1. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Higher Education Veterans Programs
Regional Coordinator
Revised 10/21/15

2. Education Benefits Benefit Overview: Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
Go Army Ed
State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
GI Bill
Chapter 1606
Chapter 1607 (Program has been Sunset)
Chapter 30
Chapter 33
Chapter 31
Survivors and Dependents Assistance
OJT/Apprenticeship
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
MN GI Bill

3. Federal Tuition Assistance
Education Benefits
Federal Tuition Assistance
Go Army Ed
FTA funds tuition, doesn’t cover any fees
New PT and height/weight holds – can take up to 30 days to clear
Pays up to $ per semester credit or $ per quarter credit, with a maximum of $4, or 16 semester credits per fiscal year.
Credit cap for undergraduate is 130 semester credits and 39 semester credits for graduate level courses.
To apply for FTA go to
You may apply up to 60 days prior to course start date.
SOU are now electronic and Soldier will be reminded in GAE if required.
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS TEN DAYS PRIOR TO COURSE START!!!

4. GoArmyEd Process Education Benefits
Create an Account at
Complete Steps 1-6
Must have signed SOU
Create Helpdesk ticket for approval
Upload Documents to eFile
SOU (digitally signed, not required to be in efile)
Course Schedule
Billing Statement
Request TA and complete Course Planner (upload Degree Plan/DARS report here)
Input data for each class (must know cost per credit & fee amounts per class)
Submit Help Desk ticket for approval of Course Planner
Print Approval Form
After TA request has been approved, print the authorization form and turn in to the Business Office at your college
School will Enter Grades to GoArmyEd

5. Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
Education Benefits
Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
Pays up to 100% of tuition at UMN rate, no fees
New: Cap per state fiscal year $17,000 for undergraduate level and $36,000 for graduate level
144 Semester/208 quarter credits, max lifetime benefit
Must submit Obligation Request Form to Unit Administration no more than 45 days after start of semester
Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to Unit Administration within 90 days of course completion
Payment will be made directly to the SM

6. Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
Education Benefits
Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
Extended Option
Time limit to use STR may be extended 2 years, plus the amount of time you served on federal active duty or federally funded state active duty.
New: Cap per state fiscal year $17,000 for undergraduate level and $36,000 for graduate level
144 Semester/208 quarter credits, max lifetime benefit
Must submit Obligation Request Form to ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets- no more than 45 days after start of semester
Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to within 90 days of course completion

7. Spouse State Tuition Reimbursement Option
Education Benefits
Spouse State Tuition Reimbursement Option
Up to 12 semester/17 quarter credits per year not to exceed SM’s lifetime benefit of 144 semester/208 quarter credits
Service Member must have 8 years of qualifying service
Same process applies for requesting and receiving funds through Unit Administration
Open to E-1 through O-5, spouses of officers promoted to the grade of O-6 during the school term are eligible until the end of that term

8. GI Bill Education Benefits
Each chapter of the GI Bill is limited to a max of 36 months of full time benefits
May receive up to 48 months of benefits if eligible for more than one chapter
May be used for:
College Degrees & Non-College Degrees
On-The-Job Training & Apprenticeships
Flight Training
Licensing & Certification
Break or interval pay is no longer payable on any chapter of the GI Bill
Payments will be calculated based on the dates your term begins and ends
Partial months will be prorated

9. GI Bill - Qualifying for Two or More Programs
Education Benefits
GI Bill - Qualifying for Two or More Programs
36 months maximum benefit for any one program:
Chapter 1606, 1607, 30 or 33
48 months total benefit for two or more programs-must have qualifying service
Examples:
*SM uses 30 months of Chapter 1606, then qualifies for Chapter 1607 due to MOB; soldier is eligible for 18 months of CH 1607 benefits – total 48 month between CH 1606 & CH 1607.
*SM uses 36 months of CH 1606, then qualifies for CH 30 due to AGR tour; soldier is eligible for 12 months of CH 30 benefits – total of 48 months between CH 1606 & CH 30.

10. Chapter 1606 - Selected Reserve
Education Benefits
Chapter Selected Reserve
No delimiting date if gained eligibility on/after 1 Oct 1992 and remain in an active drilling status
Three Main Eligibility Criteria:
6 Year Contract
High School Diploma or Equivalent
IADT (AIT/OBC) Graduation
Monthly full-time rate is currently $369 per month

11. Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)
Education Benefits
Chapter Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)
The National Defense authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on Nov 25, Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until Nov 25, 2019 while other are no longer eligible for REAP.
Current Reap beneficiaries: Vets who were attending an educational institution on Nov 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter or term ending prior to that date, are eligible to continue to receive REAP benefits until Nov 25, 2019.
REAP beneficiaries not attending school: Vets who applied for REAP but were not attending an educational institution on Nov 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, are no longer eligible for REAP benefits. They may be eligible to receive benefits under Post 9/11 GI Bill.
New REAP applicants: Vets who have not enrolled in school and applied for REAP benefits prior to Nov 25, 2015, are no longer eligible for REAP benefits. However, in most cases, they are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
If you have questions please call the VA at

