Enclosure (1) to COMDTINST 1760.9A
MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL (MGIB) - PROVISIONS FOR ACTIVE DUTY
PERSONNEL INITIALLY ENTERING ACTIVE DUTY ON OR AFTER 1 JULY 1985
1.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
A.
Service member must have entered on active duty for the first time on or after 1 July
1985. Periods of Initial Entry Training (IADT) and Annual Training (AT) of former
members of Reserve Components do not count as active duty when determining
eligibility to participate in the MGIB program. Personnel who initially entered active
duty on or after 1 July 1985 but were discharged early for an erroneous enlistment or
induction, defective enlistment, or by reason of being a minor are eligible to enroll in
the MGIB if they later reenter the Service.
B.
Serve on active duty for at least 3 continuous years or, in the case of a service member
whose initial term of military service is less than 3 years, serve at least 2 continuous
years of active duty; or serve 2 continuous years on active duty and 4 years in the
Selected Reserve (SELRES) (2 + 4) with satisfactory participation in the SELRES. To
qualify for benefits under this section, a member must affiliate with the SELRES within
1 year of release from active duty.
C.
Service members must meet the requirements for a high school diploma (or an
equivalency certificate) prior to the completion of the term of service detailed in
paragraph 1.A or B. Completion of 12 semester hours of college credit may be
substituted for the high school diploma.
D.
Service members must receive an HONORABLE discharge for the term of service
detailed in paragraph 1.A or B to use benefits. This does not include a general discharge
under honorable conditions. A service-connected disability or a pre-service medical
condition that the DVA determines is not service connected is to be considered as an
honorable discharge for purposes of MGIB benefits.
2.
BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS
A.
The DVA determines annually the amount of basic educational benefits to which
members are entitled. The