This bill officially expired in 1956, after which, more legislations have been passed to revamp it, add stipulations, and enhance the offered benefits. The three current GI Bill programs in effect are the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and the Forever GI Bill.

Want to find out more about the GI Bill of Rights, its predecessors, and the current GI Bill programs? We’ll explain everything you need to know about the GI Bill down below, so keep reading!

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An Overview: The GI Bill of Rights (Servicemen's Readjustment Act)

The GI Bill of Rights, otherwise known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, was a legislation authored by Harry W. Colmery in 1944, and signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the same year. It aimed to provide benefits for veterans of the Second World War, who were popularly called the G.I.s (hence the name of the bill).

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This legislation provided several benefits that were administered by the Veterans Administration (now called the Department of Veteran Affairs), and included education funds, home and business loans, job training and hiring preference, and unemployment compensation. It also later included more benefits such as VA hospitals, full disability coverage, life insurance, and vocational rehabilitation.

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The History of the GI Bill of Rights

To better understand the GI Bill, it is important to look at how it was shaped through the decades worth of calls for action, trials and errors, and legislations, all geared towards providing assistance to everyone who served in the armed forces.

Below, we will highlight some of the most notable legislations that provided benefits for war veterans.

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Before the GI Bill: The World War Adjusted Act

With the end of the first World War, soldiers were sent home with a train ticket and some pocket money of a little less than $100- a glaringly small amount to thank these fellow countrymen for risking their lives towards patriotic causes.

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To address this, a legislation called the World War Adjusted Act was signed in 1924, which aimed to provide a bonus for war veterans based on the number of days they served.

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Now, while this may sound like a good benefit, there was a huge problem-

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The government was not able to release this bonus immediately, with some receiving their payments as late as 1945. It's important to remember that around this time was when the Great Depression occurred, and these veterans badly needed the money promised to them. 

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Inevitably, this culminated into a major standoff between the current troops and the war veterans. Around 20,000 protesters, called "Bonus Marchers" rallied in Washington DC in 1932, where then-president Herbert Hoover called the order to send the troops, further raising the tension and widening the divide between the administration and the veterans.

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This Bonus March became a turning point in calling for better privileges for the members of the armed forces.

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Where It All Began: The GI Bill of Rights

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Succeeding president Franklin Roosevelt, who first took seat in 1933, was committed to changing this situation. Benefits for servicemen and veterans became a more important issue with the start of the second World War in 1939.

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To prepare for the return of troops after the war ends, and make sure that they will be receiving due compensation and benefits, Roosevelt and the Congress played around with several ideas, but most of these features restricting limitations.

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Then, come January 1944, Harry W. Colmery, who was at the time the American Legion National Commander and the Republican National Chairman, proposed the first ever GI Bill. Its aim was to provide many different benefits for the World War 2 troops that were soon to come home, and more importantly, it was inclusive of all genders and income brackets.

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The GI Bill of Rights was signed into law by Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, and officially expired on July 25, 1956.

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Benefits included in this act were:

• Educational funds of up to $500 in tuition costs at approved institutions
• Guaranteed home and business loans with low interest rates, which allowed a lot of people to leave the city and choose suburban life
• Unemployment compensation of $20 weekly for up to 1 year, as well as job training and hiring preference

The education and training benefits existed until 1956, and made higher education possible for these war veterans. Roughly 8 million veterans- almost 50% of the total World War 2 veteran head count- took advantage of this benefit and went to college.

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On the other hand, the unemployment compensation provided 9 million veterans with almost $4 billion immediately after the act was signed in 1944 until sometime in 1949. Finally, the last benefit to expire were the government insured home loans, which were offered until 1962. 

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Later on in 1966, these benefits were extended to include those who served in the armed forces during peacetime, through the Readjustment of Benefits Act. Through the years, other benefits were also added, such as full disability coverage, life insurance, and vocational rehabilitation. Hospitals specifically for veterans were also built.

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Problems with the GI Bill of Rights 

One glaring problem with the GI Bill of Rights is on its actual utilization by the veterans who were the bill’s beneficiaries. While the GI Bill of Rights featured several key benefits, and many different benefits were added later on, most of these were not being utilized, except for the educational benefit. Take the unemployment assistance, for example. While 20% of the GI Bill of Rights’ overall budget was allocated to this particular benefit, it was rarely availed by the war veterans.

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Another and more important issue is that while Colmery’s GI Bill was designed to be inclusive, it still was not able to address the problems of racial and gender discrimination, both of which were considerably worse in the southern states. 

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The then Veterans Administration who was in charge of distributing the benefits was an all white staff, and preference were given to fellow whites. Schools and other learning institutions were mostly still practicing segregation, meaning, there were limited options for non-white veterans to choose from, and schools admissions took preference over male students. 

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This profiling was also prevalent in veterans trying to apply for home loans. Banks rarely approved loans by African Americans, even though these applications came with government backing. And, in either case, a lot of the new suburban neighborhoods did not accept African American residents anyway. This all resulted in a majority of the whites moving into the suburbs, while the blacks remained in the cities- a state of affairs that shaped the nation’s socio economic development in the years to come.

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What Takes It's Place Today: The Three GI Bill Programs

The end of the two World Wars should not mean that the veterans of the armed forces were going to stop receiving their due benefits. In fact, more and more legislations were written that were designed to enhance these benefits, whether the veteran served in peacetime or in war. (Although, it should be taken into account that major conflicts are usually what brings about new legislations.)

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The most notable change in these legislations is that they are all focused on the educational aspect of the original GI Bill. Although the VA currently still administers other benefits for veterans, these are done so under different programs separate from the GI Bill. 

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As of this year, 2019, there are three GI Bill programs that are currently still in effect. These are:

• The Montgomery GI Bill
• The Post 9/11 GI Bill 
• The Forever GI Bill 

The benefits covered under these GI Bills are divided into the following categories:

• Institutions of higher learning (college, post-graduate, and second degrees)

-For public schools, the VA covers the full in-state cost of tuition, while for private schools, there is a set annual maximum amount payable, which changes per academic year and per GI Bill program. Eligible recipients can receive tuition and fees payments, as well as a monthly allowance for housing (MHA) and a stipend for books and supplies. 

You can check the current payment rates on the VA Rate Tables.

• Non-college degree granting institutions (vocational and trade schools programs)

-The payment rates follow the ones for institutions of higher learning.

• Apprenticeships and on-the-job training

-A monthly stipend is provided to you equivalent to your applicable MHA, and rated depending on how far along you are in your training. There may also be an additional stipend for books and supplies, depending on your eligibility.

• Vocational flight and correspondence schools

-The rates are exclusively for tuition costs, which varies per academic year and GI Bill program.

• Licensing and Certification Tests

-The VA pays up to $2,000 in actual test costs for all approved licensing and certification examinations. You can do a search of approved tests on the WEAMS Search Tool. 

Other benefits are cooperative and entrepreneurship training, and independent and distance learning.

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We will discuss each of these GI Bill programs below:

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Montgomery GI Bill 

Perhaps one of the driving forces towards improving the GI Bill of Rights was with the advent of the Vietnam War, which lasted from late 1955 to mid 1975. As more and more troops were deployed into war zones, it was essential that they came back to adequate and just compensation and benefits.

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This is why, in 1984, former Mississippi Congressman Gillespie “Sonny” Montgomery proposed to revamp the GI Bill of Rights, and to make it permanent.

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This legislation was signed on June 1st of 1984 by then-president Ronald Reagan as the GI Bill Continuation Act, but more commonly known as the Montgomery GI Bill, after its primary author Sonny Montgomery. Focusing on education, this bill provided educational funds for veterans who want to take up higher education at public institutions.

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One key difference with the original GI Bill of Rights is that the Montgomery GI Bill is an opt-in program that active duty members of the armed forces and the Selected Reserves can sign up for during basic training.

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In essence, the program works like this: you get a $100 monthly salary deduction on your first 12 months of active duty service, and in exchange, you get 36 months of fully funded educational benefits. There is also an added option, called the buy-up program, wherein you can pay an additional $600 to receive an extra $5,400 in educational funds.

