POST 9/11 GI BILL^®

If you’re an active-duty, Guard or Reserve Airman, Air Force veteran, or qualified survivor or dependent, you may qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits through the GI Bill program and other educational assistance programs. The VA may be able to help pay your tuition, pick out a school, choose a career and more.  

Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped millions of veterans pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Under this bill, qualifying veterans and their family members can get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. 

If you have two or more qualifying periods of active duty, you may receive up to 48 months of entitlement under more than one program.  You must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD).  Eligibility stipulations and benefit details are available at base education offices or on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

If you would like to include the VA website: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/

(GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill )

If you haven’t used all of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you may be able to transfer up to 36 months’ worth of benefits to your spouse or a dependent child. The Post-9/11 GI Bill's transfer-to-dependent option is designed to help improve military retention and recruiting and is only available to eligible active-duty service members and selected Reservists.

Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to, service members who meet all Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility requirements, have completed six years of service, can retain and commit to serving an additional four more years from the date of request and have registered their dependents in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

The Department of Defense decides whether you can transfer benefits to your family.  Effective July 12, 2019, in accordance with DoD policy, if you are unable to be retained for four years from the date of request, for any reason, you are ineligible to request a transfer of benefits.

Airmen and Guardians receiving a less-than-honorable discharge, even if previously eligible and/or approved for TEB, will lose the transferred benefit and become ineligible for future use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Airmen and Guardians separated due to a “force shaping” event retain their eligibility to transfer benefits.  Department of the Air Force members involved in a Medical or Physical Evaluation Board or Disability Evaluation System process should review the ‘Eligibility Requirements for Service Members to Transfer Benefits to Family Members’ Knowledge Article on myFSS .

To transfer benefits, review the ‘Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer Step-by-Step Instructions’ Knowledge Article on myFSS.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility to transfer benefits, contact the Total Force Service Center at 1-800-525-0102, 1-210-565-5000 or DSN 665-5000.

Effective Aug. 31, 2018, Purple Heart recipients currently serving in the armed forces may request a transfer of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to eligible dependents, regardless of whether the Airman or Guardian has six years in service or can enter into an agreement to serve four additional years. Other than the time in service and four-year obligation exemptions, Purple Heart recipients are required to meet all other Transfer of Education Benefits eligibility requirements.