Montgomery GI Bill
(Selected Reserve)
The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.
Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.
You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your benefit entitlement ends 14 years from the date of your eligibility for the program, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990;
Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT);
Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement;
Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.
If your Reserve or National Guard unit is deactivated during the period October 1, 1991, through September 30, 1995, or you are involuntarily separated (e.g., reduction in force) from Reserve or National Guard service during this same period, you will retain eligibility for MGIB - SR benefits for the full 14 year eligibility period. You will also retain MGIB - SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct. Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty.
How Much Can I Get?
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers").
How Can I Apply?
Once you have registered for your classes bring your DD Form 2384-1 (Notice of Basic Eligibility) to the Veterans' Service Office and fill out a VA Form 22-1990 (application for education benefits) and the school's VS2005F Form. You will have to fill out a VS Form for each term you wish to collect benefits at UW-River Falls.
How Can I Get More Information?
Call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 or visit the VA web page at www.va.gov.
IMPORTANT -- All students receiving either the Montgomery GI Bill Active duty or Selected Reserve must verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments. This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application on the Department of Veterans Affairs web site or by calling 1-877-823-2378 and following the prompts.
Information from www.va.gov.