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The Montgomery GI Bill is divides into two programs- Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Under the MGIB-AD, you can use your benefits at least 2 years after your pay was first deducted, and up to 10 years after you retire from the service. On the other hand, if you are under the MGIB-SR, you can use your benefits as long as you are in the reserves.

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Your entitlement benefits also depends on whether your active duty enlistment lasted for three years or more. Furthermore, there are 4 eligibility categories under the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty, which you can check out on the VA website.

Post 9/11 GI Bill 

With the turn of the century came 9/11- a terrorist attack on the twin towers on September 11, 2001, an event that would rock the nation, and live in infamy for the years to come. Along with the combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the pressure on lawmakers to increase and enhance benefits for servicemen strengthened.

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This culminated in the creation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Officially called the Veterans Educational Assistance Act, it was introduced by former senator Jum Webb, and signed into law by then-president George W. Bush on June 30, 2008. (It’s also referred to as the 21st Century G.I. Bill of Rights, or the Webb G.I. Bill.)

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It went into effect on August 1st of 2009, and can be used by service members who retired or separated from the service on or after September 10, 2001.

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Here are some of the key differences between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill:

• Rather than being an opt-in program, service members are qualified into the Post 9/11 GI Bill based on their length of active duty service, and they can start receiving benefits after applying at the VA.

The minimum requirement for eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill is 90 days of active duty service on or after September 10, 2001 (or 30 consecutive days, if you were discharged due to a service connected disability). 

Your eligibility percentage- meaning, how much benefits you are entitled to- goes up the longer you serve in the military. 90 days of service is equivalent to a 40% eligibility percentage, and goes up to 100% as you reach 36 months of service or more.

• The validity of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is 15 years after retirement from the service, unlike the Montgomery GI Bill’s 10-year limit...however read on because the Forever GI Bill changes this.
• The Post 9/11 GI Bill also added the long-awaited option to transfer benefits to spouse and children dependents

Forever GI Bill

Finally, the most recent legislation on veterans benefits is the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, more popularly known as the Forever GI Bill. It was signed into law in 2017 by current president Donald Trump.

Perhaps the most important highlight of this bill is the unlimited time frame to utilize the benefits that service members have earned during their service (hence the name Forever GI  Bill). Much of the benefits structure is similar to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, with some changes and added benefits, and applies to those who left the armed forces on or after January 1, 2013.

Other highlights of the Forever GI Bill include:

• Spouses spouses dependents under the Fry Scholarship can now take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon program, which went into effect last August 1, 2018.
• There is a provision of an additional 9 months of educational benefits for those who are taking up a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) related program. This is provided that they have little or no entitlement benefits left to finish their education. 
• Certain types of work-study programs have been permanently authorized without needing to be reviewed.
• Benefits can now be restored, and added relief provided, for veterans using the GI Bill whose benefits were terminated due to school closures or VA disapprovals. Additionally, Reservists who are using the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) and who lost benefits due to the "sunset provision" may use the Post 9/11 GI Bill instead, on the basis of their military service.
• Both veterans and dependents who want to take independent study programs- post-secondary level education or vocational training- can do so, provided that they are using Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, and are studying at accredited career and technical schools.

The GI Bill is a wonderful tool for all veterans to take advantage of in pursuing their education and advancing their careers after their time in the military.

To learn more about each of the current GI Bill programs, browse our other exhaustive GI Bill guides below on our blog.

Can I Use the GI Bill to Get a Private Pilot’s License?

Yes, you can use your GI Bill benefits to get your private pilot’s license...

...but there is a catch:

Normally the Post 9/11 GI Bill requires you to already have a private pilot license, and pays for commercial certifications...which makes sense, as they want to pay for training that will result in gainful employment as a commercial pilot. 

If you’d like to get your private pilot license on the GI Bill, you can do this by attending a public or private university degree program, such as a 4-year degree program from Embry-Riddle, where they will train you from no-flight experience, all the way through your commercial certifications.  

Can I Use the GI Bill to Get a Commercial Pilot’s License, and/or ATP Certificate?

You can use your GI Bill benefits to get a commercial pilot license (CPL) or an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate.

This training will typically be done at either a 4-year public university, a 4-year private university like Embry-Riddle, or at your local flight school (non-college).

The amount you get depends on which of the three options you choose. 

Keep reading below to learn the exact specifics. 

The GI Bill will also pay for the actual costs of licensing or certification, with a maximum of $2,000 per test.  You can retake the test until you pass (or in case you need to retake it for license renewal) as long as you have remaining entitlement benefits.

For all licensing and certification tests, your entitlement is charged based on the actual test cost.

To qualify for this benefit, you must have a private pilot license, and a first class or second class medical certificate. 

If you want to use your GI Bill benefits in get reimbursed for any testing, fill out the VA Form 22-0803 and send it to the Ask a Question website, or by mail to the nearest VA Regional Processing Office.

However, before you can start your flight training, you need to be sure you meet the requirements for such a program:

What are the Qualifying Requirements to Use the GI Bill for Flight Training?

The GI Bill can be used for flight training in order to become a commercial pilot or an airline transport pilot, as long as you meet the qualifying requirements, which are:

• A private pilot license, and
• A medical certificate (second class if you want to be a commercial pilot, or first class if you want to be an airline transport pilot)

This benefit is available for veterans who are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty (MGIB-AD), and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP).

Your Options To Pay For Flight Training With the GI Bill:

You have three core options if you want to use your GI bill to pay for your fixed-wing flight training.

Pros:

A possible advantage in some circumstances is that a private university might have a higher quality of education, or specialization, in flight training. This could also lead to a higher success rate in airline pilot placement. Embry-Riddle was recently named “Most Likely To Land You a Job”. 

The other advantage we already mentioned is that if you don’t already have a private pilot’s license, you can get one as part of your degree. 

Cons:

Since it’s a private university, and there are usually steeper tuition rates, the VA caps how much they will pay with the GI bill to $24,476.79 per academic year. For this reason, I think it’s worth considering going to a public college that has a flight program. 

*You need to check with the university to see the total cost (including flight training and certifications)--most times, the cost is well above the $24, 476.79 cap.

However, you’ll still get a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), and a books and supplies stipend. 

3. Enroll in a Part 141 Accredited Vocational Flight Program

What exactly is this?

Well, there are two types of FAA certifications flight schools can have: Part 61 and Part 141.

Part 141 is more stringent, and accredited. The VA will only make GI Bill payments to a Part 141 flight school certified by the VA.

Click here to search our database of all the Part 141 flight schools approved by the VA for the GI Bill. 

Another option is to just search Google for: “Part 141 flight school” near me. Be sure to call them and ask if they are approved by the VA. 

Pros:

Biggest reason to use a program like this if you don’t want to spend another 2-4 years getting a degree. A good example of this: you’ve already got your pilots license, and want to quickly get your commercial pilot license and/or ATP quickly.  

Cons:

You don’t get as much money.

The GI Bill will pay the lesser or total cost of training or the annual cap- which is $13,986.72. If you’ve only got a private pilot license, the total cost to get your commercial pilot license, and CFI certificates is going to be around $63,995. 

There is a BIG gap here, so make sure you have a plan for financing if going this route. 

If you’re looking for student loan options (specific for flight training), AOPA recently launched a program that provides up to $100,000 of financing with no money down. 

A word of caution:

Before you start taking on loads of debt, you need to do a thorough analysis to make sure it will have a positive return on investment, and you want to make sure you’re future commercial pilot career will be able to pay it back!

Please note: 

How much GI Bill benefit you can get depends on which GI Bill program you are using, the program and type of school you are attending, and your eligibility percentage (how long you were on active duty service).

Using the Post 9/11 GI Bill for Flight Training

The rates above will apply, meaning, you can get the full in-state tuition cost or up to $24,476.79 per year, plus a Monthly Housing Allowance based on your classes’ location, and up to $1,000 as stipend for books and supplies. Or if you’re attending a vocational school, then up to $13,986.72 per year.

The actual rates you can receive depends on your eligibility percentage. Use this table as a guide to figure out how much you qualify for:

Using the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty (MGIB-AD) for Flight Training

The GI Bill will pay for 60% of all approved charges. How much you can actually receive depends on how long you have served, as well as whether you are attending school full time.

