There are two types of Montgomery GI Bill. The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) is the educational benefit for veterans who served on active duty. The military deducts $100 per month from a participating service member's pay during his first year of active service. The monthly educational benefit varies depending on the service member’s eligibility category and type of training sought. Under the $600 Buy-Up Program, service members can increase their monthly benefit amounts by paying an extra $600 while still on active duty.
The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) is available to specific members serving in the Reserves. To qualify under this program, service members must have a six-year obligation with the Reserves, have completed their Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) program, have a high school diploma or its equivalent and have served in good standing while in the Reserves.
Veterans have up to 14 years upon separation from the military to begin utilizing their Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 benefits. Veterans are entitled to up to 36 months of educational benefits.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill offers educational and housing benefits to veterans who’ve served at least 90 days on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Under this benefit, veterans will receive tuition payments up to the highest tuition rate in their state of residence. Under the bill, veterans can receive the equivalent of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 based on the location of the school attended; however, veterans exclusively attending classes online are not eligible to receive BAH payments.
The Survivors and Dependents Assistance (DEA) program offers up to 45 months of educational benefits to the 18- to 26-year-old children of service members who died or were totally disabled due to a service-related injury, who are missing inaction or were captured during hostilities, who are being held by a foreign government or have been or will be discharged due to a service-related disability. While dependents can use this benefit for academic or vocational training, the spouse of a service member may only use this benefit for remedial, deficiency or refresher courses.