Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility Benefit payments Transfer to dependents Post-9/11 GI Bill and the MGIB Resources This briefing is designed to provide details of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and its accompanying option to transfer benefits to a spouse and or children. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is intended to reward veterans serving during a time of war, much like the original GI Bill. It becomes effective on 1 Aug 2009 This presentation tells who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the benefits provided by this GI Bill, the conditions under which benefits can be transferred to dependents, the relationship between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and MGIB, and offers some good resources for more information and guidance.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility All Marines with Honorable active service since 11 Sep 2001 are eligible Begins 90 days after completing: MOS school, ROTC / Service Academy commitment, or loan repayment 30 days service if separated for disability 36 months benefit to be used within 15 years of leaving active duty Benefit level is based on aggregate service Apply at the DVA website to claim benefit The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be used by anyone, veterans or active duty personnel, with honorable active duty since 11 Sept 2001. VEAP-era individuals who never contributed to the Post-Vietnam-era Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) are also eligible to qualify for Post-9/11 benefits. Because the GI Bill is based on aggregate active duty, individuals will see an increased benefit the more time they serve. The service to “earn” benefits begins, for most individuals, 90 days after completing tech school. Others will need to serve longer to begin building qualifying service. All ROTC scholarship graduates must complete their initial four-year active duty service commitment and service academy graduates must complete their five-year active duty service commitment before beginning to accrue qualifying service. Other commitments, e.g. flight training, are considered as qualifying time. Loan repayment participants will begin accruing qualifying service after the last loan payment is made on their behalf. The maximum benefit is based on 36 months of active duty service. Individuals separated for disability need only complete 30 days of active duty to receive the maximum benefit. Individuals have 15 years from leaving active duty to use the benefit. Claiming the benefit is easy; file an application with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Service Requirements (after 9/10/01 an individual must serve an aggregate of) Payment Tiers Percentage At least 36 months 100 At least 30 continuous days on active duty (Must be discharged due to service-connected disability) At least 30 months, but less than 36 months 90 At least 24 months, but less than 30 months 80 At least 18 months, but less than 24 months 70 At least 12 months, but less than 18 months 60 At least 06 months, but less than 12 months 50 At least 90 days, but less than 6 months 40 This slide provides a chart on how the amount of service impacts the benefit paid by the DVA. Because the benefit is determined by aggregate active service individuals may receive different benefits. For example, an individual who claims the benefit after serving 20 months will have 70% of applicable tuition, fees, and stipends paid, while the individual who completes 32 months has the benefit of 90%. The individual who receives a 70% benefit after 20 months of active duty will have 100% benefit after completing 36 months of active duty—that’s one of the benefits of aggregate service. The more aggregate service the better the benefit. All veterans with service-connected disabilities will receive the maximum benefit. Students enrolled half time or less receive a pro-rated annual stipend. Like all GI Bills, the best return of the benefit usually comes when used after leaving active duty.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Pays for programs available at a college or university Veteran’s Benefit Tuition & Fees paid directly to school Maximum payment based on highest undergraduate tuition & fees at a public college within the State Monthly housing stipend–E-5 w/ dependents BAH Based on school zip code Not paid for distance learning programs or attendance of half time or less An annual $1000 books & supplies stipend Prorated by percentage of benefit and course load The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for DVA-approved degree and certificate programs offered at colleges and universities. Veteran’s attending state colleges and universities will have all or a good part of their tuition and fees paid directly to the school by the DVA. Although the payment is based on undergraduate costs, students are not limited to undergraduate programs. Housing and book stipends are paid directly to veterans. The housing stipend is based on the BAH rate for E5s with dependents. The amount is determined by the school’s zip code. The housing stipend is not paid to veterans whose course load is half time or less. The annual stipend is paid by term and based on an amount per credit hour and pro-rated by the percentage of benefits. The maximum payment is $1000 a year. Marines on active duty may use the program but will receive a lesser benefit than veterans.