You get up to $1,994 per month if you were enlisted for at least 3 years, or up to $1,619 per month if you were on active duty for at least a year (or at least 30 days and was discharged due to a service connected disability).

Your benefits entitlement are charged as 1 month of entitlement per every $1,994 (or $1,619) paid. 

Using the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) for Flight Training

How much the VA pays in your tuition costs depends on your training level (how far along you are with your training). You can get:

• 24% of all approved charges once you are at least at the 40% level,

• 36% of all approved charges once you reach the 60% level, and

• 48% of all approved charges once you get to the 80% level

 

You can get up to $1,595.20 if you served for at least 2 consecutive years, $1,196.40 if you served for at least a year, or $797.60 if you served for at least 90 consecutive days.

Like the MGIB-AD, you are charged 1 month of entitlement for every full-time rate paid.

Again, these rates depend on whether you are studying full time. To determine the rate of what you are actually eligible for, use this table as a guide:

Note

The rates mentioned above for all GI Bill programs are based on the payment rates for Academic Year 2019. These rates may vary each year. You can check out the current rates at the VA Rate Tables.

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Will the GI Bill pay for ATP Training & Certificate?

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Like we mentioned, you can use the GI Bill to get an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) training, and ATP certificate. However, you need to have a first class medical certificate in order to qualify. 

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If you want to use the GI Bill for attending a flight school, fill out the VA Form 22-1990 and submit it online to the  Ask a Question website, or by mail to the nearest VA Regional Processing Office.

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Now, we mentioned earlier that your school or training program needs to be Part 141 accredited in order for you to be able to use your GI Bill benefits. What does this mean, exactly?

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Part 61 vs Part 141: What’s the Difference?

These two are flight training regulations set by the FAA. Here are their key differences:

Part 61 is a more relaxed approach to flight training where you usually hire a certified flight instructor to learn about the aspects of flight, then go through flight tests and earn flight hours for each training that you have to complete.

It works best for those who have a lot of things that need their attention and cannot commit all of their time in flight training.

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On the other hand, Part 141 is a more rigorous flight training program that is conducted at a flight school through a thoroughly planned training program that meets a strict set of rules and regulations.

This is the only flight training program that is approved by the FAA, and thus, the only one where you can use your GI Bill benefits on.

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While it may sound harder, with a Part 141 training, you can finish your training with much less flight hours and become a licensed pilot sooner. Taking the Part 61 approach is recommended for getting a private pilot’s license (if you want to take up commercial or ATP flight training through a vocational school) since the GI Bill won’t pay for it anyway.

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Since we are talking about flight hours and length of training, one question that is often asked is:

How Long Does It Take to Become an Airline Pilot?

This depends on the approach that you want to take. The flight training alone at a vocational school may just take a few months per flight category, while a degree program can take 4 years- although, once you’re done, you’ll most likely have completed all the required training and flight hours, meaning, you can get licensed.

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But that’s only half of it: 

You need 1500 hours for an ATP, which is required to fly for the airlines. So, the route most civilian pilots take to get those hours is to teach as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in order to get those required hours. 

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Basically, if you go with the vocational school approach, while you can opt to take long breaks in between trainings, the total training time to become an ATP pilot amounts to more or less 4 years as well.

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The required number of flight hours per flight category is as follows:

• For a private pilot’s license- 30 to 45 flight hours

• For a commercial pilot’s license- 150 flight hours

• For an airline transport pilot certificate- 1500 flight hours

We get it- all these numbers can be daunting. But becoming a licensed pilot opens up a lot of possibilities.

Here are just a few of them:

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What Qualifications Can I Get Through Flight Training?

Some of the many qualifications that you can get when you train to be an airline pilot include:

• Rotary wing or Fixed Wing

• Multi-Engine

• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)

• Type Ratings (such as 737)

Other Options to Pay for Flight Training

Now that you know all about using your GI Bill benefits for flight training, you may come to the realization that you have a low eligibility percentage, or how much the GI Bill can pay just won’t be enough- especially if you dream of attending one of the more expensive flight schools in the country.

Well, here’s the good thing:

There are a lot of other options you can take advantage of aside from (or along with) the GI Bill!

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The Forces to Flyers Program

The Department of Transportation launched the Forced to Flyers Program under their Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. It covers a lot of certification programs, including getting a private pilot’s license (which the GI Bill does not pay for).

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Through this accelerated training program, you can finish your training in as short as 4 months, and can get up to $12,526 for training costs. 

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Find out more about the Forces to Flyers program and all the certification programs that they offer by visiting the VOLPE website.

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Other Scholarships and Grants

The FAA has a regularly updated list of accredited grants and scholarships for flight training that you can check out. Moreover, there are also ones that are specific for veterans, such as the Stripes to Bars scholarship. 

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Becoming a licensed pilot has never been easier for veterans like you, thanks to the GI Bill.


If you are ready to start your journey to reach the skies, check out our list of 316 VA approved flight schools.

When can you use it? If your active duty service ended before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use your GI Bill benefits.

But, if you separated from the service on or after January 1, 2013, there is no time limit to your entitlement, thanks to the Forever GI Bill.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill is divides into two programs- Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). 

Are you eligible? There are 4 eligibility categories under the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty, which you can check out on the VA website, but basically, you need to have rendered at least 2 years of active duty service, and have been contributing $100 a month on your first year.

Your eligibility depends on whether you have completed 3 years of enlistment.

When can you use it? For the MGIB-AD, you have 10 years to use your benefits, while for the MGIB-SR, you can use your benefits for as long as you are in the Reserve.

If you believe that you are eligible for both GI Bills, you will have to choose which one to use- and this is an irrevocable decision.

The best way to go about this is to consult with a career counselor in your service branch, so you can weigh your options and figure out which GI Bill you can benefit the most from.

How Much GI Bill Money Can I Get for Trade School?

Let's say you are already under a GI Bill program. Now, you have to decide on which approach to take to take regarding your trade school education.

To help you do so, we have outlined the benefits you can get for each option.

Non-College Degree Program Payout

Post 9/11 GI Bill: The VA will pay up to the full in-state cost or the national maximum of $24,476.79, depending on your eligibility percentage. You may also get an MHA based on the location of your classes, as well as up to $83 a month for books and supplies.

Note: If you take a fully online program, your MHA will only be half of the national average.

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Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty: The VA will pay up to $1,994 a month on tuition costs if you have completed at least 3 years of enlistment, or $1,619 if your active duty service was less than 3 years.

Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve: The VA will pay up to $392 a month on tuition costs.

These rates further depend on your rate of pursuit. Use this table as a guide on how much you can receive depending on whether you study full time or less:

On-The-Job Training/ Apprenticeship Payout

Post 9/11 GI Bill: The VA will pay you a monthly stipend based on your applicable MHA. These rates vary depending on your training level. Use the table below as a guide:

Montgomery GI Bill: For both the MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR, the VA will pay you a monthly stipend at a fixed monthly rate based on how long you were on active duty service. Use the table below as a guide:

Note: All the rates mentioned above for all GI Bill programs are based on the payment rates for Academic Year 2019. These rates may vary each year. You can check out the current rates at the VA Rate Tables.

Licensing and Certification Payout

For both the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, the VA will reimburse you the actual test cost for the licensing or certification test you took, whether you passed or failed (up to $2000).

You can retake the test as many times as you need, and the VA will pay for it as long as you have remaining entitlement benefits. 

Note: This benefit is currently not applicable to MGIB-SR.

Pro-tip

Here is the best part yet: You don’t have to choose just one program in pursuing your trade school education!

You can study at a non-college degree institution, then take your apprenticeship with a VA accredited employer, and then get your license or certificate- and all of it will be covered by the GI Bill (provided, of course, that you have enough entitlement benefits)!

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What Trades or Skills Can I Learn Using the GI Bill?

Earlier, we mentioned some of the most popular and in-demand career options that you can get into when you study at a trade school. Truthfully, you can be anything from being a yoga or dive instructor. The possibilities are endless!

