From the moment President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill into law in 1944 it represented the high point of government education support programs. Since then, the benefits of the GI Bill have grown to meet every veteran's modern educational needs. Today's GI Bill benefits may allow you to attend more than one college at a time; to earn two or more different degrees at once; to complete your education online or with distance learning courses; to maintain your education while you are deployed; to study vocational fields, to participate in apprentice programs, and more. The Post 9/11 GI Bill even allows qualified veterans to transfer GI Bill benefits to family members, spouses and children.
A strong commitment to your education rewards you immediately by placing you higher on the military pay scale. Once you separate from the military and enter a new career, your GI Bill education can mean an increased starting salary. With today's flexible GI Bill, balancing your pursuit of higher education with your high-priority military lifestyle becomes highly achievable for you, and your military family. Investing in yourself is a wise military move. Leveraging your GI Bill is the military option that pays you back throughout your income-earning years.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is by far the most expanded version of the most popular educational support program ever devised: the GI Bill. The New GI Bill offers generous tuition support when you attend either a public or private institution, and support for your choice of a wide variety of educational programs. In addition, the new GI Bill supports you with payment of education fees required by your school. You may qualify to transfer your GI Bill education benefits to spouses and children.
If you qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), you may receive benefits for a an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited college or university, an accredited independent study program leading to a degree, wide variety of training programs, and more. Your MGIB benefit is based on the educational program, your length of military service, and your category. In some circumstances, DOD may add money to your MGIB Fund (called "kickers"). You generally have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits.
When a military spouse or parent is injured during service in the Armed Forces, military family life suffers in many areas. Rest assured that your military family's college education plans can remain intact, thanks to the Dependents' Educational Assistance program. DEA offers up to 45 months of educational benefits towards a variety of post-secondary educational programs including tuition at a college or university, business, technical or vocational courses, and other types of advanced education.
Children eligible for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship receive full tuition and fees up to the cost of attending the most expensive four-year public college or university in the state where they are enrolled, plus a monthly living stipend and book allowance once enrollment and course load requirements are met. Eligible children can use the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship benefit until age 33, receiving 36 months of educational benefits to see them through a four-year education.
