Air Force Tuition Funding Requests (Tuition Assistance)
Tuition funding is available to Air Force active duty personnel to assist them in meeting tuition costs, up to $250 per semester hour and $4500 total per fiscal year, through the AF Virtual Education Center. For further information or assistance visit the Education Center Customer Service in Room 23, by telephone at (307) 773-2117, or email our organizational box at 90FSS.DPH@us.af.mil.
Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30 Program
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. If you are currently in service, you may be eligible to begin using your benefits after two years of active duty. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. The current full-time rate is $1,717 per month. (Fiscal Year 2015) You can apply by filling out VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits, online through the VA web site at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. For more information, call Toll-Free 1-888-442-4551.
*$600 Buy-up Program: Some service members may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional contribution must be made while on active duty. For more information contact the Education Office.
*Tuition Assistance Top Up: "Top up" pays for the portion of school cost that Tuition Assistance doesn't cover (up to 100% of current GI Bill benefit allowed).
*Licensing and Certification: The MGIB covers reimbursement of the cost of tests leading to licensing and certification requirements such as a real estate license, etc., per pre-approval by the VA.
Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33 Program
Individuals who serve at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 11, 2001 are eligible. To be eligible for 100% of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous service. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits differ from other education assistance programs in that each type of payment is issued separately, with some payments made directly to the school and others issued to the individual.
Active duty personnel are not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance. To elect transfer of MGIB benefits to spouse and/or dependents, visit www.ebenefits.va.gov and select Manage/Education. Children using transferred benefits will receive the monthly living stipend and the books and supplies stipend. Spouses will only receive the books and supplies stipend while member is still active duty.
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes certificate, undergraduate and graduate degrees. All training programs must be offered by a degree-granting institution of higher learning and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance and reimbursement for licensing or certification tests are available under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. The period of eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill ends 15 years from the date of the last discharge or release from active duty of at least: 90 consecutive days or 30 days but less than 90 days if released for a service-connected disability, Or: 15 years from the date of discharge for the last period of service used to meet the minimum service requirements of 90 aggregate days of service.