MN Guard Member Education Benefits

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Presented by
• Minnesota National Guard Education Office
• www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org/education
• AND
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
• Higher Education Veterans Programs
• Regional Coordinator (name and
• Contact Information)
• www.MyMilitaryEducation.org

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
• Extended State Tuition Reimbursement
• Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
• Free Application Federal Student Aid
• Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
• Chapter 1606
• Chapter 1607
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 33 (New Post 9-11 GI Bill)
• MN GI Bill

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Use your Chain of Command FIRST!
• Your Unit Full Time Staff have the ability to
  make inquiries on your behalf about your
  education benefits.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
• STR pays up to 100 of tuition but NOT Fees upon
  successful completion 
• Maximum reimbursement is 100 of the
  undergraduate rate of the
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus
  undergraduate tuition rate
• CY 08-09 rate 326.92 per credit/maximum of
  4250.00 per term
• The lifetime maximum STR benefit is 144 Semester
  credits 
• Service Members reserve STR funding through
  full-time unit representative.
• Upon successful course completion, Service Member
  must submit paid fee
• statement and course grades to Unit Admin
• Undergraduate courses -no less than C grade
• Graduate courses -no less than B grade
• Payments will be direct deposited into Service
  Members bank account.
• Service Member MUST submit payment request within
  60 days of course completion.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Extended State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
• STR has been extended to Service Members who have
  satisfactorily completed their service
  contract(s) in the MN National Guard who served
  honorably in federal active service or federally
  funded state active service since September 11,
  2001 and have not exhausted their STR benefits.
  Eligibility is extended for a period of two
  years, plus amount of time equal to the duration
  of active service.
• STR has been extended to Service Members who have
  been separated or discharged from that
  organization due to a service-connected injury,
  disease, or disability and have not exhausted
  their STR benefits. Eligibility period is
  extended for eight years beyond the date of
  separation.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• SPOUSE State Tuition Reimbursement Option
• Service Members may opt to have their Spouse
  use a portion of their remaining balance of STR
• Spouse can use up to 12 semester credits per year
• The Service Member must have accumulated 8 years
  of qualifying service in the MNANG.
• Payments will be direct deposited into the
  Service Members bank account
• Obligation and Payment requests will work the
  same as for a Service Members

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• ARNG FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE (FTA)
• Non deployed Enlisted and Deployed officer and
  Warrant Officer
• FTA will fund up to 100 of tuition plus most
  fees.
• Pays up to 250.00 per semester credit or 167.00
  per quarter credit, with a maximum benefit per
  Soldier of 4500.00 per fiscal year.
• FTA makes payment directly to the school.
• FY 2009 runs from 20081001 20090930.
• Funding based on FY and how much NGB allots MN.
• FTA IS NOT a guaranteed benefit.
• To apply go to https//minuteman.ngb.army.mil/bene
  fits/
• SOLDIER MUST MONITOR THEIR AKO EMAIL ACCOUNTS FOR
  APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF FTA .

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Non deployed Enlisted and Deployed officer and
  Warrant Officer
• (FTA), continued
• Approval time to disbursement to school, at a
  minimum, can take 90 days.
• Apply BEFORE course begins - can apply 90 days
  prior to start of courses.
• Soldier must be a member of the MNARNG in a
  drilling status.
• Soldier must not acquire 9 or more AWOLS or
  become an UNSAT participant to be eligible.
• Officers may use FTA, but will accrue a 4 yr
  obligation from the last time used. If elect to
  separate sooner, is required to pay back a
  prorated amount.
• Soldier must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater
• Soldier must submit degree plan to the MN ARNG
  Education Office to receive this benefit.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
• AGR Soldiers and Deployed Enlisted Soldiers
• ACES will fund up to 100 of tuition plus most
  fees.
• Pays up to 250.00 per semester credit or 167.00
  per quarter credit, with a maximum of 4500.00
  per fiscal year.
• To apply for ACES TA go to www.GoArmyEd.com.
• The MN National Guard Education office does not
  administer the TA program.
• MNARNG AGR Deployed Enlisted Soldiers
  Education Office is located in Illinois.
• Contact the Rock Island Education Center in IL
  for questions at Phone [phone] or email
  them at earmyu_at_ria.army.mil