12. Chapter 30 - Active Duty Education Benefits
Expires 10 years after discharge from active duty
Generally earned by serving 36 months continuous Title 10 service
Guard/Reservists who have served at least 20 months of 24-month Title 10 orders MAY be eligible
AGRs may be eligible
$1,200 buy-in and optional $600 Buy-Up; up to $150 per month for 36 months
Monthly full-time rate is currently: Less than 3 years $1,509.00/3+ years $1,857.00

13. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits
Expires 15 years from date of separation from active duty
Requires minimum of 90 days aggregate active duty service on or after September 11, 2001; or 30 continuous days of active duty service and discharged due to service-connected disability (includes AGR)
Pays eligible percentage of $21, annually at private colleges for Tuition and Fees
Pays eligible percentage of Tuition and Fees at public colleges, with no cap

14. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits
Pays eligible percentage of Monthly Housing Allowance based on E-5 with dependents using school zip code
Housing allowance for students enrolled solely in distance learning is payable based on eligible percentage of $805.50
Service Members on active duty, including AGR, are not eligible for monthly housing allowance
Pays eligible percentage of Books and Supplies up to $1,000 per academic year
Service Members on active duty, including AGR, may receive eligible percentage of books and supplies stipend

15. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits
Eligible percentage is determined by amount of aggregate Title 10 service after September 10, 2001
At least 36 months %
At least 30 continuous days and
discharged due to service connected disability %
At least 30 months < 36 months %
At least 24 months < 30 months %
At least 18 months < 24 months %
At least 12 months < 18 months %
At least 6 months < 12 months %
At least 90 days < 6 months %

16. Transfer option for Chapter 33
Education Benefits
Transfer option for Chapter 33
Transfer option is ONLY available to Service Members who are currently serving
Served 6 years and agree to serve an additional 4 years (AD or SELRES) on date of election
Transfer may only be made to dependents enrolled in DEERS
Payment rates based on Service Member’s eligible percentage
Expiration Date: Spouse 15 years after last active duty separation; Children until age 26 (transfer must be submitted prior to age 23)
Spouse is not eligible for monthly housing allowance when Service Member is on active duty

17. Kicker - Enlistment Contract Incentive
Education Benefits
Kicker - Enlistment Contract Incentive
A Kicker is an enlistment or re-enlistment incentive
If eligible, a Kicker is used in conjunction with Chapter (CH) , 1607, 30, or 33
Maximum benefit is up to $150 per month for 36 months
If you have a kicker and decide to apply for CH 33, always relinquish CH 1606 or CH 30, if eligible. If you relinquish CH , your kicker will not transfer.

18. Chapter 31 – Federal VA Vocational Rehabilitation
Education Benefits
Chapter 31 – Federal VA Vocational Rehabilitation
Veteran with at least VA 20% (10% with severe employment handicap) disability rating may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services – possibly including retraining
If eligible for retraining, you may receive:
Monthly subsistence allowance
Tuition
Fees
Books
Supplies
Equipment
If needed, special services

19. Survivors and Dependents Assistance
Education Benefits
Survivors and Dependents Assistance
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
Available for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Survivors/Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chap 35)
Veteran must be permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition.
Veteran who has died while on active duty as a result of a service-related condition.

20. On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training
Education Benefits
On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training
On-the-job training (OJT) is training employees receive while performing a job and earning wages.
6 months to 2 years
Examples: Police Officer, Highway Patrol Officer, Jailer, Mechanic
Apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction
2 years to 5 years
Examples: Machinist, Ironworker, Electrician, Carpenter, Plumber, Power Line Worker 

21. On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training
Education Benefits
On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11)
100% of eligible housing allowance for the first 6 months of training
Percentage of eligible housing allowance is reduced by 20% every 6 months
Once reduced to 20%, will continue for remainder of training
Up to $83 per month for books and supplies
Chapter 30, 1606, 1607
75% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the first 6 months of training
55% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the second 6 months of training
35% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the remainder of the training program

22. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Education Benefits
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Complete application online at:
If FAFSA reports income is too high for Grants eligibility, request a “Special Circumstances Evaluation” from your Campus Financial Aid Office

23. Minnesota GI Bill Education Benefits Eligibility:
Honorably discharged veteran (as defined by MN Statute )
Dependent eligible to receive Ch 35 or Ch 33 (if Vet has died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of service)
MN resident (as defined by MN Statute 136A.101, subd. 8)
Attending a MN institution or approved OJT program in MN
Maximum benefit:
$1K/semester (full-time), $1K/year OJT
$3K/fiscal year
$10K lifetime
Process:
To apply, contact a Regional Coordinator
“Last Dollar In:” Cost of attendance minus Aid and Benefits

24. Questions? Contact a Regional Coordinator www.mymilitaryeducation.org