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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Your benefits will pay for tuition costs and license tests, as well as provide you with a stipend during apprenticeship.

Furthermore, you can also be entitled to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance, which is rated based on the physical location of your school or training facility, as well as up to $83 per month for books and supplies.

If you want to know what you can use a CDL for, and how much you can get from the GI Bill, or if you have other questions related to getting a CDL, keep reading!

What is a CDL?

A CDL or Commercial Driver’s License is a special driver’s license that is required to legally operate Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) or large vehicles that may carry heavy or hazardous materials in a commercial or industrial setting.

Such vehicles require advanced operating knowledge and special skills, and therefore require prior special training and licensing. These include trucks, tractor-trailers, engineering and construction equipment, and large buses.

What Are The 3 Types of CDL?

A CDL is actually classified under 3 categories, namely:

• Class A – Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR/GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/Gross Vehicle Weight) of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR/GVW of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Class B – Any single vehicle with a GVWR/GVW of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR/GVW.
• Class C – Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is required to be placarded for hazardous materials

Sourced from Wikipedia

Who needs a CDL?

Primarily, a CDL is required for drivers and operators of large and heavy vehicles that are used in commercial and industrial settings. This can mean anywhere from being a bus driver, to a trailer truck driver, to a machinery operator. 

However, aside from the ones we already mentioned, each state has different laws on who needs a CDL in order to legally operate.

Depending on where you want to work, you might need to get a CDL in order to be allowed to drive a limousine, a van, or a school bus. Sometimes, such as in the state of California, you need a CDL regardless of what vehicle you are driving as long as you are a driver by profession.

As you can see, there are many different job opportunities for you when you have a CDL. 

These can be very lucrative careers paying upwards of $45,000 to $75,000 with excellent benefits. 

If you think this is something right up your alley, here is how you can take advantage of your GI Bill benefits in getting a CDL:

How Can the GI Bill Help Me Get a CDL?

The GI Bill will help pay for getting a Class A CDL by offsetting tuition costs, license tests, and even provide apprenticeship, housing, and books stipends. 

Here is a breakdown of what you can get from your GI Bill benefits, as well as the forms you need to fill out in order to apply for these benefits:

These figures are based on the current VA Rate Tables (2019).

The current national average rate of the Monthly Housing Allowance is at $1,789. The actual rates you can receive depends on the actual location of your school or training facility, as well as your eligibility percentage, and rate of pursuit (which needs to be at least 50%). As for the books and supplies stipend, you can receive up to $83 per month.

As you can see, the GI Bill can definitely help you from the very beginning up until you are ready to work professionally as a CDL carrying driver. 

But, what if you want to start working and earning money right away? Can you skip the training and just get a license?

This is the best part yet:

How Can I Get the Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver?

If you have at least two years of experience in safe driving a military CMV during your active duty service, it can be used to waive the skills test portion of the CDL test. Therefore, you can simply breeze through other remaining licensing requirements instead of wasting time for what you already know how to do.

However, you will need to apply for the Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver within one year after being discharged from active duty. If you think about it, this requirement actually makes sense, as rapid technological advancements are constantly upgrading and changing how vehicles and trucks are driven and operated.

One thing you have to take into account is if you were mostly trained to drive automatic CMVs. Most employers still prefer those with the skills and experience in driving standard transmissions, so a bit of training can still be a huge advantage.

Qualifications for a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver

Each state may impose special additional requirements in getting a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver, but the standard requirements are as follows:

• You have at least two years of CMV safe driving,
• You have not held more than one license (except a military DL) in the past 2 years,
• Your base state-issued DL has never been suspended, cancelled, or revoked,
• You have not had convictions relating to any CDL disqualifying offenses

What if I’m Not Qualified for a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver?

If you do not meet the qualifying requirements set by the FMSCA in getting a Veteran Skills Test Waiver, or failed to apply for it within a year of your discharge from active duty service, then you will have to undergo training at a VA approved school or training facility.

But don’t worry!

Training time can be as short as three weeks, depending on which school you want to attend (and whether you are training full time).

Plus, in any case, the GI Bill is there to help you out in paying for tuition costs. Depending on your eligibility percentage and other factors, you might not have to spend a dime in going to school and getting your CDL- and even earn some money from housing allowance and other stipends!

Getting Started

To get started with your journey to getting a CDL, do a comparison of your ideal schools or training facilities, and how much in GI Bill benefits you can get from attending them, by using the GI Bill Comparison Tool.

Once you are ready to start with your training (and start receiving GI Bill benefits), go to your VA eBenefits Portal account, fill out the appropriate forms (see the links we provided earlier), and hit submit!

And if you are still undecided, you can also check out the 29,000+ opportunities that the GI Bill can help you out with by going to milversity.com/explore.