Can I Get A Refund of My MGIB Contribution?

No, I’m afraid not. There are no refunds of the $1,200 contribution that is required to enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill. Once you put the money into the program (in the form of $100 pay deductions each month for your first 12 months of service), the money is essentially gone. This remains true even if you do not use the GI Bill, or if you lose eligibility for the GI Bill by not completing your require service or receiving a dishonorable or general discharge (regardless of whether the general discharge is “under honorable conditions” or “under other than honorable conditions”).

The only condition under which a veteran can get that contribution back is if he changes over to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill and uses all 36 months of benefits from that program. In that case, the veteran receives his $1,200 contribution in his final housing payment.