Are spouses able to use GI Bill now?

Question

I have heard that military spouses are going to be able to use the Gi Bill for education. Does anyone know if that has gone through or not?

Answer 1

yes it has read the following ....
MILPER MESSAGE NUMBER : 07-302
AHRC-EPF
MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) TRANSFERABILITY OF BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS PILOT PROGRAM
...Issued: [11/08/2007]...
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1. THIS MILPER MESSAGE WILL EXPIRE 30 SEPTEMBER 2008.

2. MILPER MESSAGE 06-205, AHRC-EPF, 21 JUL 06, MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) TRANSFERABILITY OF BENEFITS TO SPOUSES PILOT PROGRAM IS RESCINDED EFFECTIVE 8 NOVEMBER 2007.

3. REFERENCES:

A. 2002 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION (NDAA) ACT, PUBLIC LAW 107-107, SECTION 654

B. TITLE 38, USC, SECTION 3020.

C. AR 601-280, ARMY RETENTION PROGRAM, DTD 31 JANUARY 2006.

D. PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE-TRANSFER OF MGIB BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS, ARMY PILOT PROGRAM, DTD 21 AUGUST 2007.

4. THIS MESSAGE, WHICH ANNOUNCES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MGIB TRANSFERABILITY OF BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS PROGRAM, WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF ALL COMMANDERS, REENLISTMENT OFFICES, RECRUITERS, AND FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT ALL AGENCIES ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE TO AVOID FUTURE CLAIMS OF ERRONEOUS OR UNFULFILLED COMMITMENTS.

5. REFERENCES A AND B AUTHORIZED THE TRANSFER OF MGIB BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS. EFFECTIVE 01 NOVEMBER 2007, THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE RETENTION OF REGULAR ARMY SOLDIERS SERVING IN CRITICAL SKILLS WITH SIX OR MORE YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, HAS APPROVED THE TRANSFER OF UP TO 18 MONTHS OF MGIB BENEFITS TO DEPENDENTS AS A PILOT PROGRAM. EXPIRATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS BOUND BY LAW TO THE RETENTION OF CRITICAL SKILLS, SOLDIERS MUST ELECT TO PARTICIPATE AT THE TIME OF REENLISTMENT.

6. THE PROVISIONS OF REFERENCE C APPLY WHEN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY TO INCLUDE:

A. MGIB-ERA SOLDIERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MGIB MUST HAVE ENROLLED IN MGIB ON DD FORM 2366, MGIB BASIC ENROLLMENT FORM, UPON ENTRY TO ACTIVE DUTY.

B. SOLDIERS MUST POSSESS A CRITICAL MILITARY SKILL WHICH IS DEFINED AS A SOLDIER WHO QUALIFIES FOR A “MOS SPECIFIC” SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) INCENTIVE AND IS ENTITLED TO A (ZONE B OR ZONE C) BONUS AT THE TIME OF REENLISTMENT. SOLDIERS MAY TRANSFER MGIB BENEFITS WHEN ENTITLED TO EITHER A ZONE B OR ZONE C BONUS, BUT NOT BOTH ZONES.

C. BY LAW, ELIGIBILITY IS ESTABLISHED WHEN A SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED AT LEAST 6 YEARS OF SERVICE AND REENLISTS FOR A MINIMUM OF FOUR YEARS. AN ELIGIBLE SPOUSE CAN BEGIN USING THE BENEFIT ANYTIME AFTER THE SOLDIER COMPLETES SIX YEARS OF SERVICE. AN ELIGIBLE CHILD CAN BEGIN USING THE BENEFIT ANYTIME AFTER THE SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. CHILDREN MUST HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OR EQUIVANENCY CERTIFICATE) OR BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE.

