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GI Bill, Training, & Education Resources for Service Members, Veterans and Spouses

There are several training and education benefits for service members, veterans, and family members.  Service members and veterans may be eligible for more than one education benefit.  The information provided below is for informational purposes only and is not comprehensive, but is intended to offer an overview of options, including:

  • Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
    • Yellow Ribbon Program for qualifying Schools
    • FRY Scholarship (Chapter 33 DF)
    • Spouses of Veterans using Education Transferred Benefits (Chapter 33 TEB)
  • Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
  • Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606)
  • Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP Chapter 1607) - The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others are no longer eligible for REAP benefits.
  • Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA Chapter 35)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)

Before selecting the VA education benefit best suited for a specific individual, these questions should be considered:

  • Which benefit pays the individual more?
  • Is he/she receiving other aid? Will entitlement to that aid change?
  • What Post-9/11 GI Bill tier is the person eligible for?
  • What type of training will be pursued (i.e., bachelor’s degree, flight training, on-the-job, etc.)
    • How much, if any, of the training will be online/distance learning
    • Is the preferred training covered under the Post-9/11GI Bill?
  • Where will the individual be living when pursuing training?
  • Is the delimiting date (the timeframe to utilize benefits) important?
  • Will the individual be a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009?
  • Is he/she eligible for Transfer of Entitlement? Does he/she want to transfer entitlement?

Note: Eligibility for transfer of entitlement is determined by the military branches of service. Does the individual have remaining entitlement under other VA Education Programs?

  • Does the individual have remaining entitlement under other VA Education Programs?
  • Does the individual plan to use that entitlement before using the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

The institution’s accreditation is important and may affect ability to transfer credits, among other things:

Regional Accreditation

Typically, traditional universities are regionally accredited because they prepare individuals for an advanced degree. In order for students to pursue graduate work, they are required to have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university. Regional accreditation is generally granted by certain accreditation agencies in charge of a specific geographical location in the U.S.  Regional accrediting associations are:

  1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education:
  2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
  3. The Higher Learning Commission;
  4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
  5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and
  6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

National Accreditation

National accreditation, although a valid form of accreditation, is typically only issued to vocational colleges or institutions. National accreditation tends to focus on a specific field of study, like art and design, certain medical professions, or business. Generally, national accreditation agencies only review and grant accreditation to institutions with career-focused curriculums. Credits earned from a nationally accredited institution typically do not transfer to a regionally accredited institution.

For more information on accreditation, visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation: http://www.chea.org/ or the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/index.aspx

Questions to ask when choosing a college:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0395-choosing-college

This site provides valuable information for service members and veterans, including what questions to ask of potential educational institutions to ensure the schools have their best interests in mind.

Veterans Affairs GI Bill Comparison Tool (http://department-of-veterans-affairs.github.io/gi-bill-comparison-tool/)  This website aims to assist veterans in researching information about schools;  learning more about Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility; Post 9/11 GI Bill approved programs; and has an on-line benefits estimator that allows veterans, service members and eligible family members to estimate their GI Bill benefits.

Veteran's Upward Bound

Veterans Upward Bound is a federally funded college preparatory program designed to provide academic refresher training and advising to qualifying veterans who are preparing to enter post-secondary education. Services include: Free college preparatory courses, tutoring, and advising for first generation, low- income student veterans. Courses provide a “military/veteran classroom environment” focused on cognitive and meta-cogitative learning to prepare students for entrance exam testing and college level curriculum, college culture. 

Onward to Opportunity

Onward to Opportunity, in partnership with the Veterans Career Transition Program (O2O – VCTP) is a free, comprehensive career training, certification and employment program. This training program is a no-cost industry-focused and validated career skills program that connects transitioning service members and active duty military spouses to high-demand careers in Customer Excellence, Information Technology, and Business Management. The O2O-VCTP will fund one industry certification per participant, provided the individual completes the required coursework, practice exam requirements, and, if applicable, meets the certifying agency’s eligibility requirements. Career coaching is also provided.

For more information: 315-443-0141; http://www.onward2opportunity.org

For Spouses:

Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program provides up to $4,000 of Financial Assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields. Spouses can contact Military OneSource for education counseling and help finding alternative funding sources. Call toll free at: 1.800.342.9647.

For more information: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/

Additional Information & Resources

Fort Carson Education Center: http://www.education.army.mil/hubs/default.aspx?hub_id=16

Fort Carson resources link: http://www.education.army.mil/general.aspx

Financial Aid resources: http://www.education.army.mil/financialaid.aspx

Peterson AFB Education Center: https://www.21fss.com/about/education-center/

USAFA Education Office: https://www.usafasupport.com/education-office.html