Each year the VA releases Montgomery GI Bill payment rates and the news is often good. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the MGIB rates for full-time, three quarter, half, and less then half-time are relatively straightforward.
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is a federal program that offers support for veterans who want to pursue their educational goals. Service members and veterans receive assistance in the form of monthly payments that go towards education costs, Those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces can qualify for either the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30), or the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606).
If you qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), you may receive benefits that cover different paths of education, including an undergraduate or graduate degree, an accredited independent study program leading to a degree, a wide variety of training programs, and more. You generally have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits, and they are not transferrable to a spouse or other family member. Your MGIB benefit is based on the educational program you are pursuing, the length of your military service, and your category. In some circumstances, the Department of Defense may add money to your MGIB Fund (called "kickers").
To qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, service members must contribute to the program from their military pay each month. Under Chapter 30, enrolled Active Duty members who pay $100 per month for 12 months are entitled to receive a monthly education benefit after completing a minimum service obligation. Under Chapter 1606, a reservist who is actively drilling and has a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve can qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill. The MGIB benefits are adjusted each year according to changes in Consumer Price Index.
The MGIB program differs for members of the selected reserve, and those actively serving.
The VA provides education benefits to members who have served at least 2 years of active duty, and have paid $100 per month for a year. If eligible, your Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) benefits will provide up to 36 months of education benefits.
See: CURRENT MGIB-AD PAYMENT RATES
As a member of the Selected Reserve with a 6-year obligation to serve, you may be eligible to receive education benefits for up to 36 months.