But, you can also choose a career that is closely related to your role when you were in the military. This way, you already have the essential skills set, and can transition more easily to civilian life. 

Here are some of the top career choices related to your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS):

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Army: You can easily start a career in construction and heavy equipment operation, and earn a salary ranging from $45-71,000. Here are some jobs in this field:

• Architectural Drafting
• Carpentry
• Construction Management

Other lucrative options include truck driving and security related work.

Navy: The field of information technology (IT) might be right up your alley. You can earn anywhere from $62-82,000 by doing:

• Computer Network Support
• Computer Programming
• Web Development

Or, you can also pursue a career in aviation or dental hygiene.

Air Force: Your ideal career would be in the field of aviation, where you can earn a median salary of $52-62,000. Some of your job options include:

• Aircraft Maintenance
• Avionics Technician
• Airfield Operations Specialist 

Army National Guard: You might be looking for a career in the surveillance and law enforcement fields, where you can make $44-69,000 by becoming a:

• Security Systems Technician
• Municipal Firefighter
• Police Officer

You can even try out jobs in helicopter repair or food service.

Coast Guard: You know the ins and outs of operating water vessels, so it would be easy for you to get into the same field in the civilian community. Some of your career choices include:

• Vessel Operator
• Human Resources
• Ship Engineer

Marine Corps: The ideal choice of career for you lies in the clerical field, where you can make a median salary of $24-39,000. Some clerical jobs are:

• Accountant
• Medical Secretary
• Library Technician

Or, you can try a career in navigation and flight.

With the GI Bill, your opportunities are endless. Once you are ready to start on your journey to success in your civilian career, you can apply for veteran benefits at the VA website by using the Ask a Question button. 

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Want to find out about the 29,000+ more opportunities you can take advantage of with your GI Bill? Head on to milversity.com/explore
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First, let’s start with the basics.

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How Long Is The GI Bill Good For After Retirement?

The validity of your GI Bill benefits depends on when you separated from the military.

If you left the service before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use all the benefits you have earned- otherwise, you lose whatever benefits you have left after the 15-year limit.

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But if you separated on or after January 1, 2013, your benefits fall under the Forever GI Bill, which means that there is no expiration to your benefits!

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If you fall under the first category, you might feel the need to start using your benefits as early as possible.

 

Although you can start using your GI Bill benefits while you are still active duty- that is, as soon as you meet the minimum required time of your active duty service- the best option is still for you to use your benefits after you separate from the military.

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This way, you can make the most of your benefits, as there are certain limitations on what benefits and how much of these benefits you can use while on active duty.

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But, what if you don't have any concrete plans on using your GI Bill benefits, and yet don't want them to go to waste?

 

Is the GI Bill Transferable?

The good news is that you have the option to transfer your unused benefits to your eligible spouse or children while you are still on active duty.

This became possible in 2009 and currently only applies to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

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This applies whether you are in the active duty service or the Selected Reserve, and whether you are an enlisted military member or an officer.

You can also transfer your benefits to as many dependents as you want- spouse and/or children.

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To be able to transfer your GI Bill benefits, you must meet certain requirements:

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How Long Do I Have to Be in the Military to Transfer my GI Bill?

The minimum requirement to be eligible to transfer your GI Bill benefits is that you should have served on active duty for at least 6 years on or after August 1, 2009.

But, transferring benefits also comes with an additional obligation to serve for 4 more years.

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Exception To Transfer Policy

Alternatively, you can also qualify to transfer GI Bill benefits if you have served for at least 10 years, but cannot commit to serving 4 more years due to a regulation.

This could be due to mandatory retirement, high-year tenure, or medical reasons such as disability.

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New GI Bill Transfer Rule

It is important to note that there is new legislation regarding transferring your GI Bill benefits, which went into effect on July 12, 2019.

Under this new rule, only active duty service members with less than 16 years of service are allowed to transfer their unused GI Bill benefits to their dependents. Once you pass the 16-year limit, you can only use your benefits yourself.

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One silver lining to this restriction:

Service members who were wounded in combat are automatically excluded to both this 16-year limit and the 4-year service commitment requirement if they wish to transfer their benefits.

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Can I Transfer My GI Bill Benefits After Separation From the Military?

Many service members don't realize (until after separation/retirement) that they would rather transfer their GI Bill benefits to their dependents.

This is especially true for veterans with kids who are going to college; figuring out how to come up with tuition fees payments.

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The problem is, under most circumstances, you can only transfer your GI Bill benefits to your dependents while you are still on active duty service.

What you can do as a veteran is only to reallocate benefits to your dependents who are already receiving transferred benefits.

The best way around this:

Add all your eligible dependents as recipients of your GI Bill benefits while you are still in the service. Transferring even just a month of benefits entitlement will put them in the system.

Later on, you can always reallocate your benefits among yourself and your dependents.

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Having said these things, there are a couple of scenarios where GI Bill benefits may be transferred after leaving the service.

These are:

• If the service member died while on active duty on or after August 1, 2009,
• If a dependent receiving transferred benefits died on or after August 1, 2009, or
• If the service member separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009

We will go into detail on each of these scenarios in a bit (or you can skip to the section on Exemptions to the Active Duty Rule).

But first, let us answer the most common question with regards to transferring GI Bill benefits:

Who can you transfer them to?

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The basic rule is that only eligible dependents- spouse and children- who are registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) can receive transferred GI Bill benefits.

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There are certain rules and restrictions on dependents using transferred benefits. We'll go into detail on some of these below:

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Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Spouse?

Yes, you can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to your spouse. Here are the rules and restrictions:

• When can the recipient start using the benefits? 
  • Your spouse can use transferred benefits immediately- as soon as the transfer request is processed and approved.
• Is there a time limit to using transferred benefits?
  • If you separated from the service before January 1, 2013, your spouse has 15 years to use transferred benefits. Otherwise, there is no time limit to using GI Bill benefits.
• Are there restrictions?
  • If your spouse uses transferred benefits while you are still on active duty, he/she is not eligible to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
• Other important notes?
  • Your spouse can continue using transferred benefits even after you legally separate or get divorced, as long as the transfer was done while you were still married.

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Child?

Yes, you can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to your child. Here are the rules and restrictions:

• When can the recipient start using the benefits?
  • Your child can start using transferred benefits after you have served for at least 10 years on active duty, and once the child secures a high school diploma (or equivalent), or turns 18 years old.
• Is there a time limit to using transferred benefits?
  • A child who is using transferred benefits can only use these benefits until he/she turns 26 years old.
• Are there restrictions?
  • In terms of housing, no. A child receiving transferred benefits can still get MHA if he/she uses the benefits while you are on active duty.
• Other important notes?
  • Transferred benefits can be divided among your children, and they can continue using these benefits even after they get married (as long as they are below 26 years old). 

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Siblings, Parents, or Relatives?

No. The option to transfer GI Bill benefits is currently only available to spouses and children dependents.

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to an Unborn Child?

No, simply because anyone receiving transferred benefits must be registered in DEERS.

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But, what if you have a child after you separate from the military? Does that mean you don't have any option to transfer benefits to this new member of the family?

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Sadly, the answer is still no. But this might change soon! 

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The Veteran Education and Transfer Extension Act was recently introduced by Senator Cory Booker, which aims to allow veterans to transfer benefits to their spouse or children if they get married or have children after they retire from the service.

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Exemptions to the Active Duty Rule

Now, let's talk about the scenarios wherein you can transfer GI Bill benefits after your separation from the military. As we mentioned earlier, these are:

• If the service member died while on active duty on or after August 1, 2009,
• If a dependent receiving transferred benefits died on or after August 1, 2009, or
• If the service member separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009

Here is how you can go about in transferring benefits under these scenarios:

How to Transfer the GI Bill of a Deceased Benefit Recipient

Transferring GI Bill benefits of deceased service members (or dependents using transferred benefits) to their surviving dependents is now possible through the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Assistance Act of 2017.

This works for those who died after August 1, 2009.

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Here is how you can do it:

If you are an active duty service member or a veteran transferring benefits of a deceased dependent to another dependent (or yourself):

Submit a written request to the VA through the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website. Through this website, you can designate, modify, and revoke existing transfers. 

