Comprehensive Guide to Chapter 1606 Reserve Montgomery GI Bill Benefits

The primary motivation for many to join the military is to serve in the country’s defense. There are numerous other factors that influence the decision to serve, such as the wide range of benefits offered to Servicemembers and their families. The Veterans Administration (VA) serves to help the families of those who served in wartime rebuild their lives following conflicts and has since expanded into the organization dedicated to serving military personnel and their families in a variety of ways. One of these is education benefits. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the “GI Bill”, is legislation that provides for the tuition and material expenses for education and secondary training for those who served in the military. The GI Bill encompasses numerous subsections, each of which outlines specific educational benefits that military personnel can claim based on their length and type of service. Under the Montgomery GI Bill, specifically Chapter 1606, this section provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selective Reserve. Reservists who commit to six years of duty meet the Reserve GI Bill eligibility requirements. Furthermore, the Reserve GI Bill eligibility requirements are not as strict as some other portions of the GI Bill.

Overview of Chapter 1606 GI Bill for Reservists

Selective Reserves receive education benefits through the Chapter 1606 GI Bill, a portion of the Montgomery GI Bill. The purpose of the Chapter 1606 GI Bill is to offer educational benefits to individuals who have joined a Reserve unit but may not have received a call to active duty or served in combat. The Selective Reserve educational benefits benefit both the military and the reservists, as they enable those who might not otherwise be able to afford college or secondary education to do so, while also serving as an incentive to maintain the reserve units. The provisions in Chapter 1606 offer the following forms of educational support:

• 36 months of educational benefits ranging from 80% to 100% of tuition covered.
• Applicable to college, university, business school, vocational training, and technical schools.
• Applicable to programs that provide on-the-job training.
• Covers license and certification costs.
• Covers tuition for online courses.
• Covers the cost of national tests.

Eligibility Requirements for Chapter 1606 GI Bill

The GI Bill for Selected Reserve, officially called the “Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve” (MGIB-SR), provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the military reserves, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. All branches adhere to the same criteria for the MGIB-SR and there are no branch-specific obligations to meet Selected Reserve GI Bill eligibility. You must meet the following criteria:

One of these must be true:

• You agreed to serve in the Selected Reserve for six years.
• You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve and agreed to serve six years in addition to your initial service obligation.

All of these must be true:

• You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT).
• You get a high school diploma or equivalent before finishing IADT.
• You stay in good standing while serving.
• The school you intend to attend accepts VA benefits and meets the criteria for educational institutions.

How to Access Chapter 1606 GI Bill Benefits

So now you are ready to pursue higher education, and you have verified that you qualify for Chapter 1606 benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill. Remember that before pursuing your education, you must first access your GI Bill benefits. You typically access your GI Bill benefits through the VA website or the admissions office of your chosen educational institution. You can sign in using Login.gov or ID.me if you wish to apply online. You can also call the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551. If the online answers don’t address your specific questions, reach out to a VA Education Case Manager at 1-888-GIBill1 for assistance with the application process. The VA will process your application and decide within 30 days. If the VA approves your application, they will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility verifying your Reserve GI Bill eligibility. If your application is denied, you will receive a denial letter in the mail, often detailing why you failed to meet Reserve GI Bill eligibility. To get started with your Chapter 1606 GI Bill benefits, follow these steps:

1. Complete and submit VA Form 22-1990, the Application for Educational Benefits.
2. Get your Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) from your unit. Verify your eligibility by checking this list and ensure you meet all the requirements for the Reserve GI Bill eligibility.
3. Ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the program.
4. Provide the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) to your school’s Veteran’s Education Certifying Official.
5. Have the Veteran’s Education Certifying Official complete VA Form 22-1999.
6. Be sure to have copies of your current orders or DD214 discharge papers, as well as the information about the educational institution you wish to attend.
7. Ensure your registration in the DEERS system.
8. Verify your enrollment at the end of each month.

GI Bill Benefits for Different Reserve Branches

The benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606) are the same across all branches of the military. This means that the Air Force Reserve GI Bill and Army Reserve GI Bill offer the same benefits across the branches, regardless of where or how you served in the Selective Reserves. So long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements for the Reserve GI Bill listed above, all branches of the military Reservists receive the same benefits. However, these benefits do change if you find yourself called up to active duty. There’s also the possibility of switching from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post-9/11 GI Bill in the process, which changes your educational benefits and allotment. Read more about the various educational benefits from the GI Bill sections at this link.

Frequently Asked Questions

The intricacies of the Veterans Administration, its multitude of forms, and what various Servicemembers do or do not qualify for through the Reserve GI Bill are quite confusing. If you have any further questions about your eligibility for the GI Bill for Selective Reserves, contact your local VA office and speak directly to a counselor. In the meantime, consider the following common questions about the Chapter 1606 Reserve GI Bill.