Education Office

Service members receiving benefits under Chapter 1606 receive $466 per month for full-time enrollment for up to 36 months from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Service members must verify attendance monthly via phone or text. To be eligible, service members must sign a six-year enlistment contract or officer service agreement, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete Initial Active Duty for Training or Basic Officer Leadership Course. 

See PDF here.

Service members eligible for federal tuition assistance (FTA) may receive up to $250 per semester hour for up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year, or a total of $4,000 per fiscal year. This covers a lifetime limit of 130 undergraduate semester hours and 39 graduate semester hours, as well as up to 21 semester hours toward an academic certificate.

As of 15JAN25 Soldiers requesting/using Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) may receive $250 per semester hour up to 18 SH for a total of $4,000.00 per FY.  One degree at each of the following levels, Associates, Bachelor’s, and Master’s.  Lifetime limit of 130 undergraduate semester hours, and 39 graduate semester hours.  May be used simultaneously with Chapter 1606/MGIB-SR for the same course, when attending half-time or more.  Once academic certificate (undergraduate or graduate) up to 21 semester hours per lifetime/career.

Federal tuition assistance can be used simultaneously with Chapter 1606 or Montgomery G.I. Bill-Select Reserve 1606 for the same course when attending half-time or more.

To be eligible, service members must apply no earlier than six months and no later than seven days before the start of classes.

The "kicker" is a tax-free payment of up to $350 paid in addition to the Chapter 1606 benefit. To receive this benefit, service members must be eligible for MGIB Select Reserve and must have a kicker bonus addendum in their contract.

See PDF here.

To be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, service members must serve at least 90 days of qualifying service, or 30 continuous days with an honorable discharge from qualifying active duty due to a service-connected disability. Basic Training and AIT can be added to qualifying time if the service member has completed 24 months of other qualifying active duty, or if Basic Training or IADT occurred on or after Sept. 11, 2001. COVID-19 Response (502F) is considered eligible service for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Payment Tiers

Time in Service	Percentage of Maximum Benefit
At least 36 months (Includes Purple Heart Recipients)	100%
30-35 months	90%
24-29 months	80%
18-23 months*	70%
6-17 months*	60%
90 days-5 months	50%

* Initial Entry Training served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, may be included only after the service member has completed 24 months of other qualifying active duty

Based on the 100% tier, service members receive payments of up to $27,120.05 per year for private or foreign schools and up to 100% of in-state tuition for public school, paid directly to the school, as well as a book and supply stipend of $41.67 per credit hour and a monthly housing allowance equal to the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents based on the school's ZIP code. Active Guard and Reserve do not qualify for a housing allowance; the allowance for online classes is $1,054.50 per month.

See PDF for how to apply here.

See PDF for GI bill program comparisons here.

Service members may transfer their benefits if they are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, their spouse or dependents are in DEERS, they have 6-15 years time in service and at least four years until their end term of service. Months of benefit can be divided amongst dependents. 

- If your last day of qualifying service is before Jan. 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility ends 15 years from the last day of that qualifying duty.
- If your last day of qualifying service is on or after Jan. 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility never ends.
- The spouse shares the same delimiting state as the service member.
- The spouse of a service member on active duty or AGR is not eligible for the housing stipend, as that is based on the service member's current duty status.
- Children have until age 26 after their sponsor completes 10 years in the Armed Forces to use their benefit.

Beneficiaries share the same percentage tier as their sponsor. Children may start using the benefit on their 18th birthday or upon graduating high school, whichever comes first.

NOTE: If you voluntarily separate from the Army National Guard prior to completing your obligation end date, your transfer of education benefits will be terminated, and any funds repaid to your dependents will be recouped.

Education Benefits can only be transferred while in the Armed Forces. Months can be adjusted after discharge as long as at least one month was awarded to the dependent prior to separation. Service members should transfer all benefits to dependents, because benefits can always be transferred back.

To make changes to your TEB, go to https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/.

See PDF here.

