Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve Kicker (MGIB-SR Kicker)

• Undergraduate or graduate degree programs
• Cooperative programs
• Certificate or diploma programs
• Accredited independent study courses
• Apprenticeships or on-the-job training (OJT) programs
• Correspondence courses
• Flight training

A second component of the MGIB-SR is the MGIB-Kicker program. Designed to work in conjunction with the MGIB-SR program benefit, this program provides up to $350 in additional educational benefits to eligible full-time students.

The additional money is over and above what a servicemember would earn from just the Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR--Chapter 1606), or Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP--Chapter 1607) alone. To get a kicker, servicemembers must enlist in a critical job skill or unit for a specific number of years.

As an enlistment/re-enlistment incentive, the purpose of the kicker program is to stimulate recruitment and retention of quality servicemembers in the National Guard and Reserves. Within the program, there are various monetary amounts authorized--from as low as $100 per month up to almost $700, depending on the organization.

The MGIB-SR Kicker in Action

As an example, the Army National Guard currently offers $200 and $350 kicker options. The amount authorized is determined by the kicker category eligibility of the servicemember. Possible categories in the Army National Guard include:

$200

• Non-Prior Service (NPS) - Someone who has never been in the Selected Reserves before
• Prior Service (PS) - Someone who has military experience, but is not currently serving
• Current ARNG Member
• Lieutenants who have not earned an undergraduate degree

$350

• Officer Commissioning Programs
• College First Kicker

Reserve units all have similar categories for their kicker programs. To calculate kicker compensation, multiply the kicker amount by number of months of GI Bill entitlement. Add that amount to the full-time MGIB-SR rate of $337 per month (a new rate as of October 1, 2010). For example, the MGIB-SR and $200 ARNG kicker add up to a total of $19,332 in benefits. For the $350 kicker, it jumps up to $24,732.

MGIB-SR Kicker Eligibility Requirements

Because a kicker must be used in conjunction with the Montgomery GI Bill-SR or REAP, the first kicker eligibility requirement is qualifying for the MGIB-SR by:

• Signing up for a six-year enlistment in an active drilling unit
• Completing IADT (Basic and Advanced Individual Training)
• Receiving a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT
• Remaining in good standing in the Selected Reserves (no more than four unexcused absences per year).

A kicker can't be used without also using either the MGIB-SR or REAP.

Using a MGIB Kicker

Once the GI Bill for Selected Reserves eligibility requirements are met, members will receive DD Form 2384-1 Basic Notice of Eligibility (NOBE-1), which means they are authorized to start using the MGIB-SR. Before a servicemember can start receiving GI Bill monthly payments, he/she must first submit VA Form 22-1990, either through the VONAPP website or by downloading the form, filling it out and sending it in according to the instructions on the form. In return, servicemembers get a Certificate of Eligibility, which is needed when enrolling in school.

To start receiving both the kicker and GI Bill payments, servicemembers must:

• Bring a copy of their ARNG Kicker Contract, along with their MGIB-SR Certificate of Eligibility to the school's VA Certifying Official
• Ensure the VA Certifying Official completes and submits a VA Form 22-1999, Certification of Enrollment for each semester or term period

Frequent communication between the VA Certifying Official and servicemember student is the key to receiving both timely MGIB-SR and kicker payments.

MGIB-SR Kicker Expiration Date

Since the kicker is dependent upon the MGIB-SR or REAP, it expires when these programs expire. Servicemembers (who enlisted after October 1, 1992), have 14 years from their date of MGIB-SR eligibility to use both their GI Bill and kicker benefits, provided they remain in the Selected Reserves.

Those using REAP benefits may continue using their MGIB kicker and GI Bill benefits acquired under REAP, for the duration of their REAP entitlements. REAP benefits are acquired when a Selected Reserve servicemember is mobilized and deployed for a contingency operation. The additional benefits are the length of the mobilization plus four months.

A kicker can add to, or in many cases, more than double the monthly amount a servicemember would receive from just the MGIB-SR alone. If you have a kicker, don't forget to apply for those benefits when applying for MGIB-SR benefits.