If you have been waiting until you begin transitioning out of the military as a veteran to pursue your college education, there is good news. You do not have to wait to receive military-sponsored education benefits. In many cases, you can also attend college while you are still serving as active duty military. In fact, hundreds of active duty military servicepersons are hard at work taking classes towards college degrees each year. The accessibility of online degree programs has made earning your degree as active duty military even easier. Learn about some useful programs that can help you find military scholarships and begin working toward your college degree right away: the Active Duty MGIB (Montgomery G.I. Bill), GoArmyEd, Navy Advanced Education Voucher and GoArmy Green to Gold program are just a few.
Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill
The MGIB, or Montgomery G.I. Bill, is also often called the Veteran’s G.I. Bill of Rights, but a certain section of benefits is also available to active duty service persons. If you choose to contribute $100 of your pay each month during your first year of active duty service, you can qualify for MGIB benefits. You can be eligible for up to 36 months of educational benefits, the amount of which is increased annually on Oct. 1 of each year. Your benefits will be impacted by all of the following.
- How long you have served in the military and what branch you serve in
- Where you choose to study
- What you choose to study
- Whether you are attending classes full-time or part-time
- How expensive your overall education costs are
GoArmyEd
If you are currently serving in the Army, the Army Reserves or the National Guard, GoArmyEd is a valuable program you need to explore. The online portal allows you to create a profile and request tuition assistance for both distance/online learning and in-classroom education. You can also review and update your education records, including your grades, tests and support from Army Education counselors. You will need your Social Security number and your date of birth to activate your GoArmyEd account. If you want to enroll (or are already enrolled) in Army Continuing Education System (ACES) courses, you will use GoArmyEd to manage those as well.
Navy Advanced Education Voucher
Just as the Army has its own internal system for requesting and assigning education benefits, so too does the Navy have a standalone system. Called the Naval Education and Training Command, this system oversees Navy Advanced and Graduate Education Vouchers, tuition assistance, Navy College-at-Sea and other innovative benefits that allow active duty Naval personnel to earn a college degree practically anywhere, anytime. Your benefits under the Navy Advanced Education Voucher’s tuition assistance program are as follows.
- You can receive reimbursement for up to 100 percent of your tuition costs
- You may enroll in up to 16 credit hours per year
- You may receive up to $250 per credit hour
- You will also receive reimbursement for mandatory fees required for course enrollment
GoArmy Green to Gold program
The GoArmy Green to Gold program is an educational benefit for active duty Army personnel designed to support you to earn an officer’s commission while serving in the Army. This program offers you three different options to receive your benefits.
- Green to Gold Scholarship. You would choose this option if you plan to take time away from active duty to earn your degree. Benefits include full tuition reimbursement, a stipend for living expenses, room and board (up to a certain level) and reimbursement for books.
- Green to Gold Active Duty. You would choose this option if you want to earn your college degree while continuing to serve as active duty military. Your benefits include continuing to receive full pay and allowances for up to 24 months while completing your education.
- Green to Gold Non-scholarship. You would choose this option if you want to depart from active duty while you attend college. Your benefits include a monthly stipend for 10 months each year while you are completing your education.
With these valuable military education benefits, you can have the best of both worlds — keeping your position as active duty military and earning your college degree.
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About the Author: Sarah Jiminez earned her bachelor’s degree through the Army’s Green to Gold Scholarship program. When she returned, she was promoted to officer status.