Fulton County, Indiana

Enumerate the Education and Training program available for Veterans?

Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) provides a program of education benefits to individuals who enter active duty for the first time after June 30, 1989, and receive an honorable discharge.

Active duty includes full-time National Guard duty performed after Nov 29, 1989. Members of the Army and Air Force National Guard who enlisted between June 30, 1985 and Nov. 29, 1989, had to decide before July 9, 1997, to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty). To receive the maximum benefit, the participant must serve on active duty for three years. An individual also may qualify for the full benefit by initially service two continuous years on active duty, followed by four years of Selected Reserve service, beginning within one year of release from active duty. To participate in the Montgomery GI Bill, service members have their military pay reduced by $100.00 a month for the first 12 months of active duty. This money is not refundable. The participant must have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before the first period of active duty ends. Credits granted by colleges for life experiences may be used to meet this requirement. Completing a minimum of 12 credit hours toward a college degree meets this requirement. Individuals who serve a continuous period of at least three years of active duty, even though they were initially obligated to serve less, will be paid the maximum benefit. Benefits under this program generally end 10 years from the date of the veteran's last discharge or release from active duty, but some extenuating circumstances qualify for extensions. A veteran with a discharge upgraded by the military will have 10 years from the date of the upgrade. Discharges and separations For the Montgomery GI Bill program, the discharge must be honorable. Discharges designated "under honorable conditions" and "general" do not establish eligibility. An honorable discharge for one of the following reasons may result in a reduction of the required length of active duty: 1. convenience of the government 2. disability 3. hardship 4. a medical condition existing before service 5. force reductions 6. physical or mental conditions that prevent satisfactory performance of duty. Education and training available The following are available under the Montgomery GI Bill: 1. Courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees, and accredited independent study 2. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools 3. Apprenticeship or on-job training programs for individuals not on active duty 4. Correspondence courses, under certain conditions 5. Flight training, if the veteran has a private pilot license and meets the medical requirements upon beginning the training program 6. Tutorial assistance benefits if the individual is enrolled in school halftime or more, and refresher, deficiency and similar training 7. State-approved teacher certification programs. Other items covered under this education bill 1. Work study; 2. Counseling services Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve) eligibility The Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve) provides education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and to members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. To be eligible for the program, a reservist must: 1. Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985, or, if an officer, agree to serve six years in addition to the original obligation 2. Complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) 3. Have a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT 4. Remain in good standing in a Selected Reserve unit. Education and training available Reservists may seek an undergraduate degree, go for graduate training, or take technical courses at colleges and universities. Flight training also is allowed. Those who have a six-year commitment beginning after Sept. 30, 1990, may take courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; apprenticeship or on-the-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; tutorial assistance; remedial, refresher and other training; and state-approved certification programs for training alternate teachers. Period of Eligibility If a reservist stays in the Selected Reserve, benefits end 10 years from the date the reservist became eligible for the program. VA may extend the 10-year period if the individual could not train due to a disability caused by Selected Reserve service. If a reservist leaves the Selected Reserve because of a disability, the individual may use the full 10 years. VA may also extend the 10-year period if the reservist was ordered to active duty. In other cases, benefits end the day the reservist leaves the Selected Reserve, except that certain individuals separated from the Selected Reserve due to downsizing of the military between Oct. 1, 1991, and Sept. 30, 1999, will have the full 10 years to use their benefits. If the 10-year period ends while the participant is attending school, however, VA may pay benefits until the end of the term. If the training is not on a term basis, payments may continue for 12 weeks. Other items covered under this education bill 1. Work study 2. Counseling services