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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogI Left Active Duty in 1992, and Was In the Reserves 1994-1998, Can I Still Use My MGIB?
February 4th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I received an Honorable Discharge in August 1992 from active duty in the Marines. I also served in the Air Force Reserve from 1994 to 1998. I started using the MGIB in 1993. I only used it 1 semester. Am I able to get my MGIB restored or reinstated? To try this whom should I contact? Randy
Hi Randy, I’m afraid your Montgomery GI Bill benefits have expired. You have 10 years from the time you separate from active duty to use them. I receive a lot of inquires from veterans who never used their benefits, and are now wondering if they still can. I was in the same situation myself, I didn’t touch my education benefits when I left the Marine Corps, and now I could kick myself.
I can’t tell from your email what state you live in, but you might check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs. Some states offer education benefits to veterans at state supported colleges and universities, and some states have a longer time frame during which to use the benefits, than the federal programs do. You might also check with the financial aid offices at some of the schools in your state, they may be aware of some grants or scholarships for veterans that you may be eligible for.
49 Responses to “I Left Active Duty in 1992, and Was In the Reserves 1994-1998, Can I Still Use My MGIB?”
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COntact the VA. I was in a similar situation and requested reinstatement of my benefits. THey gave me another 10 years to use my benefits.
Where there any kind of medical reasons why they extended your g. i. bill another 10 years, i am just curious.
NO, no medical reasons. I have 0% disability.
My father was trying to transfer his eligibility to me however since it took the VA from 1993 till 2010 to declare him 100% disabled i am too old now that he has received his benefit. Such a shame that a paperwork and bureaucracy issue is keeping me from finally getting my education. Is there anything that can help us with this?
Hi Trisha, you don’t mention your age, but the Dependents Educational Assistance program can provide benefits up through 26 years of age and there are some exceptions that can allow you to go past 31 years of age. You might also try the relief organization that supports the branch of service your father was in such as the Army Emergency Relief or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. They often have scholarships and grants for the children of veterans. You should also check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs office. Many states have education benefits available to the children of disabled veterans and the age limit is sometimes a little more generous.
I SERVICE IN THE MARINE CORP FORM 1980-83 AND I WONDER IF I’M ELIGIBLE FOR THE GI BILL ON CONTINUE EDUCATION????? THANK U!
Hi Willie, I’m afraid any GI Bill benefits you had have probably expired by now. You might check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs office as some states offer GI Bill type benefits that don’t expire as quickly as the federal programs do. You should also check with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society as they sometimes have educational assistance programs for Marine Corps veterans. Semper Fi
I was in the army national guard i joined in 93 signed up for 6 years then did IRR”Inactive Ready Reserve” for two years when does my benefits expire?
Hi Victor, You don’t mention if you were called onto active duty while in the National Guard. If you were never on active duty and were eligible for Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Benefits, your eligibility for that program ended when you left the military. If you were called onto active duty and served enough to qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, then those benefits will expire 15 years from the day you left active duty.
I was in the marines for 5 years and now serving 3 years as an IRR. Can i transfer my post 9-11 gi bill to my wife?
Hi Tyler, Only service members who are on Active duty or in the Selected Reserves are eligible to transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and unfortunately the the IRR isn’t considered to be either by the Department of Defense.
What about this scenario; its slightly different where I too joined the Guard after active duty, but then had a unit call up.
I served active duty 1995-1999 and have the Montgomery GI Bill. I used it for a semester in 2000. I joined the National Guard in 2001 prior to 9/11, and our unit was called up title 10. This was in 2003 ending in 2004.
It is my understanding that this will “reset” the ten years, ending it now in 2014. Does this scenario allow that extension on the MGIB? I have a DD 214 and copies of orders to also show this time.
Hi Chris, Your year of active duty time while with the National Guard reset the time limit on your Montgomery GI Bill benefits so that you now have 10 years from the time you left active duty the second time; which means your benefits should run out sometime in 2014.
I served in the Army Reserves from 2001-2007. Then went into IRR from 2007-2009. Am I still able to use my GI Benefits? Or, did it expire when I left the military? I was called to Active Duty in 2003.
If you were on a active duty Title 10 order for a contingency operation, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, and served at least 91 days, then you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. A typical one-year deployment puts you at the 60% level, meaning the VA would pay up to 60% of your tuition and fees, and you could get 60% of the housing allowance and book stipend. You have 15 years from your date of discharge to use your benefits.
Ron
I joined the reserves in 1989. In 2000 I decided it was finally time to go to college. Waltzed into education and training and was told “nope, sorry, your benefits are expired. You had 10 years to use them and you didn’t” NOW…20,000 dollars in student loans and a few degrees later, I am told that possibly my information was not correct that it was 10 years from the time you separate. That seems to be for active duty though..any idea if you were ONLY reserve, not active, if your timeline for benefits started ticking from when you JOINED?? nothing I can do about it now..but pisses me off if that was wrong..
