Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfers
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, signed into law June 30, 2008, provides the most comprehensive educational benefit package since the original GI bill was enacted in 1944. On Aug. 1, 2009, DoD established criteria for eligible ser- vicemembers enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses and/or children. Servicemembers and veterans and their families have
responded en masse. VA outlays for education rose from $3.23 billion in FY 2008 to $13.68 billion in FY 2014 — a fourfold increase attributable directly to the new GI bill. Of the nearly 1.02 million participants in VA education programs in 2015, 790,507 (78 percent) were using the new GI bill, up from 555,329 out of 923,836 (60 percent) in 2011. Why is the new GI bill so popular? It:
• offers a maximum of 36 months of benefits; • fully covers public school tuition and fees (under- graduate, graduate, and doctorate);
• mandates public schools charge in-state tuition rates; • provides up to $21,084.89 annually for private- school programs;
• offers the Yellow Ribbon Program,* available at many schools for some costs above $21,000;
POST-9/11 GI BILL TRANSFER Servicemember’s service requirements
• Minimum six years’ active or reserve* service • Commit to four additional years • Commitment starts at time of transfer • Only the first transfer action counts
transferred benefit Expiration of
• Up to 15 years after service
* Served in National Guard/Reserve under Title 10 federal service or full-time Guard service, Title 32/sec502(f), retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009.
64 MILITARY OFFICER MAY 2016
• may be used for nondegree programs, vocational schools, flight training, correspondence courses, apprenticeships,* and on-the-job training;
• provides a monthly housing allowance when attend- ing more than half-time*;
• offers a $1,000 annual book and supply stipend; and • can be used to reimburse fees for admissions and course credit tests and certification/licensing tests.
*Active duty servicemembers and their spouses are not eligible. To take advantage of this program, servicemem-
bers and their families must think ahead. The mem- ber must transfer benefits before leaving the service; after separation or retirement, the transfer option is lost forever. Once eligible, a servicemember can transfer at least one month’s benefit before leaving, which locks in transfer management options later. The Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA’s)
Education and Training website (
www.benefits.va .gov/gibill/) provides specific details and resources available from the VBA. The website contains school-
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