months prior to discharge from active duty, veterans within one year following discharge from active duty, any Servicemember or Veteran eligible for a VA education benefit, and all current VA education beneficiaries.

Download the Chapter 36 Flyer

Chapter 35 is an education benefit program for eligible spouses and children of veterans who died, or is permanently and totally disabled, as a result of service,  and service members missing in action or captured in the line of duty by hostile forces or forcibly detained. Spouses of disabled veterans  have 10 years from the date the VA establishes eligibility; those whose spouses died while on active duty have 20 years. Children may use beneftis between the ages of 18 and 26. Amount awarded is based on the educational program.

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Chapter 33: Post 9/11 G.I. Bill

The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is an education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001.

Am I Eligible?

If you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001.

What will I receive?

Tuition and Fee payment that is paid to your school on your behalf and Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) that is equal to:

• the basic allowance for housing (BAH) payable for the zip code of your school to a military E-5 with dependents for students pursuing resident training which $1275.00 per month for 2016
• one-half the BAH national average for students training solely by distance learning
• the national average BAH for students pursuing training at foreign schools
• A Books and Supplies Stipend of up to $1000 per year

How many months of assistance can I receive and how long am I eligible?

Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover all in-state tuition and fees at public degree granting schools, but may not cover all private degree granting schools and out-of-state tuition. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional support in those situations. Institutions voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund uncovered charges. VA matches each dollar of unmet charges the institution agrees to contribute, up to the total cost of the tuition and fees.

Ch. 31 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Vet Success Program.

Any Veteran can tell you what the GI Bill is, but what about VocRehab? If you thought it was just another way to go to school, you’re only partially right. The purpose of VocRehab is simple: Assist service-disabled Veterans to train for, find, and hold down a suitable job, or achieve independence in daily living. VocRehab is for service-connected Veterans who want to take their careers in a direction that previous training and current disabilities make difficult.

Who qualifies?

To apply, you must be at least 10 percent service-connected disabled, hold an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge and apply for the program.  You can receive up to 48 months of entitlement and the period of eligibility is 12 years after separation or the notification of a disability rating, whichever came last.  But, if you have a serious disability, you can use Voc Rehab services after the 12 years have expired and your entitlement can be extended past 48 months.

When should I sign up?

It takes about 45 days from submitting an application to being approved for benefits, so get started well before you want to take advantage of the program.

What Happens after Eligibility is Established?

The Veteran is scheduled to meet with a VRC for a comprehensive evaluation to determine if he/she is entitled for services. A comprehensive evaluation includes:

• An assessment of the Veteran’s interests, aptitudes, and abilities
• An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the Veteran’s ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills he or she has already developed
• Vocational exploration and goal development leading to employment and/or maximum independence in the Veteran’s daily living at home and in the community

How can I get paid the Post-9/11 GI Bill rate for my Vocational Rehabilitation program?

A Veteran participating in the VR&E Program who qualifies for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can elect to receive the GI Bill rate of pay instead of the regular Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. In most cases, the GI Bill rate is higher than the regular Chapter 31 rate of pay. To elect the GI Bill rate, the Veteran must have remaining eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and must formally choose the GI Bill rate. Your VRC can help you with election. Veterans participating in the VR&E Program who elect the Post-9/11 rate are paid at the 100% rate level for their school and training time, even if their Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility is less than 100%. Additional benefits are also available through the VR&E Program, such as payment of all required books, fees and supplies as well as other supportive services.

How Can I Apply?

• Log in to your eBenefits account
• Select “Additional Benefits” from your Dashboard
• Select “Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program” – be sure to read the program information and to update your contact information – and apply for either the “Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program” or “Education/Career Counseling”
• If it is determined that you are eligible, you will be invited to attend an orientation session, in-person, at the nearest VA Regional Office

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The MGIB-AD program provides education benefits to Veterans and Service members who have at least two years of active duty. Assistance may be used for college degree and certificate programs, 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.

Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits. The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, any college fund eligibility, and if you contributed to the $600 buy-up program. You usually have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits, but the time limit can be fewer or more years depending on the situation. View current payment rates.

Who qualifies?

You may be an eligible if you have an honorable discharge; AND you have a high school diploma or GED or in some cases 12 hours of college credit; AND you meet the requirements of one of the categories below:

CATEGORY I

• Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
• Continuously served for three years or two years, if that is what you first enlisted for or if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served four years (the 2 by 4 program)

CATEGORY II

• Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
• Served at least one day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or through 6/30/87 if you entered the Selected Reserve within one year of leaving active duty and served four years)
• On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-era GI Bill

CATEGORY III

• Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
• On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91
• OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93
• OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
• Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1,200

CATEGORY IV

• On active duty on 10/9/96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97
• OR you entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89, AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96 – 7/08/97
• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution

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