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contributions. For every dollar the member
contributes, the Navy contributes a matching two
dollars. Thus, a person’s contribution of $2,700 will
provide a total benefit of $8,100 in the education fund.
The member receives direct payment of benefits after
the school confirms the member’s enrollment in
training.
Active-duty personnel may disenroll and request a
refund of unused contributions. OPNAVINST 1780.2
contains more detailed information about the
procedures for accomplishing these actions.
NOTE: Members must have initially enrolled in
the program before April 1987.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL ACT OF 1984
Beginning on 1 July 1985, nonprior service
members entering active duty began receiving
educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill
(MGIB). Service members eligible for the Vietnam
Era GI Bill may also be eligible to receive benefits
under the MGIB.
Members may use their in-service benefits after 2 years
of active duty. They must use all benefits within 10 years
after the date of last discharge or release from active duty.
Those who began active duty after 30 June 1985
automatically incur a monthly pay reduction of $100
per month for 12 months unless they elect not to take
part in this program. Service members must make this
one-time, irrevocable decision when they begin active
duty. Officer candidates make this decision at the time
of their commissioning.
Vietnam Era GI Bill personnel do not have to
contribute to the program to remain eligible. They
receive one-half of their Vietnam Era GI Bill
entitlement rate that was effective 31 December 1989
plus the basic MGIB rate. This payment may not
exceed 36 months or the number of months of
remaining Vietnam Era entitlement, whichever is less.
The total entitlement used under both bills cannot
exceed 48 months.
SELECTED RESERVE AND NATIONAL
GUARD BENEFITS UNDER THE MGIB
Effective 1 July 1985, selected Reserve and
National Guard personnel became eligible for
educational benefits under the MGIB. To be eligible,
the member must meet the following requirements:
Be a high school graduate or have a GED
equivalency certificate
Have completed 180 days of consecutive
Reserve component service before drawing
benefits (computed from the date of the oath of
enlistment)
Not have an ROTC scholarship
Agree to enlist, extend, or reenlist for 6 years
Students must complete a DD Form 2384, Notice
of Eligibility, to begin the process. After signing a
Form 2384, students should verify the acceptability of
proposed courses with the Veterans’ Affairs Office at
their school. The school must certify the student’s
training to the VA. The processing normally takes
about 1 month. Reservists do not have to pay any
money to participate.
Participants have up to 10 years in which to use
their benefits, but they must remain qualified members
of the Selected Reserve in good standing. The benefits
end as soon as the member separates from the Selected
Reserve or after 10 years, whichever comes first.
Q53. The Post-Vietnam Veterans’ Educational
Assistance Program is available for personnel
who entered the Navy during what time period?
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