What is the GI Bill?
For more than seven decades, the Montgomery GI Bill has provided US service members with the
opportunity and resources to create a better life for themselves and their families. For over 20 years
NPTI Florida has been helping transitioning Veterans, this assistance meant the chance to attend school
and begin a new chapter in their lives. Civilians and veterans alike recognize the Montgomery GI Bill’s
significance as generations of service members have used it to develop skills and create career
opportunities. It has facilitated the purchase of homes, helped create new businesses, and contributed
more than nearly any other program to the rich fabric of our nation.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill offers benefits to the current generation giving them access to better opportunities than ever before. These benefits extend to eligible members of the army-selected reserve.
Eligibility
requires a six-year service obligation in a selected reserve and at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001. Supplemental programs may also be available with additional eligibility
requirements. The Post 9/11 GI Bill may be used for universities and Post-secondary education such as
NPTI Florida, on-the-job training and apprenticeship, even flight schools, Fitness school, and Personal
Training. Financial assistance for tutorial assistance, licensing, and certification tests may also be
available under this program. Under the post 9/11 GI Bill, www.va.gov soldiers are eligible for up to 36 months of tuition and related fees.
Reserve soldiers may qualify for a bonus of up to $350 per month. While tuition and fees for in-state
public schools are covered, private schools and those located out-of-state may not be. To bridge the gap between where GI Bill coverage ends, the Yellow Ribbon Program was introduced. Under this program,
participating schools fund a portion of the remaining tuition costs. The VA then matches every dollar
contributed by the school up to the total cost of the tuition and fees.
The post 9/11 GI Bill also provides a monthly housing allowance (BAH) even for distance learning and
approved overseas schools because class material can be expensive. The program also includes a stipend
of up to $1000 per year for books and supplies. Benefits may also be designated for use by the soldier
spouse as well as their dependents. For more than seven years, the Post 9/11 GI Bill has served as a
cornerstone of opportunity for service members, their families, and the nation.
Non-Qualifying Factors
In order to make sure you are eligible for the GI Bill benefits; you need to avoid the below conditions.
- If you serve less than an honorable discharge
- If you are a service academy graduate while you’re reserving your contract period, that does not
count as a period of eligible service - ROTC scholarship (10 USC, 2107 (B)) contract period – repaying this scholarship does not count
- If you came under the loan repayment program, i.e., your three-year period, while they are
repaying your college loans, it will not count as a qualifying period. Any additional time after
that will begin to qualify you for the post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
In addition, the VA now requires the same standard your school requires for financial aid. For example, if your school requires you to maintain a 2.0 GPA, that will be the same requirement for the VA. If your GPA drops below the current satisfactory academic standard, the VA certifying official is required to report that to the VA, which can stop your funding.
Types of Programs Covered Within the Post 9/11 GI Bill
NPTI Florida owner Patrick Sherman says, in the post 9/11 GI Bill, you will receive 36 months of benefits to using just as you would receive in the Montgomery GI Bill. However, you get 15 years from your date of separation to use those benefits. When you separate, don’t wait until 14 years from your date of separation to start using those benefits because if you do, you will only have 12 months remaining to avail of those benefits. Ensure you exhaust all your benefits within that 10-15 years period, depending on the GI Bill you use. The type of programs covered in the post 9/11 GI bill are similar to the Montgomery GI Bill.
- Entrepreneurship Training
- Personal Training (Orlando/Tampa)
- Institutions with undergraduate and graduate degree programs
- Certification and licensing reimbursement
- Advanced Health and Nutrition Coach program at NPTI Florida (Orlando)
- Vocational and technical training
- You can find a comprehensive list and payout amounts on the VA website -www.benefits.va.gov.
How Is Tuition Paid Through the GI Bill?
Tuition/Fees
This fee gets paid directly to the educational facility for you, so you do not have to be the tuition payer with this program. If you are looking to get licensed or certified from NPTI Florida, we will certify to the VA how many credits you’re in, when your term starts, when it ends, and how much your tuition and fees are. This part is made seamless for you.
One of the major benefits of this Bill is that you can go and get an education from any school you want
to because of the Choice Act. For example, suppose the school you have chosen for yourself wants to be
a recipient of the GI Bill benefits, according to the Choice Act. In that case, that school is required to allow all veterans and service members to receive in-state tuition within three years of their separation from active duty.
If you choose to go to a private school, they will pay up to twenty-one thousand eighty-four dollars and eighty-nine cents per academic year. If the tuition is more than that, you may need to look at some
additional funding options like Yellow Ribbon. If your school is a Yellow Ribbon participant, you may be able to see additional funding from your school and from the VA to cover that additional cost.
Textbook and Supply Stipend
Your text book and supply stipend also gets paid directly to you, which is up to $1,000 a year. However, you are not going to get a thousand dollars every year. The VA certifying official at your school of choice notifies the VA that you are enrolled in some credits; the VA will prorate your book allowance based on your number of credits you’re enrolled in. So, if you are a full-time student, you’re going to receive more money than those who are half-time students.
Other Benefits
Other than the Yellow Ribbon, there is also a Rural Benefit which is a one-time payment option that you
may be eligible for if you are going to a school that is in a rural area. Please consult the VA website
www.benefits.va.gov for further specifics on this program.
Transfer of Benefits (TEB) – Post 9/11 GI Bill
In the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you are eligible to transfer that benefit to a dependent, something that you
cannot do with the Montgomery GI Bill. To transfer your benefits, you need to have at least six years of service and must agree to serve an additional four years. When you go in to do the transfer, the VA is going to make sure you have an additional four years available to serve. If you do not, they will let you know you are no eligible to transfer, and you will have to take action to extend yourself to that four-year period.
The transfer option will not be available after you leave the service, and you will be forfeiting your GI Bill when you complete the transfer of benefits. You can either transfer all 36 months, or you can transfer just part of that. You can divide those months amongst more than one dependent. To transfer the benefits, you can use the VA website to designate, modify and revoke while on active duty. Once you
separate, you have to contact the VA to make any changes to that transfer, whether you’re modifying
months or you choose to revoke a transfer of benefit.
If you transfer the benefits to your spouse, they can immediately use those benefits as soon as you get
the approval email. Like you, they have 15 years to use the benefit after you separate. So, if they don’t use it while you’re on active duty, they will still have the same window to use those benefits.
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