News

Reservists have more options when using education benefits

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Candice Allen
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Chapters 1606, 1607, and 33 are not in books, but they'll help you pay for your books for college. They all refer to the educational benefits Reservists have at their disposal. 

Now more than ever, Reservists can choose from several different educational benefits. Think of it as shopping for clothes - it's not just a "one size fits all" benefit anymore. 

Chapter 1606 
With the Montgomery GI Bill -Selected Reserve, all Reservists who enlist for at least six years are eligible and can use the benefit if they remain active in the Reserve. As of Oct. 1, 2008, the current monthly rate for the Chapter 1606 is $329 for a full-time student. 

After Sept. 11, 2001, more educational benefits trickled down and Reservists could shop around a bit more. 

Chapter 1607
A Reservist who serves on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 for a contingency operation and who serves at least 90 consecutive days or more is eligible for the Reserve Educational Assistance Program-Chapter 1607. Reservists who served on active duty for three months will receive $528.40, one year $792.60, and two or more years $1056.80 of monthly GI bill benefits. 

Chapter 33
The new Post 9/11 GI Bill -Chapter 33 will offer Reservists the largest increase of educational benefits ever beginning Aug. 1. 

"With REAP (Chapter 1607), you need 90 days of continuous active-duty orders to qualify," said Master Sgt. Robin Weiss, 446th Mission Support Squadron's superintendent of the wing training and education flight. "Whereas with Chapter 33, your active-duty time just needs to be cumulative, meaning if you have a total of 36 months of active-duty time in support of a contingency, you qualify for 100 percent of the active-duty benefits." 

Reservists are able to take advantage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill if they have served at least 90 aggregate days of active duty service in a support of a contingency after Sept. 11, 2001. The post-9/11 GI Bill benefits include a new basic allowance for housing stipend, transferable educational benefits to dependents, a books and supplies stipend, and the Yellow Ribbon GI enhancements. 

The largest change to the GI bill is the ability to transfer your educational benefits to your dependents. 

"We receive a lot of questions about transferability, everyone wants to know about it," said Sergeant Weiss. 

Department of Veterans Affairs representatives are accepting sign-ups for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Defense Department officials are working to get the word out on the proposed policy regarding the bill's transferability provisions to help servicemembers decide if the new benefit is right for them. 

Proposals call for enlisted or commissioned members of the armed forces serving on active duty or in the Selected Reserve on or after Aug. 1 to be eligible to transfer their benefits as long as they qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

Another Pentagon proposal would cover servicemembers who will reach the 20-year service mark, making them retirement-eligible, between Aug. 1, 2009, and Aug. 1, 2013. 

The breakdown on this proposal: 

Those eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009, would be eligible to transfer their benefits with no additional service requirement. 

Those with an approved retirement date after Aug. 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, would qualify with no additional service. 

Those eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009, but before Aug. 1, 2010, would qualify with one additional year of service after approval to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. 

Those eligible for retirement between Aug. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011, would qualify with two additional years of service after approval to transfer. 

Those eligible to retire between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012, would qualify with three additional years of service after approval to transfer. 

The servicemember's 36 months of benefits, the equivalent of four nine-month academic years, could be transferred to a spouse, one or more children or any combination. 

Additional details are available direct from the Veteran's Affairs office at http://www.gibill.va.gov or 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).  In addition, the following site has information on all GI Bill programs - www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm

For some Reservists there may be a downside to the Chapter 33. 

Chapter 33 pays directly to the institution of higher learning, whereas Chapters 1606 and 1607 paid the Reservists directly, said Sergeant Weiss. Also, Reservists cannot use their kicker benefit with Chapter 33. 

There are a lot of educational benefits to choose from and one size does not fit all. If you are interested in discussing your options and what fits for you, talk to the wing training and education office today.