An Overview of Military Education Benefits

Serving your country as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces has many rewards. One of the areas with the most benefits is in education. The U.S. Military and the Department of Defense believe in the value of education and have created many programs to assist you in completing a college degree or pursuing job training. Education benefits are available both while you are on active duty and after you have left the military.

Service Academies and Reserve Officer Training Corps

If you are considering a career as a military officer, you might consider attending a military academy or participating in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program. If you are admitted to a military academy such as the Naval Academy, you are eligible to receive financial assistance for a four-year education in return for a commitment to serve on active duty after you graduate. If you enroll in an R.O.T.C. program at a civilian university or college, you may be eligible to receive a full or partial scholarship in return for an active duty commitment.

I Already Joined the Military: What Kinds of Benefits Are Available to Me?

While the Montgomery GI Bill is the most well-known military education program, the military has various other programs available to increase the benefits of the GI Bill, to expand benefits to service members who many not be eligible for the GI Bill or to allow active duty personnel to take college courses while serving in the armed forces. Each branch of the service has its own education benefits, including tuition assistance programs and scholarships. Some of the major programs offered by the military include:

• Montgomery GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program
• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program
• Work/Study Program
• Veterans Educational Assistance (VEAP)
• Veterans Upward Bound Program (VUB)
• Student Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

How Can I Find Out More?

The programs listed above are just some of the education benefits offered by the military. You should check with your local recruiting office or an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for detailed information. All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have Web sites with detailed benefit information as does the Department of Veterans Affairs. High-school students considering college should check with the college's R.O.T.C. department.

GI Bill