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What Types of Orders Count Toward Active Duty GI Bill Eligibility?

June 8th, 2010
by Ron Kness
I am nearing my 6th year in the Army National Guard, and have decided to go to school. I am currently in Iraq, and the GI Bill representative here doesn’t really know anything.

My situation is unique, as a “Guard Bum” I enlisted in 2005 as a 13B and attended Basic/AIT. In 2007 I re-classed to 35M, which was a star mos at the time, and was sent to DLI for Russian (1 year) and Utah for interrogator school (4 months) In addition to the above I have served randomly on ADOS orders, I have been a technician for several months, and I have been on AT (Annual Training) orders many more times than once per year. I have also been to several random courses, ranging from 1 week to 2 months.

I’ve been in Iraq since November and will be here until August if my extension does not go through, December if it does. My question is does all active duty after IET count towards the Bill? Does my over 1 year spent in language school and another MOS skill count, as it was not initial entry and a star MOS? Do random ADT orders count in the National Guard?

I have all orders I have been on so could provide those to the VA, but will they accept anything other than a DD-214 for eligibility? I have served the majority of my nearly 6 years in the Guard as active duty, and would be very disappointed if none of it counts towards the GI Bill. Thanks for the help! — Keithan

Unfortunately, Keithan, most of your Guard time will not count toward the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or Post 9/11 GI Bill, however, you already have the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Granted, the benefits of the MGIB-SR do not pay as well as other GI Bills, but it is something. Also, don’t forget you also get Tuition Assistance and your state will most likely have some education assistance programs for National Guard members. When you put everything together, it begins to add up.

As far as all the different things you have done, most training and Title 32 orders do not count for eligibility toward either of the active duty GI Bills. Your IADT (Basic and AIT), Annual Training, technician time and most of the small courses do not count. Your 35M course may count- it depends on how it is listed on your orders.

As far as what the VA accepts for documentation, they use the DD-214, because that documents your active duty/Title 10 time.  If it is on your DD-214, it will generally count towards the GI Bill. When you go in to get your DD-214 updated for your time in Iraq, be sure to review it and see what is listed.

If you end up getting 1 year in Iraq, you will qualify at the 60% tier for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If it ends up being less than 1 year, you will only get 50%. If your 35M course was Title 10, then that will increase your tier level.

When you apply for the Post 9/22 GI Bill, if you are unsure whether an order will count or not, send it in anyway and the VA will make the determination.

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Posted in Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “What Types of Orders Count Toward Active Duty GI Bill Eligibility?”

  1. Christopher says:
    July 28, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    I got up to 80% on Ch 1607 (REAP) for mobilizing on Title 10 for 18 months. You have to be mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or a few “qualifying” missions on Operation Noble Eagle. The Operation Noble Eagle has to have a Title 10 mission that has a direct combat possiblity with foreign or domestic terrorists within the borders of the United States. Activation for Katrina and Operation Jump Start don’t meet the qualification.

  2. Ron Kness says:
    July 30, 2010 at 3:01 am

    Yup. It all sounds correct.

    Ron

  3. Joe says:
    September 1, 2010 at 10:49 am

    Regarding Orders:

    “(5) ADT, IADT, and ADSW orders will clearly cite section 12301(d), title 10 U.S. Code (10 USC 12301(d)) as the authority for ordering a soldier to active duty.”

    From http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r135_200.pdf

    Now from the USC regarding the Post 9/11 GI Bill:

    (1) The term ‘‘active duty’’ has the meanings as follows
    (subject to the limitations specified in sections 3002(6) and
    3311(b)):
    (A) In the case of members of the regular components
    of the Armed Forces, the meaning given such term in section
    101(21)(A).
    (B) In the case of members of the reserve components
    of the Armed Forces, service on active duty under a call or
    order to active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(d),
    12301(g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10.

    From http://veterans.house.gov/documents/title38.pdf

    Thus, if all ADT and IADT orders are 12301(d) orders and all 12301(d) orders count for the GI Bill, it seems as if any ADT and IADT orders count towards the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Am I interpreting these correctly?

    My question is what about Active Duty Training Schools (ADTS) orders. Are they 12301(d) as well? Do they count towards the bill? Thank you.

  4. Ron Kness says:
    September 2, 2010 at 9:31 am

    Some training order time counts and some does not and it depends on how months you serve that determines what counts. Here is an excerpt from the document in your question:
    - (4) An individual who commencing on or after September 11, 2001, serves an aggregate of at least 24 months, but less than 30 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training);

    -(5) An individual who commencing on or after September 11, 2001, serves an aggregate of at least 18 months, but less than 24 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training);

    Do you see the difference? The break is 24 months. If the amount of service is under 24 months, training time does not count, however, if it is 24 months or more, training time does count. Do you think they could make this anymore confusing?

    ADTS orders are treated the same as other training orders, so they would be subject to the same training order rules.

    Ron

  5. gary says:
    August 8, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Does title 32 count for active duty time

  6. Ron Kness says:
    August 9, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    It will starting October 1st. The VA will count Title 32 time from now back to August 1, 2009 as eligible time toward the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

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