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However, this only works if the dependent you want to transfer the benefits to is already enrolled in DEERS.

If not, you and and the dependent will have to process the transfer in person, by going to a Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) center. Make sure to bring 2 proofs of identification.

If you are a surviving dependent transferring to another dependent (or yourself):

Reach out to the nearest Regional Processing Office in person, or online through the Submit a Question button on the GI Bill website.

(If you are new to the system, you have to first create a user ID and login) 

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Select the Colmery Section 110 from the list, and provide the following information:

• Your full name and Social Security Number
• The name and date of death of the service member
• The name of the dependent to receive transferred benefits
• The relationship of the dependent to the deceased service member

For more information, you may visit the VA website.

How to Transfer the GI Bill Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Waiver

Since the option to transfer GI Bill benefits to dependents only became available in 2009, not many are aware of this option. 

The Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Waiver was created for those who separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009, who may not have known about the possibility of transferring benefits and left the military before they could do so.

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To request for a transfer of benefits, here’s what you should do:

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Contact the Record Correction Boards and file for a Correction of Military Record.

Fill out the DD Form 149 and explain your case. You can get the form as well as instructions and contact details for your service branch through this link.

The board will determine whether you can be allowed to transfer benefits on a case to case basis.

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When transferring your GI Bill benefits, it’s best to first talk about it with a career counselor in your service branch. If you’re already out of the service, you can still reach out to them through the contact details listed here.

Whether it’s you or your dependents who will be using the GI Bill educational benefits, there are a lot of amazing opportunities just for the taking.

Find out about the 29,000+ opportunities on how to use your GI Bill benefits by visiting milversity.com/explore

What is Terminal Leave?

Nearing your separation or retirement from the military, there are bound to be a lot of preparations to be made, such as relocating to your old family home or to a new one, deciding whether to go to school or find a job (and do the necessary preparations for it), and so many more.

But, doing all these things after you retire translates to weeks or months without a paycheck. Unless you have some fat savings and don’t have to worry about your finances, you need to figure out a better way to go about this- and that is by taking a terminal leave.

Terminal leave is paid leave that is taken right before your contract of obligation in the service expires.

It comes from all your accrued leave that you haven’t been using (and are not part of the “use it or lose it” accrued leave in excess of the 60-day limit). 

You can find how many days of leave you can use as a terminal leave under the Expiration Term of Service (ETS) Balance on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). 

Note that this number is an approximation, and can change if you take a leave between now and your date of separation, as well as if you earn extra leave days under special circumstances.

Do I Get BAH if I Take Terminal Leave?

When you're on terminal leave, you're essentially already out of the service because you are actually required to process all your separation or retirement papers before you go on leave

(meaning, after the last day of your terminal leave, you are, once again, a civilian. No need to report to duty anymore!)

Although, since a terminal leave is just like an ordinary paid leave, it goes to say that you are entitled to continue to receive your salary and your benefits while on terminal leave.

This includes your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), among other benefits. This means that you can enjoy and make the most of your leave without any worries!

But, the question is, how much BAH will you get during your terminal leave?

Is My Terminal Leave BAH for My HOR or ETS location?

You may or may not have been receiving a housing allowance as an active duty service member, depending on your living situation- such as whether you are staying in the barracks.

But once you start on your terminal leave, you may be entitled to receive a housing allowance benefit.

The rate of how much BAH you can get depends on the address you provide as your ETS address (as opposed to your Home of Record (HOR) address).

So, for example, even if your permanent residence is listed as in Ohio, if you are going to be residing in, let’s say, San Diego, once you get out of the service, then you’ll get San Diego BAH rates.

This is if you are not currently receiving a housing allowance that is for “with dependent housing allowance for dependents residing separately,” as if you are on active duty service and residing in Hawaii, while your spouse and children are way back in New Jersey.

If so, you will simply continue to receive BAH at this rate throughout your terminal leave.

As you're approaching terminal leave and want to explore what states you want to live in, you can use this nifty interactive county map tool here.

What are Other Benefits that I get to Keep if I Take Terminal Leave?

Here is the best part:

As we hinted earlier, a housing allowance or BAH is not the only benefit that you can still get and take advantage of while you are on your hard earned and well-deserved terminal leave. Aside from your base pay (and most of your other additional pays), you continue to receive benefits such as:

• Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
• COLA, FLPP, etc
• Health and dental insurance
• Tricare
• Use of base facilities
• Military shopping and uniform allowance

Given all these amazing perks, there is absolutely no reason for you not to use and take advantage of your terminal leave!

Want to find out about 29,000+ opportunities you can grab with your GI Bill benefits after your time in the military? Visit milversity.com/explore

Want to know more about terminal leave, how it's calculated, and how much you can earn from selling back your leave? We'll explain everything to you, so keep reading!

What is Terminal Leave?

The term “terminal leave” (also called transition leave) applies to the leave taken by an active duty service member immediately prior to his retirement from service.

This leave comes from any accrued and unused leave, and is typically used to prepare for transitioning into civilian life. 

Generally, active duty service members accrue 2.5 days of leave per month (or 30 days per year) which they can use for a variety of purposes.

You can carry up to 60 days of leave, before you are required to use it (or lose it) before October 1st of the year (start of the fiscal year). 

You can use your terminal leave for a lot of things, from taking that vacation you have always dreamed of, to spending quality time with family and friends, and especially for looking for a job or applying for college.

When taking terminal leave, you will have to process all your documents for retirement or separation prior to the start of your leave, as going on terminal leave essentially means that you are already out of the service.

But, here’s the good thing:

Do You Still Get Paid While On Terminal Leave?

Even though a terminal leave serves as your transition into civilian life, it’s still a paid leave so you will still be receiving pay while on leave, as well as benefits such as your 401k/TSP and your health savings plan.

Is There BAH for Terminal Leave?

Additionally, you are still entitled to receive your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and your Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) while on terminal leave.

In this sense, terminal leave is really just like any other ordinary paid leave, except you are taking it at the end of your military career.

And by being the same as any other leave, we mean that your leave can still get terminated if your service branch needs you to report for duty, especially in the case of national emergencies.

Terminal Leave Calculator

We mentioned earlier that you can have up to 60 days of unused leave before you are required to use it before the end of the fiscal year. This also applies to your terminal leave, meaning, you can have up to 60 days (or how much unused leave you have accrued) to use as your terminal leave.

Now, if you want to approximate how many days of terminal leave you will have, here’s what you should do:

1. Basing on your most recent Leave and Earnings Statement, look for your ETS balance (Expiration Term of Service), which is under the Leave section. This includes all your unused leave that you can use within the fiscal year (Cr balance), as well as the approximate amount of leave you will accrue until the end of your service.

However, this figure is based on the ETS on your contract.

So, if you are planning on an early retirement, or an extension/ renewal of your contract of obligation, then this number will change.

Alternatively, you can calculate your terminal leave this way:

2. Depending on the month that you plan on starting your leave, add 2.5 days for each month you have left to your current Cr balance. For example, you are looking at your LES for August and want to take your terminal leave by December. That means you have 10 more days of leave to earn. However, you have to take into account the following:

• You may earn more leave days if you are deployed,
• If you take a leave in between now and your planned end of service, that will be deducted from your total usable leave days for terminal leave, and
• If your unused leave goes over 60 days by October 1st, anything in excess of that 60 days will be forfeited unless you use it prior to the deadline

Your approximate usable leave, therefore, will be:

1. If you will take Terminal Leave within the fiscal year: Your current Cr balance + 2.5 days/ month until your planned leave month

2. If you will take Terminal Leave after the fiscal year: Your current Cr balance (max of 60 days by October 1st) + 2.5 days/ month until your planned leave month

If you plan out your retirement right, you can have up to almost 3 months of leave- the perfect time to take that cross-country road trip or Carribbean cruise.

But, what if you don’t really have much use for your leave (or you’re one of those workaholics who would rather be in the service until the very last day)? 

The good news is that you can opt to make money off of your unused leave by selling it back!

Here’s how:

How is Military Leave Sell Back Calculated?

