Eligibility
If the service member is currently on active duty, they may be eligible after two
years of active duty service. If they are separated from service, they may be eligible
under one of the following categories:
- Category I(After 1985)
- Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
- Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
- Continuously served for 3 years or a 2 year contract
- 2 years if service member entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active
duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4" Program)
- Category II(Before 1977)
- Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
- Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85 and stayed on active duty through
6/30/88 (or 6/30/87 if service member entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of
leaving active duty and served 4 years)
- On 12/31/89, service member had entitlement left from Vietnam-Era GI Bill®
- Category III(1990-93)
- Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
- On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91
- Or involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93
- Or voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or
Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
- Before separation you had military pay reduced by $1200
- Category IV(1996-97)
- On active duty on 10/9/96 and had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND
elected MGIB by 10/9/97
- Or entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85 and 11/28/89
AND elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96 through 7/8/97
- Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1200 lump-sum contribution
during time in service
- Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
- Received a high school diploma or equivalent or, in some cases, have accrued 12 hours
of college credit before the end of the first obligated period of service
- Received an honorable discharge
- Continuously served for 3 years or 2 years if contract obligation was met, or 2 years
if an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve AND entered Selected
Reserve within a year of leaving active duty
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official
U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