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
• AGR Soldiers and Deployed Enlisted Soldiers
• (ACES), Cont.
• LOI and Non-LOI Schools
• LOI pays up front to school
• Non LOI member pays, once grades are submitted,
  member will be reimbursed by the Active Army
  Component
• Soldier must maintain a GPA of 2.0. Soldier
  cannot fail a class or recoupment will occur.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Since payment from FTA and STR cannot exceed 100
  of tuition costs, apply for Federally funded
  grants, state grants and student loans by
  completing a FAFSA.
• Complete application Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• If FAFSA reports income is too high for Grants
  eligibility, request a Special Circumstance
  evaluation from your Campus Financial Aid Office.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 1606 Selected
  Reserve
• Eligible Service Members receive a maximum of 36
  months of MGIB Benefits for full time study
  (currently 329.00 per month). 
• A 14 year window to use this benefit (date of
  graduation from AIT/OBC).
• Three Main Eligibility Criteria
• 6Yr Contract
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• IADT (AIT/OBC) Graduation

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance
  Program
• REAP benefit is payable based on a percentage of
  Active Duty GI Bill.
• Amount paid is based on number of days deployed.
  
• No time window , if you stay in an active
  drilling status with unit.
• Maximum benefit is 36 months.
• Monthly full-time rates (August 1, 2009)
• - Service of 90 days but less than one year
  528.40
• - Service of 1 year 792.60
• - Service of 2 years 1056.80

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• MGIBill Chapter 1606, 1607 and 30 Can Be Used
  For
• College
• Technical or Vocational Courses
• Correspondence Courses
• Apprenticeship/Job Training
• Flight Training
• High-tech Training
• Licensing Certification Tests
• Entrepreneurship Training
• Certain Entrance Examinations
• The NEW Chapter 33 can ONLY be used for programs
  of study at Institutions of Higher Learning
  (IHL).

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Chapter 30
• Generally earned by serving 36 months active duty
• Guard/Reservists who have served at least 20
  months of 24-month Title 10 orders MAY be
  eligible for Chapter 30
• 36 months of payment while attending an approved
  program
• AGRs can earn Chapter 30 benefits
• 1200 buy-in

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• NEW Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill)
• At least 90 days Active Duty Service on or after
  9-11-01
• AGR Soldiers not eligible based solely on AGR
  service (Mob time DOES count)
• Funding based on percentage of time served on
  Active Duty (MOB Time)
• Actual Tuition and Fees (Up to Highest Cost
  In-State Public Institution Rate)
• Monthly Housing Allowance (E5 BAH with Dependents
  same zip code as school) (must attend at least
  one class in Residence)
• Up to 1,000 Yearly Books and Supplies
• One time 500 allowance for certain individuals
  relocating from highly rural areas
• NO PAY- IN REQUIREMENTS
• Transfer Option for Dependents, determined by DOD

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Chap 33 Funding Based on Percentage of Time
  Served
• Individuals serving an aggregate
• period of active duty after
• September 10, 2001, of of Maximum
  Benefit
• At least 36 months 100
• At least 30 continuous days and
• discharged due to service connected disability
  100
• At least 30 months lt 36 months 90
• At least 24 months lt 30 months 80
• At least 18 months lt 24 months 70
• At least 12 months lt 18 months 60
• At least 6 months lt 12 months 50
• At least 90 days lt 6 months 40

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Chapter 33 PROPOSED Benefit Transfer Options
• (Not yet in Policy Subject to Change)
• Member must be eligible for Post 9-11 G I Bill.
• To transfer to Spouse - Have served 6 years and
  agree to serve an additional 4 years (AD or
  SELRES) on date of election. Eligibility End
  Date 15 yrs from SMs Release from last Active
  Duty period
• To transfer to Children - Have served 10 years
  (AD or SELES) on date of election. Eligibility
  End Date NLT childs 26th Birthday.
• DOD is considering options for members who cannot
  commit to an additional 4 years because of
  Retention Control or Mandatory Retirement.
• Transferred Benefits may be used for the same
  educational programs and the same rate as would
  be paid to the member.
• Visit www.GIBILL.VA.GOV

