Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30)
Effective January 1, 2014, soldiers will be allowed to use TA after the successful completion of their first year of service after graduating from either Advance Individual Training (ATI), Officer Candidate School (OCS), Basic Officer leaders Course (BOLC).
Montgomery G.I. Bill - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Under Chapter 1606, individuals who are satisfactorily participating in required training or who are fulfilling an obligated service of not less than six years in the Selected Reserve are eligible for benefits. Eligible reservists are entitled to $345 per month to a maximum of 36 months of educational assistance, or the equivalent in part-time training.
Montgomery G.I. Bill - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Reap) (Chapter 1607)
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
Montgomery G.I. Bill - Survivor’s and Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program (DEA) (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education benefits and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. A spouse may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances by the Veterans Administration.
Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits; generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill benefits to dependents.
Tuition Assistance
Effective January 1, 2014, the Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for soldiers once they have completed 10 years of service. If TA did not pay for any portion of an undergraduate degree, the 10 year policy does not apply. Soldiers are limited to 16 semester hours of TA-funded courses per fiscal year.
For completion of a master’s degree, TA is capped at $250 per semester hour for up to 39 semester hours.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are available to New York State residents who served in Indochina between December 22, 1961 and March 7, 1975; in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990; and in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001. Veterans may be eligible to receive up to $2,865 (undergraduate) or $2,947.50 (graduate) as full-time students. Full-time is defined as being registered for twelve or more credits. Part-time study awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time status is defined as at least three credits but fewer than twelve credits per semester at in-state, degree-granting institutions or approved vocational programs.
New York State veterans must first complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) applications.
Veterans must also complete the New York State Veterans Tuition Awards Supplement or contact HESC. Be sure to print the Web Supplement Confirmation page, sign it and mail to HESC along with the required documentation according to the instructions.
Questions regarding eligible service or how to document service should be directed to the HESC Scholarship Unit at 888.697.4372.
Please note that combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the student’s total tuition costs. Tuition payments received by student under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 Veterans Benefits) are considered duplicative of any Veterans Tuition Assistance award and will reduce the VTA award.
Applications must be completed by June 30 of the academic year for which an award is sought. Questions regarding Veterans Benefits may be directed to the Financial Aid Office.