Hi Jen, If you were only in the Reserves and your unit was never called onto active duty for an extended period of time, then the only GI Bill I’m aware of that you could use for college would have had to have been used while you were in the Reserves. That GI Bill is the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserves and as soon as you separate from service the benefits stop, but as long as you’re a member in good standing with your Reserve unit you should be able to use your benefits.
I served in the Air Force on active duty from 2003-2007. Upon discharge I have used ALL of my active duty GI Bill benefits. I am now about to join the Navy Reserves and my question is am I eligible for the Reserve GI Bill since I have used the Active GI Bill in the past?
If you have used up 36 months of your active duty GI Bill entitlements, then you could possible get 12 additional months. under the Rule of 48, each servicemember is only allowed a maximum of 48 combined months of benefits.
Ron
I have a similar question. I served in the Marines from 96 to 01 I used my GI Bill for a couple of semesters. I joined the National Guard in 05 and and was called to active duty july of 2010. I only served a month and was released due to medical reasons. Will this affect my GI Bill in any way? And should I see the VA med center?
Elliot
Hi Elliot, I assume your call up was under a Title 10 and that should mean that you now have 10 years to use your Montgomery GI Bill from the date you left active duty service in 2010. Normally you would need to serve at least 90 days on active duty to have the time period for using your benefits reset, but if you were released due to a service related disability or a medical condition that existed prior to you being called up, that counts the same as serving the 90 days.
I don’t think you need to visit a VA med center as long as you have your discharge paperwork showing the reason you were released. The timing on that call up worked out pretty well as your benefits would have expired next year. If you served on active duty for a full 30 days and the medical reason you were released was a service related disability, you may also be eligible for some Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Spouse retired in 1990, did not use his GI Bill, has some disability, and was wondering if his children can utilize his GI Bill even though it’s been 20 years.
Hi LH, I’m afraid your spouse’s GI Bill benefits would have expired by now. If his disability was caused by a service related injury, there’s a possibility that his children may qualify for some benefits if they’re not too old, but at this point I think even those benefits may not be available.
Jeffery,
I was Active Duty Air Force from 1991 to May 2001, then went directly into the AF Reserves.
I’m still in the Reserves but the VA has my benefits ending in May of 2011.
I’ve never been activated but have been performing as a traditional reservist for the past 9 years.
Is this enough to extend my GI Bill?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Bob, I’m afraid the only service that can extend your Montgomery GI Bill benefits is a return to active duty for an extended period of time. If your Reserve unit had been activated for at least 90 days, your 10 year time limit for using the benefits would have reset to start when you left active duty the second time, but Reserve time doesn’t qualify as a reason to extend the benefits.
I suggest you check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs if you’re interested in going back to school. Many states have education benefits for veterans to attend state supported colleges and universities that have very generous time periods for using the benefits and in some cases most of your education expenses are covered.
Hello everyone, quick question. I was using my G.I. Bill and the Delimiting Date was 10/22/2010. I am 33 years old, served from 10/21/1996 – 10/21/2000, I am 40% disabled and I am still in school. Are there any options for me to still receive funding like the G.I. Bill? Any ideas would be great.
Thanks,
Jim
Hi Jim. Did your 40% disability prevent you from going to school anytime during the 10-years? If so, and you can prove it through doctor, hospital and lab reports, then I would try to get a delimiting date extension.
Ron
No, it did not keep me from going to school. I just started late. :/
Hi Jim, I’m not sure how much of your Montgomery GI Bill benefits you’ve used, if your disability is service related, and if so when you were officially designated 40 percent disabled, but you might be eligible for the VA’s Chapter 31 Vocational Rehab program. Part of the program provides eductional benefits for veterans to attend post-secondary schools and it might be worth checking with the VA to see if you qualify for any of the benefits.
If you don’t, then you should check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs office. Many states offer education benefits to veterans allowing them to attend state supported colleges and universities at reduced tuition rates or sometimes with no tuition costs at all. In many cases the time period for using the benefits is longer than that of the federal GI Bills. Your state may be one that offers those benefits.
I got out on Active duty on 4/2/01 and my Reserve Oblig. Term. Date is 10/19/02 but was never called back to active duty. And I’m going back to school this year but my Certificate of Eligibility says my Delimiting date is 4/3/11 and I will only get to use my benefits for a couple of months. Is there any way to extend my benefits to finish my education for my two-year degree or other programs to help? I’m kind of bummed out that I’m going to lose my benefits and always heard, read and even assumed that you had until you were honorably discharged to use your 10 year MGIB benefits or at least start them before your 10 years were up. Thank you for any help or feedback.
Hi Daniel, I’m afraid that 10 year time period to use your Montgomery GI Bill benefits starts the day you leave active duty. The only ways it can be extended other than being called back onto active duty are if an injury or illness prevented you from using your benefits during that 10 year period or if you were held captive by a foreign power.
I suggest you check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs to see if your state offers any education benefits for veterans. Many states do if you attend a state supported school and the time period for using the benefits is often more generous than what the VA offers.
