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VA creates new Post 9/11 GI Bill

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vincent A. Mouzon
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Servicemembers' Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights, was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt June 22, 1944.
By the time the original GI Bill ended in July 1956, 7.8 million World War II veterans had participated in an education or training backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The legacy of the original GI Bill lives on in the Montgomery GI Bill.

Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs created a new program called the Post 9/11 GI Bill. People with active-duty service since September 11, 2001, may be eligible for this benefit.

For many Airmen, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is a better alternative than other education benefit programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program.

The program provides tuition assistance, a housing allowance, a books and supplies stipend and even the option to transfer these benefits to family members under certain circumstances.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has started accepting and processing applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, however this decision depends on several factors like the type of education or training you plan to take, and the amount of benefits received under each program.

The application form requires that individuals currently eligible for benefits under the MGIB-AD, MGIB-SR or REAP make an irrevocable election from their existing program to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

For Airmen eligible for MGIB-AD, the months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be equal to the number of months of entitlement remaining under the MGIB-AD. However, if all MGIB-AD benefits are used, you may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

People eligible for MGIB-SR and/or REAP may use a maximum combined total of 48 months of benefits. For example, if you used 20 months of benefits under REAP, you still may be eligible for 28 months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

For more information, visit the GI Bill website or call 888-442-4551. Additionally, you can call Shaw's Education Office at 803-895-1838.