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Active Duty Benefit Program tuition & fees paid directly to school Top Up No housing or book stipends Other Benefits Tutorial assistance -- $1200 maximum One license or certification exam -- $2000 maximum Rural benefit if living in certain low population area and must travel to school -- $500 one-time payment Yellow Ribbon – Schools and VA may offset remaining tuition/fees for veterans having 100% benefit The benefit for Marines serving on active duty is different from that received by veterans. Active duty Marines are not eligible for the housing or book stipends. However, the tuition and fees payments are based on the tuition paid by other students, so Marines in a graduate program will have the tuition and fees payment based on the graduate program charges, not the undergraduate rate paid on behalf of veterans. Marines may also supplement Tuition Assistance with Top Up. However, a month’s benefit is charged to the Marines, even if the course lasts less than a month. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides a few additional benefits. More details are available on the DVA website. Generally speaking, students having difficulty in a course can be reimbursed a maximum $100 per month or total $1200 for tutorial assistance. The DVA will also pay for a license or certification test; the reimbursement will cover the test cost as long as it doesn’t exceed $2000. Veterans moving 500 miles from certain low population density counties, or moving from areas without land transportation may receive a one time $500 reimbursement. The Yellow Ribbon program is a cooperative program between certain schools and the DVA to pay out of pocket tuition and fees incurred by veterans. Not all schools participate.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Available 1 Aug 2009 Eligibility Qualify for Post-9/11 benefit Be on active duty on or after 1 Aug 2009 Convert from Montgomery GI Bill Complete six years of service & incur four-year commitment—with exceptions for retirement Spouse / Children are registered in DEERS Apply using DoD’s Transfer Education Benefits (TEB) website. Sending an application to the VA does not transfer benefits The option to transfer benefits to dependents is available to Marines qualifying for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and are on active duty on or after 1 Aug 2009. This retention incentive is aimed at encouraging Marines to remain on active duty for at least ten years. The transfer option will allow Marines to transfer unused GI Bill benefits (maximum 36 months) to spouses and dependent children registered in the DEERS database. Marines having Montgomery GI Bill benefits and desiring to transfer benefits will have to make the decision to convert benefits. Once this decision is made, it is final. There may be advantages in using up all MGIB benefits and later transferring benefits. Eligible Marines must complete six years service and commitment for another four years. Enlisted Marines must qualify for reenlistment or extension while officers must be have sufficient retainability. Everyone approved for the program will incur an active duty service commitment. Special rules exist for those who are eligible to retire or have retirement dates; the rules are discussed on the next slide. Transferring benefits to dependents is a separate application process. The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) is developing the TEB website and will announce when it is available for use.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Marines Having an approved retirement date 2 Aug 2009 through 30 Jun 2010 have no additional service requirement Eligible to retire (completed 20 years of service) 1 Aug 2010 - 31 Jul 2011 will incur 2 add’l years 1 Aug 2011 - 31 Jul 2012 will incur 3 add’l years 1 Aug 2012 and thereafter 4 additional years Additional service begins at time of application DoD established specific rules for individuals who meet the 20-year requirement for retirement. This subject can cause confusion as it includes Marines who are eligible to retire and those with established retirement dates. Being eligible to retire means a Marine has completed 20 years of service. The law requires anyone transferring benefits be on active duty as of 1 Aug 2009; a retirement date of 1 Aug means not being on active duty. The last duty day would be 31 July. The additional service begins on the day a Marine initiates the transfer application.