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Will Army Reserves Pay For College

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Consider Post 9/11 Gi Bill

Join the Army Reserves to Help Pay for College!!

Anyone who served on active duty in the military for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This program offers assistance with college tuition, fees, books and living expenses, in varying amounts depending on your length of service. Benefits are provided for a maximum of 36 months and are transferable to spouses and dependent children. If you enroll at a college that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, all of your tuition at state universities may be paid for, but there is a maximum benefit amount for private colleges.

Active Military Or Reservists Benefits

Individuals currently serving on active duty or with a reserve component may be eligible for federal and/or state benefits. Reserve and National Guard Servicemembers may choose to attend college full-time while serving. Active duty Servicemembers can receive benefits to participate in off-duty educational activities.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness For Military

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a little-known benefit that can help you pay off your student loans. You can have your federal student loans forgiven after 120 qualifying payments and there are no limits on the amount that can be forgiven.

Military service qualifies under the qualifying employment guidelines.

How to Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

You can fill out the employment certification formor access our free assessment to see if you qualify.

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Defer Your Payments While On Active Duty

You can defer your student loan payments while on active duty and for 13 months after you return. The government will pay the interest on your Direct Loans and Federal Stafford Loans . You wont have to worry about interest accruing while youre not making principal payments.

If you have an unsubsidized loan, then you wont be able to have your interest paid while in deferment.

Use The Montgomery Gi Bill

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The Montgomery GI Bill requires enlisted military members to pay $100 per month during their first year of service in order to receive college tuition assistance, which can be used for technical or vocational schools. The maximum benefit of up to $23,671 per year is available to those attending a private college or foreign school. GI Bill benefits are paid out monthly, on termination of military service when you’re enrolled in school. Benefits can be up to $1,972 per month and generally last for 36 months. You have 10 years after honorable discharge to use the benefit. This program is managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and those interested should contact the VA or a military recruiter for specific details about eligibility.

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Join The Military & Drastically Cut The Cost Of College

1.) Join the armed forces after high school and work on your college degree while youre on active duty.2.) Start college as a civilian , graduate with your associate or bachelors degree and become a military officer.3.) Serve in a military reserve branch or the National Guard while youre in college.4.) Apply as a student in a military academy.

Us Air Force Reserves

The US Air Force Reserves is open to non-prior service, prior service and officer personnel and currently holds over 69,000 members.

Most positions are part time , and initial service commitments are for six years active duty, with two additional years inactive.

Other options include Individual Mobilization Augmentees , Active Guard Reserve and Air Reserve Technicians .

Related ArticleReenlistment Codes for Each Military Branch

Reservists can serve on Air Force Bases, Air Reserve Bases, or air stations shared with other military branches.

Individuals with non-prior service must be 17 to 39, a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident, have a high school diploma and be in good health.

The Air Force Reserves offers most of the same jobs offered to enlisted personnel and has the same uniform and rank structure.

The Marine Corps Reserves offers a similar option to other military branches when it comes to time commitment.

Their Selected Marine Corps Reserve option allows individuals to work one weekend a month and two consecutive weeks a year, with the same training and MOS options as enlisted members.

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Individuals can choose to have 6 years drill status with 2 years in Individual Ready Reserve , 5 years in drill status 3 in IRR or 4 years in drill status 4 in IRR.

The training and requirements to enter into an MOS are almost identical as an enlisted active duty member.

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Coast Guard Reserve Ta Benefits

As a Coast Guard Reservist, you are eligible for TA, but just like Active Duty Coast Guard, the benefit amount is less than your service counterparts. The following is some basic amounts regarding eligibility and TA amounts:

  • To qualify you must be on long-term Active Duty orders of 180 days or more
  • The annual cap is $2,250 for TA utilization
  • To apply, the process is the same as Active Duty and is at the discretion of your Command
  • Find out how to apply for Coast Guard TA

As a Coast Guard Reservist you may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve benefit. This is separate from Tuition Assistance but will come up when you look at education benefits as part of the Coast Guard Reserve. What is important to note is all education benefits are based on type of service and length of service. Always read the fine print and find out what works best for you and your career goals.

Tia Christopher is a proud US Navy Veteran. Christophers writing has focused on explaining military benefits in plain language and helping fellow service members transition from the military. Christopher was recognized in 2013 by the White House as a Woman Veteran Champion of Change.

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The Tuition Assistance Top

NATIONAL GUARD VS RESERVE’S: PAY 100% FOR COLLEGE?