I did 4 years active duty navy june 2005-june 2009 with an honorable discharge.Then I joined the reserves and got an admin sep for missing drills. Can I still use the post 911 GIBILL?
Hi Rod, Your Admin separation from your Reserve duty should not affect the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits you earned while on active duty. Select an approved school, apply for your benefits, and start working on a degree program.
Thanks Jeffery is their an instruction for this?
Hi Rod, let me give you a quick summary of the process and if you have any specific questions, feel free to write back in.
1) Just about all schools that can award a degree are approved for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, but to be on the safe side go to http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/search_programs.htm and search for schools under institutions of higher learning. When you click on a school the approved programs at the school will be displayed
2) It’s usually better to pick a school where you will be considered an in-state student as there’s a good chance all of your tuition costs will be covered. After 1 August 2011 a few changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill will take place and if you’re an in-state student, all of your tuition and fees should be covered for your degree program
3) Apply to the school you select just as any other student would and it wouldn’t hurt to touch base with one of the VA Certifying Officials at the school to let them know who you are
4) Apply for your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits at the online VONAPP website by filling out some simple forms. You will be sent a Certificate of Eligibility by the VA showing the benefits you’re eligible for
5) Give a copy of the Certificate to a VA Certifying Official at the school so they can process your paperwork and submit it to the VA. If you take enough classes to be considered more than a half time student, you can also be eligible for a housing allowance. This will also change later in the year and you’ll need to be considered a full time student to receive the full allowance
6) It normally can take 8-10 weeks before you and the school receive any money so if you anticipate needing any money for housing or books prior to then, you might want to have some funds to fall back on until your allowances start to arrive
That’s all there is to it; if I can help any more, feel free to write in.
you are saying that a guys active duty honorable discharge benefits will not be changed? I dont see how this is possible because he joined the reserves he owes them.Please correct me if I am wrong jeffrey thanks.
Hi Joey, I’m not sure I understand your question. Rod earned his GI Bill benefits when he was on active duty and received an Honorable Discharge for that enlistment. He then joined the Reserves and received an Admin Discharge for missing drills. That Admin Discharge should not affect his ability to used the benefits he earned for his active duty service.
If he had re-enlisted and gone back onto active duty and received an Admin Discharge during his second enlistment, he would still be eligible for the benefits earned during the first enlistment. Let me know what you don’t agree with or what I may be missing.
Thanks for clarifying that for me. But will he still be considered a honorable discharged veteran?
His Admin Discharge is still going to show on his service record along with the Honorable Discharge if anyone looks. I know if I was an employer and the applicant had an Honorable Discharge from active duty and an Admin Discharge from the Reserves, it would not concern me too much is there weren’t any bad conduct issues involved.
Jeff
Hi. When I joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1998 I was told that I would be able to use my G.I. Bill 10 years after leaving the Reserves. I was never told that I had to use the Bill while actively drilling. Now that I want to use them, I can’t. I know I read on the VA website under Reserve Veterans that it did say you had 10 years. Am I wrong? I left the Reserves in 2004. What other options do I have to use some type of veteran benefits?
You have 10 years from your date of your GI Bill eligibility to use your MGIB-SR GI Bill as long as you remain in the Reserves. Once discharged, you lose all MGIB-SR education benefits.
If you have some on Title 10 orders in support of a contingency operation time (a deployment), you may qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. That one you could use up to 15 years from your date of discharge from the Reserves.
The active duty MGIB is different. Under that GI Bill you have 10 years from your date of discharge to use your GI bill benefits. Different GI Bills – different rules.
Ron
question. my husband was in usmc did not die of service related I am his wife I am applying for housing seeing he was in reserves they want proof he was in the service can I give them his discharge papers. please let me know. thanks Pat
Hi Pat, I’m not sure I completely understand your question, but I would not give them original paperwork of anything having to do with your husband’s service. You might provide them with a copy of your husband’s DD-214 which he should have received when he was discharged. I don’t know what type of housing you are applying for, but I would be careful of giving out too much information.
Jeff
What if you served a normal tour for 4 years or even 10 years of active duty service, then decided to do SELRES. Would you still be entitled to your post 9/11 gi-bill for the time that you earned it while on active duty?
Certainly, as long as you have at least one active duty term of service ending in an honorable discharge.
My husband was released from active duty on Sept 3, 2001 and immediately went reservist from 09-01 through 08-09. He is currently using his GI bill benefits but it has a delimiting date of 09-11, which is only 9 months of schooling total. We have sent in the DD214 and other requested paperwork from the additional 8 years of service but have not heard back anything and cannot seem to get ahold of anyone. Does the additional 8 years of reserve service extend the delimiting date? Is there a direct # that you are aware of that we can call? Thanks!
No it does not extend the delimiting date.
Kevin, you indicated to contact VA, would that be the benefits department, because I’m in the same situation?
Just a general question, why is it that if you weren’t notified of the expiration date to use your GI Bill that at least the amount you put in can’t be refunded to you?