Since terminal leave is just like an ordinary paid leave, you can choose to sell it back to the government, and work up to the end of your service.

Or, if you still need some time off to look for a job or to relocate after your separation from service, you can request for a Permissive Temporary Duty (PTDY) leave, which is a non-chargeable leave.

Doing so means you can earn money from your unused leave, while still getting your needed time off to prepare for civilian life.

Alternatively, you can use your PTDY in conjunction with your terminal leave. You have up to 10 days of PTDY to use at the end of your service.

In order to calculate how much you can earn for selling back your unused leave, follow this formula as a guide:

(Your daily basic pay x The amount of leave to sell back) - Your tax bracket

= Projected Sell Back Amount

Note that this is only a rough approximation of how much you can receive. The actual amounts depend on several factors, such as:

• Your actual basic pay may be less than what you expect due to deductions and withholding tax (which you can apply to get refunded the following year),
• Your tax bracket depends on your rank and length of service. However, if you are selling your leave at a lump sum, the tax will automatically be 25%, and
• Any leave accrued during any time that you were deployed (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion Leave) are tax exempt if you choose to sell

Also, you can only sell back a maximum of 60 days of leave.

The best way for you to determine how much you can earn from selling back your leave is to consult with your command’s financial counselor. He will be able to address all your concerns regarding how much leave you have, as well as how much of it you can sell (and how much you can earn from doing so).

When making the decision to use or sell back your terminal leave, here are some more factors that you have to consider:

What Are Some Factors To Consider Regarding Terminal Leave?

Using or selling back your leave should be a personal decision, as each and every case is different. Aside from figuring out how much you can earn from selling back your unused leave, as well as what you plan on using your leave for, here are some more factors that you need to take into account before you decide:

• The longer you are in the service, the higher your pay gets. You get 1/12th of 2-1/2 percent for those under the Final Basic Pay or High-3 formulas, or 1/12th of 3.5 percent, for those under CSB/REDUX, for every month that you serve after 20 years,
• As mentioned earlier, your unused leave can only be sold back for your basic pay, and this is also minus tax, which can amount to 25% if sold at a lump sum
• You are only allowed to begin civilian employment under terminal leave, and not through PTDY,
• You are required to retire at the first of the month, unless your separation from service is due to a disability, and
• If you are retiring due to a disability, your retirement date can be moved back so that you can use any transition leave that you are unable to sell because of the 60-day limit.

Another consideration is with regards to your rank. 

Enlisted Military Member Terminal Leave (Use It or Sell It Back?)

If you are an enlisted military member, here are some of the things that you need to consider:

• Your tax bracket may be lower than a high ranking officer, but you still need to account for this when considering your immediate monetary needs.
• If you have been deployed, the leave that you earned during your deployment are non taxable. This means that the longer you have been deployed, the higher you can earn from selling back your leave.
• If you are going to attend school right after service, take into account whether you can get more benefits from tuition assistance or your GI Bill entitlement. Likewise, if you are starting a job, compare your salary to how much you can get for selling back your leave.

Officer Military Member Terminal Leave (Use It or Sell It Back?)

On the other hand, if you are an officer in the service, take into account these things:

• If you have been in the service for 20 years, staying on for even just a month further translates to a salary increase.
• Your tax bracket may be higher, so take this into account when trying to decide if selling back your leave is worth it.
• Additionally, also consider factors such as whether you have been deployed recently, and if you are starting a career or education immediately after retirement.

Ultimately, the decision on what to do with your leave should be one that is weighed carefully. It is best to consult with your command’s financial counselor for detailed information and advice on how to proceed.

Retirement from service means a whole new world of opportunities as an honored veteran. Find out the 29,000+ opportunities you can take advantage of as a veteran by visiting milversity.com/explore

Real Example of a DD-214:

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I’ll walk you through the important sections to remember. You can learn more about these in detail directly from the Army Regulation 635-8. 

(reference numbers on the image above ^^)

Number 1. Block 6: Reserve Obligation Termination Date

    1. This is the completion date of the statutory military service obligation (MSO) incurred by a soldier on initial enlistment or appointment in the Armed Forces. DOD policy requires a soldier with no previous military service who enlisted or was appointed on or after 1 Jun 84 to serve a period of 8 years. The MSO starts on the date of initial enlistment or appointment in the RA, ARNG, or the USAR to include the Delayed Entry Program (DEP).

Number 2. Block 9: Command to Which Transferred

    1. Usually this will stipulate a transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve. For a soldier being transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve, you’ll see entered “SUBJECT TO ACTIVE DUTY RECALL AND/OR ANNUAL SCREENING.”

Number 3. Block 10: SGLI Coverage

    1. This will indicate how much SGLI Coverage you have previously opted in for.

Number 4. Block 12: Record of Service:

    1. You’ll see all of your dates of service. Make sure these are correct if you are reviewing your DD-214 for the first time. 

Number 5. Block 14: Military Education (with dates)

    1. Self explanatory. This section could be important to point out if your skills can be transferable to the civilian world. 

Number 6. Block 15c: Enlisted Under Loan Repayment Program

    1. This block is for enlisted only, and if you used this program to help pay back college loans, you’ll be aware of this block annotated. 

Number 7. Block 16: Days Accrued Leave

    1. If you have days of leave remaining, the local finance office will annotate this amount here, and you’ll be paid out for this remaining leave. If you decided to take terminal leave, then you should see “0” here.

Number 8. Block 20: Where You’d Like Records Sent

    1. Make sure the appropriate “state” is annotated here. Usually they will send them to the state of your home of record, but if you are moving elsewhere, be sure this is correct.

Number 9. Block 24: Discharge Status

    1. For the type of separation, you could see: retirement, resignation (for officers), release from ADT (meaning a return to the IRR), or discharge.

    2. Character of Service Options: HONORABLE, UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS (GENERAL), UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS, BAD CONDUCT, DISHONORABLE, DISMISSED, or UNCHARACTERIZED.

Number 10. Block 26: Separation Code

    1. There are too many to list here. You can download a copy of all the codes here.

Number 11. Block 28: Narrative Reason for Separation

    1. This is based on regulatory or other authority and can be checked against the cross reference in AR 635–5–1.

Now that you’ve seen an example, let’s talk about what a DD-214 is, and why it’s important:

One of the many things we all have to do- no different from our time as active duty service members- is to fill out forms until our eyes bleed. And one of these forms is a DD-214.  

Good news though:

The military will complete this form for you, and it will be issued after your separation or retirement. 

If you want to know what a DD-214 is and what you need it for, A DD-214 is a Department of Defense form certifying one's military service and release from active duty. It contains information such as military education and specialties, awards and decorations, and the type and reason for a service member's separation from the armed forces. This document can be used when applying for a civilian job, and is required by offices and agencies that offer benefits for veterans.

We'll share with you below more information about your DD-214, what it's used for, and how to get one, so keep reading!

What Is a DD-214?

A DD Form 214, more commonly referred to as DD-214, is a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that is issued by the Department of Defense for service members of the different branches of the Armed Forces of the United States, namely- the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy- who are separating from the service.

It's one of the most important documents for a military service member to have, especially once you are ready to leave the military life. A DD-214 details your time in the service, such as your specialty and training, any awards and decorations, and the nature and reason of your separation.

So, just why is a DD-214 so important?

Why Is a DD-214 Important?

This document is not simply just a piece of paper that means you can now fully enjoy civilian life. It actually serves a couple of purposes, such as:

Career Advancement

Since a DD-214 details all your specialties during your military career, as well as your military education and training, and most especially the awards, citations, and medals that you have earned, this document acts somewhat like your resumé once you are ready to look for a job in the civilian workforce.

And if you are vying for a career in an industry that is close to what your knowledge and expertise in the military were, then with an official document as proof of your skill set, you will have an undeniable advantage when applying for the job that you want.

Veteran Benefits

Perhaps the most important purpose of a DD-214 is for applying to receive various benefits for veterans like you. Most, if not all veteran benefits offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs as well as other government offices and even private institutions, can only be availed by those who were discharged by reasons other than dishonorable.

