Not quite over your life as a military service member? Do you feel that wearing a uniform is like a second skin?
Then perhaps joining the local law enforcement is the right path for you.
If you are wondering whether you can use your hard-earned GI Bill benefits for attending the police academy, and want to know how best to go about it, then here is the quick answer:
The GI Bill can be used to attend police academy through the on-the-job training/apprenticeship category. Covered individuals are veterans receiving benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment programs. The VA provides a stipend equivalent of up to 100% of your applicable Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) during your training period. This is apart from the salary you can receive for your OJT at the union or facility you are attending. Under the GI Bill On-The-Job Training Program, you’ll get a salary which is at least 50% of the industry rate, and can increase as your training progresses.
It is important to note that this benefit (GI Bill on-the-job training) is currently only available to military veterans, and not to their spouse or dependents, nor to individuals currently serving on active duty.
This benefit can also be used for undergoing training for other public safety roles, such as firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency response. Technically police training is classified by the VA as on-the-job training, not to be confused with using your GI Bill for a non-college degree.
You can check out a list of approved participating employers on our database of over 2,934 GI Bill approved Police Departments and Academies.
We answered the most common questions about attending police academy using your GI Bill benefits, so keep reading!
How Do I Know if a Police Academy is VA approved?
First of all, it is important to note that the VA approves education and training programs instead of schools. Therefore, a school or training facility may have both approved and non-approved programs.
If you want to know whether the academy you plan on attending is covered by the VA, visit the WEAMS database with this link.
Otherwise, you can also inquire directly at the academy in question by reaching out to the administrative officer in charge of veterans matters. You should quickly be able to access if it is approved for the GI Bill or not.
You can also call the GI Bill hotline at 1-888-GI-BILL1 (1-888-442-4551) anytime from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and ask to speak with an education case manager for all your related concerns.
Note:
If a school, training facility, or program is not on the list of those approved by the VA, you or the facility can reach out to the State Approving Agency. You may need to submit the VA Form 22-1995 (if you are applying) or the VA Form 22-1999 (if the facility is the one applying). You can get these forms here or at the nearest VA regional processing office.
How Much is the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) when Attending the Police Academy?
As we mentioned earlier, the GI Bill will provide a stipend that you can use during your training period in the academy. This stipend is equivalent to your monthly housing allowance, which is calculated based on the location of the facility where you are undergoing training.
You can use this stipend for your housing expenses, or to supplement your salary from the academy.
This is paid directly to you monthly on an arrears payment scheme (end of the month). The rates on how much you can receive will vary depending on the GI Bill program you are receiving benefits from, and on what stage you are at in your training.
You can refer to the guide below:
Post 9/11 GI Bill OJT MHA
The Post 9/11 GI Bill program bases your receivable stipend on your applicable MHA.
- First 6 months of training: 100% of applicable MHA
- Succeeding months of training: a 20% reduction per 6 months of training time
*You may also receive a monthly books and supplies stipend depending on your eligibility.
Montgomery GI Bill OJT MHA
On the other hand, the Montgomery GI Bill program sets a fixed rate of how much you can receive, depending on whether you belong to the active duty or the Selected Reserve, and how far along you are in your training.
The rates of your receivable stipend is in the table below:
These figures are sourced from the current VA Rate Tables (2019).
Can I attend the Police Academy to be a Police Officer While Staying in the Military Reserve?
If you are a part of the Selected Reserve or the National Guard, don't worry- you can still pursue your dreams of becoming a police officer.
Several law enforcement agencies employ flexible work structures to allow for the demands of being in the reserve and fulfilling military obligations.
Moreover, these law enforcement agencies typically have a reintegration program for officers returning from military duty. This is a coordinated effort between their academy and their behavioral sciences units, and is geared towards re-acclimating you to life as a local police officer.
What are the Top Military Friendly Police Academy Programs for Veterans?
A lot of law enforcement agencies actually prefer hiring individuals with a military training background. This is because most, if not all, of your military skills are either requirements or assets of a police officer's job role.
Not yet decided where you want to go? The Military Times listed the top-ranking law enforcement agencies for veterans, which are:
- Tucson Police Department, Arizona
- Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio
- Denver Police Department, Colorado
- Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas
- Henrico County Police Division, Virginia
- Orange County Sheriff's Office, Florida
And don’t forget to ask potential units about this special benefit:
Some agencies give you the option to count your time in the military towards your retirement pension as a police officer! This is, of course, when you opt to buy in the program. Still, it’s pretty amazing, right?
Check out our database of over 2,934 GI Bill approved Police Departments and Academies.
You can also use the special filter for other on-the-job training/apprenticeship and law enforcement.
