Which is right for you: Post 9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill?

  • Published
  • Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

Right now, Airmen have the choice between two GI Bills -- the Post 9/11 and Montgomery -- so, it can be difficult to decide which the best is for an Airman.

There are many differences between the two bills that can help an Airman who has the Montgomery GI Bill decide if they want to keep it or transfer to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Who is eligible?

Montgomery: Though there are four categories, most current Airmen fall under Category 1 -- Airmen who entered service after June 30, 1985, have had their military pay reduced by $100 for the first 12 months of their service and have served continuously for three years.

Post 9/11: Airmen who have served 30 consecutive days on active duty, or a combined of 90 days or more, since Sept. 10, 2001. Airmen must serve a minimum of three years, or have served 30 consecutive days and have been discharged due to a service-connected disability, to receive 100 percent of tuition and fees to be paid -- otherwise, the percentage payable to the Airman is determined by the amount of time served on active duty.

What are the benefits?

Montgomery: An Airman has up to 10 years after service to use this bill. Up to 36 months of education is paid for -- the 36 months is not consecutive but cumulative, according to when the Airman is considered a full-time student.  The tuition is paid directly to the Airman, and currently, up to $1,789 per month is covered (any tuition or fees over this amount, the Airman pays out of pocket for). If an Airman used the buy-up program, they will receive up to $150 extra per month.

Post 9/11: An Airman has up to 15 years after service to use this bill. Like the Montgomery, up to 36 months of education is paid for -- the 36 months is not consecutive but cumulative, according to when the Airman is considered a full-time student. A monthly housing stipend is paid to the member based on the zip code of the school location and is equal to the E5 with dependent rate. An Airman also receives a book stipend per term of up to $1,000 ($41 per credit hour). Airmen can transfer this bill to their dependents; however to do so, they must have served for at least six years and commit to another four years of service.

For public colleges/universities, one hundred percent of tuition and fees is covered and paid directly to the school (unless the Airman served less than three years). For students attending a private school, Airmen are eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, if the school offers it. Schools participating in the program agree to cover the additional costs above Post 9/11 GI Bill amount, and it does not charge to the bill entitlement.

What is covered under each GI Bill?

Montgomery: This GI Bill can be used for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Post 9/11: This GI Bill can be used for GI Bill Resident Rate Requirements, correspondence training, cooperative training, entrepreneurship training, flight training, independent and distance learning, institutions of higher learning undergraduate and graduate degrees, licensing and certification reimbursement, vocational/technical training, non-college degree programs, national testing reimbursement, on-the-job training, tuition Assistance top-up, tutorial assistance and vocational/technical training.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

- Montgomery GI Bill

- Post 9/11 GI Bill

- Air Force Personnel Center GI Bill information

(Information gathered from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Air Force Personnel Center)