Eligible service members whose tuition costs arent fully covered by the Department of Defenses Military Tuition Assistance program can apply to the VAs Tuition Assistance Top-Up program to cover the difference.

To qualify, service members must have been on active duty for at least two years and meet the eligibility requirements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI BillActive Duty.

To apply for Top-Up benefits, service members should first apply for tuition assistance, then complete VA Form 22-1990 .

Keep in mind that if a service member receives Top-Up benefits, it will reduce the amount of GI Bill benefits for which they are eligible later. This could be a factor if theyre hoping to pursue further education upon leaving the military.

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The Coast Guard Reserve Tuition Assistance

In order to receive TA benefits through the Coast Guard, you will need to be a reservist on long term active duty orders of over 180 days. Back to back tours will not count. The Coast Guard also has an annual fiscal year cap of $2,250 which is lower than other branches.

If you are serving in the National Guard or the Reserves, make sure to find out if you qualify for Tuition Assistance. If you do, make sure to apply in a timely manner in order to receive TA for your education.

CollegeRecon is a military education and transition resource. We provide online tools and actionable info to better understand your Post-9/11 GI Bill and military and veteran education benefits programs.

Find info on top online degree programs for military using their Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as ways to pay for school such as scholarships for military and veterans. We can also assist you through your transition with certificate, training, and career options after you leave the military.

CollegeRecon is built exclusively for veterans, active military, the National Guard, Reserves, military spouses and dependents of the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and DoD to assist in their education journey.

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Compare Military Branch Scholarships

The different branches of the military all offer military education and scholarship programs. For example, the Army has a scholarship program for those looking to become chaplains. Also, the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program pays tuition for medical school students and for graduate students in dentistry, optometry, psychology or veterinary medicine programs at any accredited U.S. school.

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Civilian High School Graduates

If you are a civilian, you get to attend Army Basic Training and become a soldier in the National Guard after Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training during the summer . New Basic Training graduates are assigned to a local National Guard or Reserve unit upon completion of training.

Upon commissioning, any enlistment contract is nullified, and you may start your career as an Army officer and serve either full-time on Active Duty, or part-time as an officer in the Army Reserves or National Guard. You are not limited to any particular MOS because of your former training, nor are you locked into or out of any commissioning options.

More Information About Eligibility Requirements

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You can receive benefits until your eligibility period ends or you use all of your entitlement, whichever comes first. Entitlement means the number of months of benefits you may receive.

We may extend your eligibility period if youre called to active duty. If this happens, well extend your eligibility for the amount of time youre mobilized plus 4 months. For example, if youre mobilized for 12 months, well extend your eligibility period for 16 months. This extension still applies even if you leave the Selected Reserve after mobilization.

This depends on the reason you left. Your eligibility for this program usually ends the day you leave the Selected Reserve. But there are exceptions to this rule.

You can still qualify for MGIB-SR benefits for 14 years from the date of your first 6-year obligation if any of the below descriptions are true for you.

At least one of these must be true:

  • You separated because of a disability that wasnt caused by misconduct, or
  • Your unit was deactivated between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2014, or
  • You involuntarily separated for reasons other than misconduct between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2014

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Anything Else I Need To Know About National Guard And Reserves Pay

There are also over 60 special and incentive military pays that you may or may not qualify for. If you do extra training, you can also earn more money from doing so.

Remember, every time you are working for the military, you will receive a military paycheck. If you are trying to learn more about how much money you would make as a National Guard or Reserve service member, this should give you an idea of what to expect.

CollegeRecon is a military education and transition resource. We provide online tools and actionable info to better understand your Post-9/11 GI Bill and military and veteran education benefits programs.

Find info on top online degree programs for military using their Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as ways to pay for school such as scholarships for military and veterans. We can also assist you through your transition with certificate, training, and career options after you leave the military.

CollegeRecon is built exclusively for veterans, active military, the National Guard, Reserves, military spouses and dependents of the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and DoD to assist in their education journey.

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Join Reserve Officers Training Corps

The Reserve Officers Training Corps, or ROTC, is a college elective that offers scholarships to students who are preparing to join the military. ROTC’s merit-based scholarships help pay for all or part of a student’s college tuition and expenses. The program is available for students in high school, college and graduate school who are seeking to assume leadership roles in the military as officers. The Simultaneous Member Program lets you serve in the military and join ROTC at the same time.

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What Is Drill Pay

Base pay for military members depends on several factors, including whether they are serving in active duty or the reserves. Active duty members receive full-time pay, while National Guard and reserve members who are not on active duty receive part-time pay, or drill pay, depending on the number of drills they perform each month.