To qualify for the MGI Bill, service members must have served under qualifying Title 10 active duty service on or after July 1, 1985, or served under Title 32 AGR service after Nov. 29, 1989. They must complete a mobilization of at least two continuous years or complete 20 months of a two-year mobilization and be discharged at the convenience of the government. Finally, they must have paid in $1,200 and received an honorable discharge. Effective Oct. 1, 2023, the VA pays a stipend of $2,358 per month with 3+ years of active service to full-time service members and $1,913 for 2-3 years.

See PDF for GI Bill Chap 30 here.

See PDF for GI Bill Chap 33 here.

As of 15JAN25 Soldiers requesting/using Credentialing Assistance (CA) may receive one credential up to $2,000.00 per FY (three credentials over 10 years of service).  Maximum of $1,000.00 per year to pay for select aviation related credentials.  Soldiers must take the associated exam for the credential listed in the CA education goal.  Soldiers have up to 180 days to submit a CA request for the associated exam.  Soldiers will be recouped for the training, books, and supplies if they do not pass the exam or fail to submit an exam request within 180 days of the completion of the training.

CA can be used for any credential listed on www.cool.osd.mil/army and does not have to be related to the service member's Military Occupational Specialty or Air Force Specialty. Contact the Education Officer to apply.

The current POC for FTA/CA is the Region 1 Education Services Manager: Mr. John Berube at (603) 545-5137 or john.w.berube.civ@army.mil

View the PDF for Joint Services Transcript here.

View the PDF for the DANTES Program here.

View the PDF for Army Personnel Testing here.

• Applicant is an active member, in good standing, of the Vermont National Guard.
• Applicant has successfully completed basic training.
• Applicant plans to attend a Vermont university, college, or an eligible training institution offering certificate training or continuing education programs beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
• Applicant is enrolled in a program that leads to an undergraduate certificate or degree, or is studying for relevant continuing education.
• Applicant demonstrates satisfactory academic progress.
• Applicant has exhausted any post 9/11/2001 tuition benefits and other federally funded military tuition assistance, not including Montgomery GI Bill benefits, post September 11, 2001 educational program housing allowances, federal educational entitlements, National Guard scholarship grants, loans Under the National Guard Educational Assistance Program, and other nontuition benefits. Members with less than 100% Post 9/11 benefits do not need to use them before applying for VNGTBP.

-Vermont State University

-University of Vermont

-Vermont Private Colleges
       -Up to the University of Vermont rate

-Community College of Vermont

-Certificate Programs

• The amount of the award will vary depending upon the institution and/or program in which the student enrolls.
  • Award amount at Vermont State University, the University of Vermont, or Community College of Vermont will be equal to the in-state resident tuition rate at the relevant institution.
  • Award amount at any eligible Vermont private college/university will be the in-state resident tuition rate at the University of Vermont.
  • Award amount at an eligible training institution for a non-degree, certificate training, or continuing education program, will be the lower of the institution's standard tuition or the in-state resident tuition rate at University of Vermont.

 

• The Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program (Interest-Free and Forgivable Loan) (VNGTBP) award is a LOAN that covers tuition. If the Guard member receives other federally funded military tuition assistance that covers a portion or all of tuition (including Veteran Affairs benefits), the VNGTBP loan amount will be reduced or eliminated, and the school will be required to return funds to VSAC (thereby lowering the amount of the tuition benefit loan).

• Completed Bachelor's Degree
• Second Bachelor's Degree (If VNGTBP was not used for 1st Degree)
• Master's Degree
• Up to four certificate programs per year at the UVM in-state rate, not including fees or room and board

- Complete two years of service (after the scholarship is 1st disbursed) in the Vermont National Guard for each full academic year award disbursed. This obligation can be pro-rated: 1 month per credit awarded, 1 year per semester awarded.

- For members participating on less than a full-time basis, the service commitment is one month of service for each credit hour attempted not to exceed 12 months of service for a single semester.

- Members receiving a master's degree must work in Vermont or attempt to find work during the term of their service obligation.

- For members participating in training programs, the service commitment is 6 months for each certificate earned. Each Guard member may enroll in up to two training program certificates per term, and up to two terms per year .. Vermont Student Assistance Corporation annually determines the amount of the interest free loan to be forgiven for each completed year of service.

- Service members must use federal funds first.

Based on whether applicant met all eligibility requirements and funding is available.

