The Post - 9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable on August 1, 2009 towards training completed after 7/31/2009.

You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or were honorably-

• discharged from active duty; or
• released from active duty and placed on the retired list, temporary disability retired list; or
• released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
• released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.
• if all of your service, including basic training and MOS school, was post 9/11, your basic training and school are NOT counted in the calculation of required amount of time served.

You may also be eligible if you were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.

If, on August 1, 2009, you are eligible for one of these programs and you qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may make an irrevocable election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (see application items 9A and 9F). Or you may choose to keep your other benefit program.*

*Note: Once you elect to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you will no longer be eligible to receive benefits under the program from which you elected the Post-9/11 GI Bill (see items 9A and 9F on the application). You are strongly encouraged to be informed and weigh all of your options prior to electing the Post - 9/11 GI Bill, especially if you are eligible for a "kicker."

Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

You may use your benefits under REAP as long as you remain within your component. Benefits must be terminated if you leave the Reserves or participate in a ROTC program under Title 10 Section 2107.

Based on your length of active duty service, you are entitled to a percentage of the following:

• Cost of tuition and fees not to exceed the most expensive In-State public institution of higher education (paid to school);
  All non-resident tuition and fees must be paid for out-of-pocket by the veteran if you are admitted as a non-resident student.
• Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in same zip code as your school (paid to you);*
• Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year (paid to you); and
• A one time payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.

*NOTE: Housing Allowance and books and supplies stipend is not payable to individuals on active duty. Housing Allowance is not payable to those whose enrollment is half time or less.

Individuals must serve an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of:

NOTE: Basic training and MOS school time IS NOT counted as part of the aggregate time.

Example for entire school year:

• Tuition and Fees charged for full time enrollment: $6700
• Highest In-State Tuition and Fees: $7000

Scenario 1:

If you separated following three years on active duty and are going to school full-time, you would receive $6700 for tuition and fees, the monthly housing allowance, and $1000 for books and supplies.

Scenario 2:

If you have served and aggregate of 12 months of active duty in the Guard or Reserve and are going to school full-time, you would receive $4020 (60% of $6700) for tuition and fees. and $600 (60% of $1000) for books and supplies, and 60% of the monthly housing allowance.

You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. If you were released for a service-connected disability after at least 30 days of continuous service, you will also be eligible for benefits for 15 years.

You may receive benefits for any approved program offered by a school in the United States that is authorized to grant an associate (or higher) degree. Visit the VA website at www.GIBILL.VA.GOV/GI Bill Info/programs.htm to verify that the program at your school, or the program at the school you would like to attend, is approved. You may also receive benefits for tutorial assistance or up to $2,000 for the reimbursement of one licensing or certification test.

If you transferred to the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves, or the Reserve Education Assistance Program, you may also receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs, and correspondence courses.

Click here for a comparison chart of programs covered under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB), Montgomery GI Bill - Select Reserve (MGIB-SR), and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP).

Possibly. Learn more about on transferring your Post 9/11 Gi Bill benefits.