College Benefits For Veterans

Army Reserves College Opportunities

The original GI Bill of Rights sent millions of World War II veterans off to college in the 1940s and ’50s. Since then, generations of vets have benefited from that program and its successors.

Today, there are multiple versions of the GI Bill:

  • The Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve , described above
  • The Montgomery GI BillActive Duty
  • The Post-9/11 GI Bill

Still in the process of being implemented is the Forever GI Bill , which further expands many benefits.

Veterans who were honorably discharged may be eligible for either the Montgomery GI BillActive Duty or the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The VA states that veterans with multiple periods of service who are eligible for both must choose one or the other and that their decision is irrevocable.

However, a recent court ruling says eligible vets do not have to choose between the two bills. If that decision holds, it could allow a qualifying veteran to receive benefits from one GI bill for the maximum of 36 months and then use the other GI bill to receive additional months of benefits. The decision is pending a possible appeal by the VA, so stay tuned.

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Regular Force And Class C Reserve Service

Pay rates for non-commissioned members of the Regular Force and Reservists on Class C service are listed below by rank, within each occupation groups. These are monthly pay rates and they are the latest rates available as of 1 April 2021 unless stated otherwise.

Within each rank there are a number of pay increments which represent automatic annual increases in pay to recognize advancements in experience, skill and knowledge. Some ranks have several pay levels based on entry plans to the Canadian Armed Forces. See pay overview for information on the factors that determine pay rates.

State Tuition Assistance Program

Public Act 259 of 2014 established the State Tuition Assistance Program to provide tuition assistance exclusively to members of the Michigan National Guard who are attending any public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school or trade school located in Michigan.

You could be eligible to receive up to $600 per credit hour and up to $14,400 per school year. STAP is available to members of the Michigan National Guard who are active in the National guard, are not absent without leave or under Uniform Code of Military Justice charges, and meet the additional criteria established by The Adjutant General consistent with the Guard’s recruiting and retention requirements.

Upon meeting all necessary requirements, the Student Tuition Assistance Program may be used toward the following education avenues:

  • Certificates
  • Master’s of First Professional Degree

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Us Coast Guard Reserves Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • Allows a split training program
  • Ability to fill unused seats of DoD owned aircraft
  • All positions are open to men and women equally

Cons:

  • Prior service may not be able to keep rank
  • Can receive travel orders or be involuntarily mobilized
  • Usually have to live within 100 miles of the unit with job opening

Guard And Reserve Education Benefits

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Education benefits are available for Selected Reserve and National Guard members to help with education and training costs. Guard and Reserve members are eligible for several education benefits including the GI Bill, tuition assistance, state benefits and other programs. The following guide will help you make the most of these benefits.

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Army National Guard Kicker

In addition to the Montgomery GI Bill, the Army National Guard Kicker pays up to $350 per month on living expenses. The kicker can last as long as 36 months and cover as much as $12,600.

It should be noted that you first need to qualify then apply for the Army National Guard Kicker.

Some of the pre-qualification requirements include:

  • Must complete Initial Active Duty For Training . You actually cant receive Kicker payments while on active duty.
  • Be eligible to receive a basic Montgomery GI bill benefit. This includes having at least a high school diploma, and maintaining selected reserve status.

In order to be eligible to receive the Kicker bonus, here are some of the basic eligibility requirements:

Non-prior service applicants

  • Enlist for a minimum of 6 years
  • Minimum AFQT score of 50
  • Meet the Tier 1 educational requirements. Tier 1 includes those members who are either working on their first bachelors degree, or have earned one without tuition assistance funds and want to get their masters degree.
  • Enlist for a critical skill vacancy in the grade of E-4 or below

Prior service applicants

  • Minimum AFQT score of 31
  • Enlist for a minimum of 6 years
  • Enlist into a qualifying vacant position in an MTOE unit only. An MTOE unit is considered a combat ready, deployable force.

There are a wide variety of other stipulations that need to be met as well. For more information you should consult a local recruiter.

Theyll be able to lay out everything for you in an easy-to-understand format.

Reserve Officer Training Corps

ROTC programs are available at more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities theyre offered by every branch of the military . Think of ROTC as a scholarship program with a military service component. For example, students in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps are eligible to receive up to $180,000 in tuition assistance at one of 160 colleges in the United States.

During college, they live with other cadets on campus they also get special training during the summer. But otherwise, theyre like traditional college students. Especially after 5 p.m., when the uniforms come off. After graduation, NROTC students are commissioned as ensigns in the Naval Reserve. And they are required to serve at least three years of active duty service.

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