Here are some of the many veteran benefits you can apply for:

• VA home loans and housing assistance
• Automobile loans
• Education and training benefits
• Employment benefits
• Funeral and Burial benefits
• Health care
• Benefits for spouses, dependents, and survivors
• Disability compensation and pension
• Life insurance

Now, you might be wondering what sort of information is listed on a DD-214.

Well, here it is:

What Is the Information Listed on a DD-214?

As we mentioned earlier, your DD-214 details your entire military career- from your enlistment up to your separation from service. As such, it lists down several personal and career related information. 

Below is an overview of what kind of information is listed on your DD-214:

• Basic Personal Information- this includes your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and your Home of Record (HOR) at the time you entered the service
• Contact Information- these details how you can be reached after your separation from the military, such as your mailing address, and your nearest relative
• Basic Service Information- from your department and service branch component, to your rank and pay grade, it's all listed here. This also includes the locations of where you first entered the service, where you were last assigned, and where you were transferred or separated. Finally, it lists down the date when your reserve obligation ends.

• Specialties and Military Education- your DD-214 also details your primary and other specialties (listed down using Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes, and other branch- specific codes for areas of expertise), as well as your military education, such as any special skills training you have attended

• Awards and Decorations- this lists any awards, decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons that you have been awarded throughout your military career

• Creditable service- the total service creditable to you, as well as any foreign service, are also noted on your DD-214

• Type and reason for separation- your DD-214 also states why you separated from service, such as whether you are retiring, or due to other miscellaneous or general reasons, like if your contract of obligation has expired. It goes into detail on the specific reason for your separation, such as disability, pregnancy or parenthood, early release in order to attend school, and so on

• Character of Service- finally, the conditions of your discharge, such as if honorable, under honorable conditions, general, or dishonorable, are mentioned in your DD-214

What Does a DD-214 Look Like?

With all the time you have spent in the service, you most definitely have had to deal with seemingly endless paperwork, and are thus familiar with most forms and what they are used for.

A DD-214 is no different. Check out the sample DD-214 we included in the image above.

What are DD-214 Separation Codes?

You may have noticed that we said earlier that your DD-214 details your type and reason for separation. While a narrative reason for your separation from the service may be written down on the bottom part of your DD-214, under the "type of separation," what usually appears is just a separation code (SPN code).

There are dozens of SPN codes listing down all possible reasons on why a service member is leaving the military. You can check the full list through this link.

What is a DD-214 Service Number?

Depending on when you left the service, your DD-214 may display both your Social Security Number and your Service Number, or just the Social Security.

This is because a Service Number is a unique identifier that was assigned to service members back in the late 1910's to the early 1970's. Nowadays, your Social Security Number is typically used as you Service Number as well. 

Now that you know what a DD-214 is, what it contains, and what you can use it for, you might find yourself needing one (or more) copies sooner than you think. After all, you definitely do not want to miss out on taking advantage of your hard earned benefits as an honored veteran! 

Needless to say, you are issued a DD-214 upon your separation from the service. But if you didn't get one, you lost it, or you need more copies, there is no need to worry.

Here is how you can get a copy of your DD-214:

How do I get my DD-214?

All service members' DD-214 are stored in the National Archives through their eVetRecs system, in more than a hundred repositories throughout the country. You can request a copy of your DD-214 directly from them, which is free of charge.

You can process your request online, via mail, or through fax. Here is how:

1. Online- go to vetrecs.archives.gov and search for DD-214. Fill out the form and submit. (Or, you can search for the Standard Form (SF) 180, which is a request form for military records)
2. By mail- you can print out a copy of the Standard Form 180 and send it by mail to this address:

National Personnel Records Center

Military Personnel Records

1 Archives Drive

St. Louis, MO 63138

3. Through fax- alternatively, you can also fax your request form to 314-801-9195

Note that this may take weeks or even months, as the National Archives get thousands of requests regularly, and have more than a month's worth of backlog.

But, what if you need your DD-214  as soon as possible, and simply do not have the time to wait for such a long time?

We have good news for you:

You can also opt to hire a research company to source your DD-214 for you. There are quite a few companies that work specifically on DD-214 requests, and offer a time frame of one day to one week.

Some DD-214 research companies include DD214 Direct, EzDD214, and Touchstone Research Group. You can also check out the full list provided by the National Archives for hiring help.

So, why must you get a copy of your DD-214 again? In case it's not clear yet, let us summarize and reiterate the main reasons why.

Once I’m out of the military, do I still need a DD-214?

Your DD-214 is a proof of your military service and separation from the force. It details your skills, specialties, and military education, as well as awards and decorations you have received throughout the years. It also states why you were discharged, and whether you were discharged under honorable or dishonorable conditions.

Therefore, you need a DD-214 when applying for a civilian job after your time in the military, and more importantly, to receive veteran benefits, such as home loans, education assistance, and life insurance.

There are thousands of amazing benefits for veterans like you. Find out about the 29,000+ ways you can take advantage of these benefits by going to milversity.com/explore

Who Qualifies As a Veteran?

During your time in the military, you were classified as either a full time or part time service member, depending on your job description. 

Generally, active duty service members are considered as full timers, while members of the Reserves and the National Guard are considered as part timers. 

This is an important factor in determining your veteran status, and consequently, how much benefits you are eligible to receive.

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Active Duty Service Members: Veteran Status

Any individual who was previously on active duty service in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and was discharged for reasons other than dishonorable, are considered as veterans. You can read the reference in Title 38 here.

This applies whether or not you were in combat or were injured during your service.

In terms of receiving benefits, the minimum requirement for how long you must have served on active duty is as follows:

• 30 consecutive days of active duty service before being discharged due to a service connected disability, or
• 90 days of active duty service on or after September 10, 2001, before being honorably discharged (for Post 9/11 GI Bill), or
• 2 years of active duty service before being honorably discharged (for Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty)

So, as long as you were on active duty, served for the minimum required number of days, and was not dishonorably discharged, you are considered a veteran and can therefore receive veteran benefits.

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But, if you were a member of the National Guard, or Reserves in your respective service branch, things are a bit trickier.

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Reserves and National Guard: Veteran Status

First, let us define what these two terms mean:

While both of these serve the purpose of providing supplementary support to active duty forces under certain situations, there are some important differences, which are:

• The Reserves are members of individual service branches (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) under the Department of Defense. When needed, they can be mobilized by the President and the Secretary of Defense.
• The National Guard (Army and Air) are unit forces of each state. When needed, they can be mobilized by their respective state governor, and by the President or the Secretary of Defense.

Both the Reserves and the National Guard personnel undergo basic military training and attend military job-specific training full time, and then participate in Inactive Duty Training every month, as well as a 14 or 15-day full time training once a year. 

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But, fulfilling these obligations do not automatically qualify you as a veteran.

In order to be considered a veteran (if you were a former member of the Reserves or the National Guard), you have to either:

• Have been deployed under federal orders, placing you on active duty status for the duration of your deployment. In this case, your deployment must meet the minimum requirements for active duty service members in order for you to be eligible to receive benefits. Or,
• Have been separated from service due to a disability that is connected to any required training. (If this is the case, you must have reported this injury to the VA and were given a disabled status)

Remember, simply finishing your service contract in the Reserves or National Guard does not qualify you as a veteran, unless you were deployed or were injured during training.

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One good caveat however:

A new law was passed that gives Guard and Reserve military members veteran status if they served 20 years or more. 

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Here’s some good news for those in the Guard and Reserves:

You are entitled to receive GI Bill benefits WHILE you are still in the Reserves or National Guard under the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve, as long as you meet their eligibility requirements.

Am I a Veteran if I Was Discharged During Basic Training?

Remember, according to Title 38, a Veteran is:

A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

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According to the Veteran Affairs Guidelines for establishing veteran status:

If you were discharged while still undergoing basic training (or any required training, for that matter), you are considered as a veteran if your discharge was due to a disability sustained because of your training. 

Again, this is provided that you reported the injury to the VA and were tagged with a training or service connected disability.

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Am I a Veteran if I Have a DD-214?

A DD-214 is a proof of discharge after being deployed under federal orders. If your discharge was due to reasons other than dishonorable, then you are considered as a veteran.