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Spouse’s Benefit Same as Marine’s status whether active duty or veteran Benefit can be used once the Marine reached 6 years and elects to transfer the benefits Expires 15 years after Marine leaves the Service Children’s Benefit As a veteran regardless of Marine’s status Benefit can be used once Marine serves 10 years Begins at age 18 & expires at age 26 The benefit that spouses receive is based on the Marines duty status. If Marines are on active duty, the spouse is eligible for the active duty benefit. If the Marine becomes a veteran, the spouse will receive the veteran’s benefit. The spouse is eligible to claim benefits when the Marine reaches 6 years and once transfer application is approved. The benefit expires after all 36 months of benefits are used or 15 years from the sponsor’s separation from active duty, which ever occurs first. Dependent children on the other hand, will always receive the veteran’s benefit, no matter the sponsor’s status. The benefit can be used once the sponsor completes 10 years of active duty service and the child is at least 18, but will expire when the child reaches age 26. The 15-year time after the Marine leaves active duty is not applicable.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Transfer Issues Child under age 23 at time of transfer Marine Determines transferees, number of benefit months for each, and time frame of usage Can adjust or revoke transfer actions at anytime Must be on active duty to add a dependent Benefit continues if Marine dies Transferee applies to VA before entering school Stipends are paid to transferee The transfer to dependents option includes some other points that are important to the Marine. All transfers allowing children to use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits must occur prior to the child becoming 23. No transfer can be made after the 23d birthday. The transfer process allows the Marine to designate the transferee or transferees, the number of months transferred to each, and the timeframes the transferred benefits are to be used. The designations made by the Marine may be changed at anytime—while serving on active duty or as a veteran. The Marine must be on active duty to add new dependents. The benefit continues should the Marine die. In addition to the Sponsor’s application to transfer benefits, the transferee will need to apply to the DVA when ready to start school. Students, no matter if veteran or family member, receive the stipends.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Transferred benefit is lost if: Marine does not complete entire commitment Marine receives less than honorable separation Sponsor/transferee are both financially liable if: Student fails or drops courses Marines who do not complete the service commitment will lose the benefit if the separation is for cause and less than honorable. Separations due to disability, certain medical conditions, or hardship are exempt and will not cause the Marine to lose the benefit. The DVA will hold the Marine and transferee liable in cases of the early separations noted or if the student fails or drops courses. 10

Post-9/11 GI Bill and the MGIB Marine having remaining MGIB benefits may elect to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill and have benefits under both Post-9/11 benefits will apply to college or university programs MGIB benefits will apply for non-Post-9/11 programs—apprenticeship / OJT, flight training, testing, correspondence, and preparatory courses Use all MGIB and have add’l year for Post-9/11 GI Bill Refunds of MGIB contributions Contact the Base Education Office Most Marines elected to participate in the MGIB and will generally have the best of both MGIB and Post-9/11 programs. This situation gives Marines options, especially if more that one type of program is part of educational goals. The Post-9/11 benefit usually pays more for college than the MGIB, but won’t pay for flight training, national testing, apprenticeships, prep courses, or correspondence programs. Having both programs provides the widest range of opportunities. Marines or veterans choosing the Post-9/11 GI Bill will have the opportunities but may have fewer benefits to use. By opting for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, they will have a maximum 36 months of benefits (fewer if some MGIB were already used). On the other hand, Marines or veterans who first use all 36 months of MGIB benefits and can then claim an additional 12 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, for a total 48 months of benefits. Finally, the $1200 pay reduction will be refunded as part of the housing allowance in the final month of Post-9/11 eligibility. The refund will be prorated to deduct any use of MGIB benefits. Contributions toward the $600 additional MGIB benefit cannot be paid when claiming Post-9/11 benefits. Marines should contact the Base Education Office to discuss how GI Bill benefits can best be used to satisfy their educational goals. 11

Post-9/11 GI Bill Resources Base Education Center for guidance and counseling – academic, all GI Bill, and Top Up Dept. of Veterans Affairs for info on all GI Bill programs: http://www.gibill.va.gov/ Listing of 2008-2009 maximum tuition & fess by state: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm#CH33 To apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill: http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp TEB to transfer benefits (site not yet active) BAH Rates: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html Here are the primary Post-9/11 GI Bill sources of information. And, of course, TEB is the website individuals use to transfer benefits. Mr Hawthorne/DPSITE/565-2528/23 Apr 09 12