You must have received an honorable discharge from the military and have a high school diploma or GED. In some instances, you'll have to earn 12 college credits before receiving benefits. In addition, you must meet the requirements of one of the four categories of military service listed below.
You must have begun active duty after June 30, 1985, contributed $100 per month for one year as a deduction from your pay and served without interruption for three years, or for two years if that was your initial enlistment period. You will also qualify if you served under the "2 by 4" program, serving two years of active duty and four years in the Selected Reserve. You must have entered the Reserves within a year of separation from active duty.
If you first began your active duty before January 1, 1977, spent at least one day in active service between October 19, 1984 and June 30, 1985, remained on active duty through June 30, 1988 and were entitled to benefits under the Vietnam-Era GI Bill as of December 31, 1989, you will qualify for benefits under this category. You will also qualify if you remained on active duty through June 30, 1987, enlisted in the Selected Reserve within a year of separation and served for four years.
You must be ineligible under the first two categories, have been on active duty on September 30, 1990 and left active duty involuntarily after February 2, 1991 or after November 30, 1993. You'll also qualify if you left military service under the "Voluntary Separation Incentive" or "Special Separation Benefit" program. In both cases, you must have contributed $1200 through payroll deduction before separation.
You must have been on active duty on October 9, 1996, had funds still available in a Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) account, and had chosen the Montgomery GI Bill by October 9, 1997. You will also qualify if you began full-time duty in the National Guard under Title 32 of the United States Code between July 1, 1985 and November 28, 1989, and elected the Montgomery GI Bill between October 9, 1996 and July 8, 1997. In both situations, you must have contributed $1200 through deductions from your military pay or made a one-time payment of $1200.
Benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill are available to members of the Selected Reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, and to Army National Guard and Air National Guard members. Each component determines eligibility for benefits. If you were eligible on or after October 1, 1992, you'll be eligible for 14 years from the date you leave the Reserves or from your first date of eligibility. If you were eligible before October 1, 1992, you will be eligible for 10 years rather than 14. However, if you were called to active duty, your eligibility period will be extended by the length of your active service plus four months.
You must have a six-year commitment to Selected Reserve service that you signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have committed to serving six years after completing your initial obligation. Some programs require that your six-year period commences after September 30, 1990.
You must complete your initial training on active duty.
You must have received a high-school diploma or GED before completing the initial training. You cannot use college credits earned toward a degree to satisfy this requirement.
You must maintain good standing in your Reserve unit. If your unit was deactivated between October 1, 1991 and September 30, 1995 or you were given an involuntary separation during that period, you'll still be eligible for benefits for the entire 14-year period. You will also remain eligible if you received a discharge due to a disability that wasn't caused by misconduct.