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Other Categories of Veterans

There are quite a few other individuals who have served the government that are classified as veterans. These are:

• Scouts of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who served between December 7, 1941 and January 1, 1947, and
• Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Science Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor the Coast and Geodetic Survey, who have a DD-214 equivalent as a proof of service

Additionally, if you attended a military academy, you are also tagged as a veteran for the purposes of receiving financial aid through the Federal Student Aid.

As long as you are considered as a veteran, there are many different benefits and opportunities waiting for you. Here are some of them:

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What are the best benefits for veterans?

From home loans to tuition assistance, there is a seemingly endless supply of programs and benefits specifically designed to aid veterans in every way possible.

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Veteran Education Benefit

Perhaps one of the most popular and in demand benefit for veterans is the educational benefit provided by the GI Bill (and its counterparts). Through this program, you can get financial support from the VA in paying for tuition fees, housing, and books, as long as you meet certain qualifying requirements and are enrolled in a VA accredited program, school, or training facility.

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Veteran VA Home Loan

The VA Home Loan is a home loan guarantee for veterans who want to purchase a residential property. Through this program, you can avail of lower interest rates and downpayment requirements.  

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VA Medical Care

The Veterans Health Administration offers several types of medical care to eligible veterans. Qualifications for receiving medical assistance depends on several factors such as the nature of your discharge and the duration of your active duty service. 

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Disability Assistance

For all eligible veterans who were discharged because of a service connected disability, the VA offers several assistance programs, such as the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, Disability Compensation, and Disability Pension.  

Federal Jobs for Veterans

When it comes to the workplace, the government has a veteran preference in employing individuals for federal jobs. You can be eligible as long as your discharge from military service was honorable, and your rank is below a major.

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Veteran Funeral and Burial 

Finally, the Department of Defense delivers military funeral honors for all eligible veterans, under the request of the family. Furthermore, these eligible veterans also have the option to be buried in a VA National Cemetery.

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As you can see, there are a lot of interesting opportunities that you can take advantage of as an eligible veteran. If you want to find out more about 29,000+ other veteran opportunities, visit milversity.com/explore

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Impact of Using the GI Bill While on Active Duty vs. As a Veteran

There are many benefits that the GI Bill provides for all eligible recipients, such as paying for tuition costs in pursuing higher education or training, paying for licensing and certification tests, and providing an allowance for housing as well as a stipend for books and supplies.

However, what benefits you are eligible to use depends on whether you are on active duty or a veteran: 

Since the GI Bill is designed primarily to aid veterans in transitioning to civilian life by providing educational assistance so they can open career opportunities, it goes to say that there are certain limitations for active duty service members who want to use the GI Bill benefits they have earned.

This is also in part due to the fact that there are programs specifically designed for active duty service members who want to study while serving the country, such as the Tuition Assistance, which is implemented by the Department of Defense through its individual branches.

Here are some limitations of using your GI Bill benefits while on active duty:

Fewer GI Bill Benefits While Active Duty

If you are an active duty service member who is eligible to receive benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you cannot claim a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend if you use your benefits while on active duty. 

For all other GI Bill programs (such as the Montgomery), however, these benefits are not provided whether you are on active duty or a veteran.

Higher Entitlement Charges

Furthermore, GI Bill recipients using their benefits while on active duty are automatically charged the full monthly rate of tuition costs on their entitlement benefits, regardless of the actual cost of their education.

For example, if you are receiving benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill, the current maximum payable amount for tuition and fees is $1,994 per month.

Let’s say you are at 100% eligibility percentage (which means if your tuition amounts to $1,994 monthly, you can receive this full amount).

Since this dollar amount is a monthly rate, it is directly equivalent to 1 month of entitlement benefit.

If you are a veteran, this means that you use up 1 month out of the maximum of 36 months of benefits you can have, for every $1,994 the VA spends on your tuition.

So if your tuition is only half, you only get charged 15 days of entitlement.

This is not the case when you are using your GI Bill benefits while on active duty. If you study for say, 6 months, you get charged 6 months of entitlement benefits, regardless whether your tuition is lower than the $1,994 full monthly rate.

When Does It Make Sense to Use my GI Bill While Active Duty?

Given these circumstances, you are probably wondering if you should even think about using your GI Bill benefits while you are still on active duty. 

Well, here’s when it might make sense to use it:

Scenario 1: You Are Separating From The Military Soon:

Like I previously stated, I used my GI Bill the last two years of active duty.  Many veterans want to hit the ground running when they get out of the military and have a job already lined up. For this reason, I spent my last two years of active-duty going to night and weekend classes so that I had my MBA the day that I separated. 

This way I didn't have to spend my first two (critical) years as a civilian going to school, and I was ready to start my career as soon as I separated.

If this is you, then It might make sense for you to use your GI Bill benefits while active duty.

What if you're separating via a medical discharge and want to use the GI Bill? In this case, you might want to wait.

A word of caution:

You need to make sure that your commander signs off on your game plan to go to school while active duty. This will depend on your commander, your deployment schedule, and your job in the military. 

Get “buy-in” first, before you put the plan in motion.  The last thing you want is to be pulled into another surprise deployment while in the middle of a school term!

Scenario 2: Tuition Assistance Won’t Cover Your Desired Program:

Many military members are trying to weigh tuition assistance versus the GI Bill. Let's be honest, if you want to go to a premium University, tuition assistance will probably not cover all the costs. If this is the case then you need to consider using the GI Bill while active duty.

I would only do this if you are not willing to (or can’t) wait until separation to get your degree/training done. 

You might consider using your GI Bill benefits while you are still in the military if the tuition costs for the school or training facility you want to attend are equivalent to or higher than the maximum payable amount set by the VA ($24,476.79 annually for Post 9/11 GI Bill, or $1,994 for the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty).

This way, you are making the most of using up your entitlement charges. 

You can check the current payment rates for all GI Bill programs on the VA Rate Tables.

Remember :

You lose out on your monthly housing allowance (MHA), also referred to as BAH, if you use your GI Bill while active duty, for obvious reasons: you are already getting BAH.

Also, if you are under a GI Bill program other than the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you won’t be missing out on housing allowances and books stipends. Though you might want to consider transferring to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Find out more information about that here.

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If you want to push through with using your GI Bill benefits while on active duty, do consult with your Education Services Officer on how to proceed. They will provide counseling and assistance to make sure that you are making the most of your benefits.

Meanwhile, here are the eligibility requirements for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill:

Post 9/11 GI Bill Eligibility

You can receive educational benefits from the Post 9/11 GI Bill if you have served for at least 90 days on or after September 10, 2001.

Your eligibility percentage goes higher with the duration of your active duty service. You can refer to the table below as a guide:

Information sourced from the VA website

Montgomery GI Bill Eligibility

You are eligible to receive benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill if you meet the following requirements:

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

• You have been contributing $100 per month for your first 12 months of active duty service, and

• You meet the other qualifying requirements set per eligibility category as listed here

If you are eligible, you can start using your benefits after you have served for at least 2 years in active duty.

Another smart option we haven’t addressed yet:

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Using the GI Bill for Online School While Active Duty

Online schools allow for a lot of flexibility in terms of study hours and living situations. It’s perfect for military service members who have to attend to their military duties such as training, or for those who are TDY or deployed to different locations in and out of the country.

If you want to use your GI Bill benefits while studying at an online school, the VA will pay for your tuition costs under the same rates as when you are attending a physical institution.

If you are under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you are still also qualified to receive a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend (this is not included if still active duty). 

However, the housing allowance is only applicable if you are at least a 50% rate of pursuit.

Also, if you are taking all your classes online, you are only eligible to receive half of the national average, which is currently at $1,789, meaning, you can get $894.50. 

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One loophole to this:

If you attend at least one class at a physical school. Then, you can get the full rate (provided you meet other qualifications such as 100% rate of pursuit). The only problem is, this might be difficult if you have to be deployed in the middle of the semester.

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Whether you are an active duty service member or an honored veteran, the GI Bill is there to assist you in pursuing your education.

Discover 29,000+ more opportunities to take advantage of your GI Bill benefits by going to milversity.com/explore