In order to be eligible for the MGIB-SR, CHPT 1606, you must first attend Officer Basic Leadership Course - Reserve Component (OBLC-RC). After you attend this course, you must work with your Administrative NCO (730th = SSG Dickes) and your GI Bill Manager (SPC Cami Bloomgren) to submit the proper paperwork to the VA. You will also need to talk with your University Military Representative to verify your attendance.
As far as paperwork is concerned, when you complete your camp, you will receive form 1059, be sure to have your guard unit administrative NCO scan it in to your permanent records (IPERMS). DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM, as it will be used to both verify your schooling, and approve you for MGIB-SR.
Completing DA FORM 5447-R (Officer Service Agreement) is also a requirement for obtaining MGIB-SR. This form states that you agree to a six year obligation with the National Guard. Please remember that you were sworn in to the National Guard with an initial eight year Mandatory Service Obligation (MSO)m so this shouldn't hinder your participation. You will need to have your State's AMEDD OSM, or GI Bill Manager sign the DA FORM 5447-R. The DA FORM 5447-R should also be scanned into your permanent records (IPERMS).
Please see the attachments below for more information on the MGIB-SR. Also, please note: the amount of money you receive from the GI Bill depends on what GI Bill you qualify for (there are four) and whether or not you are going to school part time or full time (*Only ASRs that are prior service might qualify for different GI Bill).
The contact information for appropriate South Dakota officials is listed below:
SPC Cami Bloomgren
SD GI Bill Manager
605.737.6212 -Work
605.737.6668 - Fax
camillia.bloomgren@sd.ngb.army.mil
Teresa Hays
USD Veterans Services
605.677.8884 work
teresa.hays@usd.edu
SSG Penny Dickes
Administrative NCO
730th ASMC, SDNG
MGIB-SR and Residency:
Keep in mind, Most Residency programs also qualify for the MGIB-SR, and if they don’t, you can request to have them added to the VA’s list of qualifying programs. The MGIB-SR currently pays $329/month for up to 36 months. In order to be eligible, you must also agree to drill for six years starting the day you sign up for the MGIB-SR program. If you have more then 6 years on your current contract, which you should if you have no prior service, time will not be added to the end of your contract. Please see the following website for more information: http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1606/CH1606_Pamphlet.pdf. One little tidbit I learned while researching this information, if you attend OBLC-RC within 90 days of commissioning, your MGIB-SR payment goes up to about $360/month. So, if you wan't to join the national guard, try to sign up the summer before your first year of medical school so that you can attend camp early.
Other Information:
According to the current South Dakota State Education Officer, LTC Charlie Blasdell, If any of the following questions (to follow) perplex you, you may e-mail the VA directly by using this link: https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba/vba.cfg/php.exe/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=Zu1Fddgi&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTUzJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li
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