D. SOLDIERS CAN TRANSFER UP TO 18 OF 36 MONTHS OF ENTITLEMENT TOTALING OVER $19,000. THIS BENEFIT IS PRORATED FOR PART-TIME ENROLLMENT. FOR SOLDIERS WHO ELECTED THE ARMY COLLEGE FUND AS AN ENLISTMENT OPTION AND/OR WHO HAVE ENROLLED IN AND PAID TOWARD THE $600 MGIB ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY, THEIR EXPANDED BENEFIT (MGIB, ACF, MGIB ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY) IS TRANSFERRED. VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT IN THE ARMY COLLEGE FUND AND/OR THE MGIB ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY BE WILL COMPLETED BY THE VA AT THE TIME THE SPOUSE FILES A VA FORM 22-1990, APPLICATION FOR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS. SOLDIERS CAN CONTACT THE VA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.GIBILL.VA.GOV FOR QUESTIONS ON APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS PROCEDURES.

7. ALL ELIGIBLE SOLDIERS DESIRING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM MUST COMPLETE A DD FORM 2366-2, MONTGOMERY GI BILL ACT OF 1984 (MGIB) TRANSFERABILITY PROGRAM. THIS APPLIES EVEN IN CASES WHERE A DEPENDENT IS NOT DESIGNATED AT THE TIME OF REENLISTMENT TO RECEIVE BENEFITS. THE FORM SERVES AS AN ELECTION AND PROOF OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. SOLDIERS WILL COMPLETE A NEW FORM THROUGH THEIR SERVICING CAREER COUNSELOR EACH TIME A CHANGE IS MADE. SOLDIERS WHO PREVIOUSLY ELECTED TO TRANSFER BENEFITS TO A SPOUSE DURING THE INITIAL PILOT PROGRAM CAN NOW ELECT TO TRANSFER BENEFITS TO THEIR CHILDREN. CHANGES CAN BE MADE BY COMPLETING A NEW DD FORM 2366-2 WITH YOUR RETENTION CAREER COUNSELOR.

8. ELIGIBLE SOLDIERS WHO ELECT TRANSFER OF MGIB BENEFITS TO A DEPENDENT AT THE TIME OF REENLISTMENT WILL HAVE THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO A SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) REDUCED BY $3,200.

9. SOLDIERS WITH QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS PROGRAM AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ADDRESSED IN THIS MESSAGE SHOULD CONTACT THEIR SERVICING CAREER COUNSELORS. SERVICING CAREER COUNSELORS WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MESSAGE SHOULD CONTACT THEIR APPROPRIATE MACOM RETENTION OFFICE FOR CLARIFICATION. HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND, ALEXANDRIA, VA, POC IS MRS. CARROLL, DSN 221-5400
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Use this URL to link to this document
http://PERSCOMND04.ARMY.MIL/MILPERmsgs.nsf/All+Documents/07-302?OpenDocument

Answer 2

I know that in the Army yes you can but there are some stipulations to it and it has something to do with his reenlisting and all that stuff, my husband did his GI bill while in the Marines (he is in the Army now) we have been told that he cannot transfer any of it to since he paid contributed to it while in the Marine Corps. I also remeber reading something that says that they must have at least 6 years time in service. I hope this helps a little bit I know it is a little vague. This is something that I definitly looked into. I do also know that he can only transfer so much of the GI bill to you. Best of luck!

Answer 3

My nephew (who has a daughter) is in the Marines, and he told me that the Commandant of the Marines has it where if my nephew does not use it, he can give it to any of his dependents (he did opt for the GI Bill). But that only includes state/private colleges and universities and some community colleges as well. Also, he can have more money taken out to put more money in the GI Bill. I hope that helps.

Answer 4

No. The Army tried it for a few months many years ago but right now no branch is allowing spouses or children to use the GI Bill

Edit: WOW..I just read the above answer. That is awesome! I wonder if it's just the Army or if all branches wil be doing that. I've been struggling to pay for school and since my husband is done with his schooling, this is perfect!

Answer 5

if you read between the lines, only the Army currently offers this program, and the number of stipulations and restrictions is very high. Only a very small number of MOSs actually qualify for it. It will most likely NOT be renewed.

Answer 6

Boy, Greg brought his A game today.

Answer 7

I know kids can, its in the army times this week I think... i cant remember 100%

Answer 8

This is good news indeed.