- Submission of the following documents will constitute a "COMPLETE" application (see instructions to apply):

             - Unified Scholarship Application (USA) (submit online @  www.vsac.org)
             - Certification-VNGTBP (completed by an education certifying official from the VTARNG or VTANG and uploaded to VSAC  online@ www.vsac.org)

 

- Promissory note (to be submitted after scholarship eligibility determined and awarded)

- Member must have a satisfactory year of service as determined by their retirement points history for the 12 month period prior to the start of an academic period, or from the date of their enlistment if less than 12 months. Members who fail to maintain satisfactory service will be considered ineligible for tuition assistance for the requested period.

- Member must not have previously been discharged from the Vermont National Guard for unsatisfactory participation or misconduct. The Adjutant General may grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.

- Members must not have previously completed a bachelor's degree and must be enrolled in a program at a Vermont undergraduate postsecondary school or a technical center that leads to a degree, diploma and certificate or be studying for relevant continuing education purposes.

- All members must successfully complete Basic Military Training or commissioning.

- Members placed on academic probation or academic suspension by their school will not be eligible for VTGTBP.

- Current members must have a minimum of two (2) years retention on the date of the course completion for the full-time award; one ( 1) year retention for the one-half time award and six months retention for the one-quarter time award.

-The office of the Vermont Adjutant and Inspector General may terminate the tuition benefit provided to the applicant if:
                  - The applicant's commanding officer revokes the statement of good standing.
                  - The applicant is dismissed from the educational institution in which the applicant is enrolled for academic or 
                     disciplinary reasons.
                  - The applicant withdraws without good cause from the educational institution.

- If the applicant's tuition benefit is terminated for the above reasons, the applicant will be:
              - Responsible for the tuition paid through the program per the terms of the promissory note,
              - Responsible on a pro rata basis for the remaining tuition cost for the current semester or any courses in which the - 
                applicant is currently enrolled, and
              - Ineligible to receive future tuition benefits under the program.

- Member becomes an unsatisfactory participant per AR 135-91 or AFI 36-3208.
- Member separates from the VTNG due to death, injury, illness, or other impairment that results in medical discharge.
- Member fails to extend for the period of service while in an authorized period of non-availability (i.e. inactive guard reserve)  within 90-days of returning back to active drilling status.
- Member receives an SFP A (Flag) due to Adverse Action that results in an "unfavorable" outcome.
- Member voluntarily Interstate Transfers (IST) out of the Vermont National Guard.
- Member fails to become DMOSQ within 24 months of completing Army Basic Training or fails to become AFSC qualified within 12 months of completing Air Force Basic Military Training.
- Member is voluntarily or involuntarily discharged from the Vermont National Guard to include medical discharges.
- Members placed on academic probation or academic suspension.
- Member becomes unenrolled from program at a Vermont undergraduate postsecondary school, regional technical center, or certificate program.

The Vermont Legislature has approved a new education entitlement for Vermont National Guard members; The Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program. This program replaces the National Guard Educational Assistance Program previously established in 1998.

Vermont was the only state in the Northeast region that did not offer a 100% tuition entitlement for National Guard members. Young men and women cite educational benefits as the number one reason for joining the National Guard. The VTNG has been at a disadvantage in attracting new talent, our education program will assist in attracting new members who want to serve their state and nation while achieving their educational goals.

Yes, the benefit program can be used for technical training and certificate programs. Students can use up to the University of Vermont rates for this training.

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) administers the program. Members apply through their respective educational services office for the programs they wish to enroll.

Members must complete basic training, be in good standing with the Vermont National Guard.

No, any member of the Vermont National Guard is eligible for the program regardless of residency status, and will qualify for in-state rate at state schools.

A Member that loses their good standing with the National Guard or the school they are attending will lose their benefit for the program. Any monies owedwill be converted into a loan and paid back by the member. Is there a service commitment for this benefit? Yes, for every one year of college at the full time rate (12 credits or more) the service member is obligated to two years of service. The service requirement is pro-rated below 12 credit hours. A member can enroll for two certificate programs in a term with a 6 month service commitment per certificate. Up to 4 certificates can be earned in a calendar year. Obligation runs current to their military contract.