How the GI Bill that shaped modern America, creates your future today
Over and over again, the GI Bill has been called the best piece of legislation ever passed by the U.S. Congress.
The reason is simple: more than any other, the GI Bill literally transformed America, enabling a generation of military veterans, men and women to go to college for the first time. Those educated veterans became the doctors, lawyers, engineers and valuable contributors who shaped modern America.
In 1940, the average GI was 26 years old and had an average of one year of high school as his only education. With the enactment of the GI Bill in 1944, college doors were opened to those now mature, responsible military servicemen and women. Army veterans went to Harvard. Air Force veterans went to Stanford. Navy veterans could even choose to go to the Sorbonne in Paris.
Veterans brought their military ethic to their college careers; they worked to improve themselves, to get the college degree that would contribute to their own lives, and to the lives of their families and their communities.
Back then, everyone benefited from the GI Bill. Today, active military and veterans can benefit more than ever.
In 1984, former Mississippi Congressman Gillespie V. Montgomery revamped the GI Bill, which has been known as the "Montgomery GI Bill" ever since, assuring that the legacy of the original GI Bill lives on, as VA home loan guaranty and education programs continue to work for our newest generation of combat veterans.
Today, under the Montgomery GI Bill, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard (and their Reserves and the National Guard) provide a cash education incentive to encourage you to join and serve a tour of duty. The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for college, business, technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses, apprenticeship/job training and flight training. MGIB benefits may be used while on active duty or after a fully honorable discharge from active duty.
The Montgomery GI Bill benefit amounts are adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Current Montgomery GI Bill education benefits are 1,101/month for periods of active duty of three years or more and $894/month for periods of active duty of two years. Rates for those serving part-time in the Reserve or National Guard are $317/month. Thus you can receive up to $11,412 for serving part-time in the Reserve or National Guard and up to $39,636 for a tour of active duty in the military services.
To qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, recruits must agree to have $100 deducted from their pay each month.
Currently, only 57% of soldiers making these payments eventually use their GI Bill benefits. There are countless ways to use your GI Bill benefits. Don't miss out!