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Kicker (Enlistment Contract Incentive)
• Kickers are an incentive you are eligible for if
  it is stated in your enlistment/re-enlistment
  contract .
• If you are eligible, a Kicker can be used in
  conjunction with MGIB Chapter 1606, 1607, 30, or
  33.
• Maximum benefit is 36 months

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Montgomery GI Bill - QUALIFYING FOR 2 OR
  MORE PROGRAMS
• 36 months maximum benefit if you qualify for any
  1 program
• Chapter 1606
• Chapter 1607
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 33
• 48 months total benefit of you qualify for 2 or
  more MGIB programs.
• Examples
• Soldier uses 30 months of Chapter 1606 MGIB, then
  qualifies for Chapter 1607
• due to MOB soldier is eligible for 18 months of
  Chapter 1607 benefits
• total 48 month between Chapter 1606 CH 1607.
• Soldier uses 36 months of CH 1606 MGIB, then
  qualifies for CH 30 due to AGR tour
• soldier is eligible for 12 months of CH 30
  benefits total of 48 months between
• Chapter 1606 Chapter 30.

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MN Guard Member Education Benefits

• Minnesota GI Bill, M.S. 197.791
• Eligibility
• Active duty since Sept. 11, 2001 or 5 consecutive
  years Guard/Reserve
• MN resident MN college/university
• Maximum benefit
• 1K/semester (full-time)
• 3K/fiscal year
• 10K lifetime
• Process
• Apply on-line or through the College Financial
  Aid Office
• Last Dollar In Cost of attendance minus Aid
  and Benefits
• For information www.getreadyforcollege.org/milit
  ary

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Higher Education Veterans Programs

• Created by MN Department of Veterans Affairs in
  2006 to
• ASSIST MN Public Colleges and Universities to
• Create on campus Veterans Resource Centers
• Develop veterans friendly policies/procedures
• Implement Deferred Tuition/Fee Payment
• Residency status
• Military transfer credits
• Coordinate on/off campus information and services
• Private Colleges Encouraged to Participate

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Higher Education Veterans Programs

• FIRST program of its kind
• Coordinated Services available to ALL Minnesota
  Colleges and Universities
• MN Colleges and Universities develop programs
  using their own funds
• Serves All Military branches and their families
• See www.MyMilitaryEducation.org to contact a
  Regional Coordinator for assistance

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Higher Education Veterans Programs

• Currently
• Twelve Regional Coordinators
• 57 Campus Veterans Resource Centers
• 5,200 Individuals Served
• Provide College and Community Training
• Member MN National Guard Reintegration Team

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Where can you get Help?

• YOUR UNIT FIRST
• Higher Education Veterans Program
• Regional Coordinators
• www.MyMilitaryEducation.org

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Other Places to Seek Help or Information

• Dislocated Worker Program
• Offers additional funds to help pay for your
  education if
• You have been permanently laid off because
• Your employer went out of business
• Was bought by another company,
• Merged with another company,
• Closed your department,
• Eliminated your position,
• Recently returned from Active Military Duty.
• AND You are eligible to receive re-employment
  (unemployment) benefits
• AND It is unlikely that another employer will
  hire you to do the same
• work you were doing when you were laid off.
• Contact your local Workforce Center Veterans Rep

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Other Places to Seek Help or Information

• County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO)
• Located in all MN Counties
• Assist with claims and provide information about
• Compensation
• Pension
• Life insurance
• Medical benefits
• Home loans
• Minnesota veterans state benefits
• Discharge upgrades
• Burial benefits
• See www.MyMilitaryEducation.org for contact
  information

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Other Places to Seek Help or Information

• Federal VA Vocational Rehabilitation
• Veteran with at least VA 20 disability rating,
  may qualify for
• vocational rehabilitation services possibly
  including retraining.
• Apply thru County Veterans Service Officer
• If eligible for retraining, you may receive
• Monthly subsistence allowance
• Tuition
• Fees,
• Books,
• Supplies
• Equipment
• If needed, special services
• See www.MyMilitaryEducation.org for contact
  information

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Thank You for your Service

• For more information
• or to locate a
• Regional Coordinator
• www.MyMilitaryEducation.org