What educational benefits does MGIB for Active Duty offer me?

Before WWII, college was, for the most part, unreachable for the average American. Thanks to the GI Bill, millions of veterans who would have flooded the job market chose higher education first. In the peak year of 1947, veterans accounted for 49 percent of college admissions. By July 25, 1956, 7.8 million of 16 million World War II veterans had participated in an education or training program.

Many more millions of veterans have benefited from all the many options of today's Montgomery GI Bill, for college and other educational programs, training programs, and much more.

As a veteran or active military personnel, why wait any longer access your MGIB for Active Duty benefits?

The Montgomery GI Bill/ Active Duty, called "MGIB," provides up to 36 months of education benefits for College, Business, Technical or Vocational Courses, Correspondence Courses, Apprenticeship/Job Training and Flight Training. 

If you're eligible, you may receive benefits for a wide variety of training including an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university, or a cooperative training program.

You may also take an accredited independent study program leading to a degree. You may be eligible if you received an Honorable Discharge, and have a High School Diploma or GED or in some cases 12 hours of college credit, and are a veteran meeting one of these categories:

Veteran Category  I

• Active military duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
• Military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
• Served for 3 years continuously, or 2 years that you first enlisted for, or 2 years if you entered Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4" Program)

Veteran Category II

• Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
• Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years)
• On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam Era GI Bill

Veteran Category III

• 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 $1200

Veteran Category IV

• You were on active military duty on 10/9/96  and 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 - 7/8/97
• You had your military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1200 lump-sum contribution

Your MGIB benefits are good for up to 10 years from the date of your last discharge or release from active duty and the VA can extend your 10-year period by the amount of time you were prevented from training during that period because of a disability or because you were held by a foreign government or power. The VA can also extend your 10-year period if you re-enter active military duty for 90 days or more after becoming eligible.

Become one of the millions who have benefited from the higher education afforded them through MGIB-Active Duty. You've earned your education, and the MGIB-Active Duty is here to serve you.