Education Benefits

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This resource is managed by our FDO team who can be reached here: 133.AW.FSS.FSD.BETM@us.af.mil

Quick links for FTA 

https://afvec.us.af.mil

Funding Flight School Page

Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

Guide to get your GI Bill Ch. 1606 

Most first term 133rd Airlift Wing Airmen will use this GI Bill.

• This pays a monthly stipend while you are in school. 

• Most members use this and the STR at the same time. 

• Ch. 1606 and STR are 2 separate programs managed differently. 

• Ch. 1606 is managed by the VA and the STR is managed within your Unit and supported by our JFHQ MN National Guard State Incentive Team.

Note: There are many different GI Bills, and it can be confusing because they are all called GI Bill. 

• My recommendation is to refer to the GI Bill by the Chapter. 

• This GI Bill is Chapter 1606, also called GI Bill Select Reserve.

• This is the MOST common GI Bill for our 133rd Members.

Basic Eligibility for GI Bill Ch. 1606

You can get benefits through MGIB-SR if you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, and you meet all of these requirements.

• Members who enlist for 6 years, complete tech school, & have a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible to apply for Chapter 1606. 

• This Chapter pays a monthly stipend to members while in school. 

• Unlike Ch. 33, the payment rate is not dependent on the school, but is dependent on the number of credits you take. 

• See Current Rates here for that breakdown

• The benefit is good for 36 months and only pays out when the member is actively in school. 

• So, if you take the summer months off, you will not receive this payment.

• If you are eligible for multiple GI Bills, you can use the Comparison Tool to help you make an informed decision.

• You have either a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Service, or

• You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation, and

• You may need to meet other requirements

Quick Reference for Ch. 1606 below

Guide to access Ch. 1606

Create VA.gov Account

Over-view of GI Bill Ch. 1606 

Check current rates for GI Bill Ch. 1606

Apply for GI Bill Ch. 1606

GI Bill Comparison Tool - Calculate Money Amounts for each Chapter

Create W.A.V.E account here ***if your school's VA rep instructs you too

Payments from GI Bill are Tax-Free

Understand the difference between Ch. 1606 and Ch. 33 - Blog by MSgt Sprick

Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

There are many different GI Bills, and it can be confusing because they are all called GI Bill. 

• My recommendation is to refer to the GI Bill by the Chapter. 

• This GI Bill is Chapter 30, also called GI Bill Active-Duty.

• You would have needed to buy into this GI Bill while on Active-Duty.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Chapter 33

You could get benefits through MGIB-AD if you served at least 2 years on active duty, and you meet all of these requirements.

All of these must be true:

• You were honorably discharged, and

• You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and

• You meet other requirements

Note: If you have only 1 period of service that begins on or after August 1, 2011, and you start receiving payments for MGIB-AD, you may lose your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

Learn more about MGIB-AD

• Options to help deciding which education benefits to use:

1. Calling the VA at 1-888-442-4551 or 1-888-GI-BILL-1.

2. Compare the different GI Bills is the Comparison Tool.

3. VA GI BILL Comparison Brochure

4. Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

Quick Reference Guide for Ch. 30

Ch. 30 Eligibility 

GI Bill Comparison Tool - Calculate Money Amounts for each Chapter

Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

VA GI BILL Comparison Brochure

There are many different GI Bills, and it can be confusing because they are all called GI Bill. 

• My recommendation is to refer to the GI Bill by the Chapter. 

• This GI Bill is Chapter 33. Also called GI Bill Post-9/11. 

• It is typically available to Active-Duty members and members of the Guard / Reserve who have served AGR or Deployed.

Overview

• You may be eligible for benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you’ve served on active duty for at least 90 days, whether continuous (all at once) or interrupted (for shorter periods over time), after September 10, 2001. 

• If you choose to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) instead of the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD, or Chapter 30), you cannot switch back.

• You can get help deciding which education benefits to use:

1. Calling the VA at 1-888-442-4551 or 1-888-GI-BILL-1.

2. Compare the different GI Bills is the Comparison Tool.

3. VA GI BILL Comparison Brochure

4. Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

Transfer Education Benefits

• You may also be eligible to Transfer these education benefits to your Spouse and or Dependents. 

• This is called "TEB" or Transfer Education Benefits. 

• You can learn more about that program here: TEB Information

Quick References for Ch. 33 below

Eligibility Requirements for Ch. 33

How % of Benefit Determined

Get your Certificate of Eligibilty (COE) for Ch. 33

Apply for Ch. 33 (Post-9/11)

GI Bill Comparison Tool - Calculate Money Amounts for each Chapter

Payments from all GI Bill Chapters are Tax-Free

Understand the difference between Ch. 1606 and Ch. 33 - Blog by MSgt Sprick

Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

Get help with VA Programs - Find your County VA Representative here

OVERVIEW

• The Minnesota GI Bill program provides assistance to eligible Minnesota Veterans, currently serving military, National Guard and Reserve members who served after September 11, 2001, and eligible spouses and children. 

• The Program provides a maximum benefit of $15,000. 

• Eligible participants can use the benefit in Higher Education, On-the-job training (OJT)/Apprenticeship or License and Certification.

• This program is different than the Federal GI Bills 

Eligibility Requirements

• Veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time, or;

• Non-Veteran who has served honorably for a total of five credible years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001, or.

• Surviving spouse or children of a person who has served in the military at any time on, and who has died or has a 100% VA-determined permanent and total disability as a direct result of that military service and must be eligible to receive federal education benefits under Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship, or Chapter 35 and provide a certificate of eligibility

• Minnesota Resident – see specific program for requirements

• Full Program and access to apply for it linked below:

MN GI Bill / Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs - State of Minnesota 

State Tuition Reimbursement Brief

This is not a VA Program.