Veterans Affairs Education Programs
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, signed into law on June 30, 2008, took effect on August 1, 2009. This chapter provides up to 36 months of educational benefits for qualifying veterans up to 15 years following discharge or release from the last period of active duty. This benefit can provide educational assistance to the serviceperson, dependent or spouse, if eligible.
If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program. Whether you want to apply your GI Bill® benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill® Comparison Tool and program pamphlet (PDF) will help you make the most of all opportunities.
If you have eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and any other GI Bill® program, you must make an irrevocable election of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® before you can receive benefits. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® has a few specific components that are unavailable in other GI Bill® programs:
Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
The MGIB-AD program provides up to 36 months of education benefits for a Veteran or Serviceperson. This monthly benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Your benefits are payable for ten years following your release from active duty. Get the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (PDF) pamphlet.
Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606)
The MGIB-SR program is available to members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. The Selected Reserve components determine eligibility for this program, and VA makes the payments.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP, Chapter 1607 of Title 10, U.S. Code)
REAP provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard who are called to active service.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015, and The Post-9/11 GI Bill® has replaced this program in many ways. Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others are no longer eligible.
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32)
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. VEAP may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)
The DEA Program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Additionally, The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is a possibility for dependents of Service-members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program (VR&E, Chapter 31)
Congress authorizes the VR&E Program under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. The mission of VR&E is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. Also, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service provides vocational-educational counseling to veterans and certain dependents. VR&E can provide a wide range of vocational and educational counseling services to service members still on active duty, as well as veterans who are eligible for one of VA's educational benefit programs. This is a program for a serviceperson, and the W&M VA Certifying Official will need to receive a VA Form 28-1905 to process enrollment certification information to the VA.
Please contact us if you require further assistance or have questions regarding VA educational benefits at William & Mary. William & Mary cannot access military records and cannot determine eligibility, so all eligibility and payment questions should be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 [888-442-4551].
