MGIB-SR Explained

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve — Chapter 1606 — pays up to 36 months of education and training benefits to drilling reservists and Guard members, on the strength of a six-year service obligation.

It pays a flat monthly rate to you, not tuition to the school. That makes it materially different from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays tuition, a housing allowance and a book stipend, and usually much more.

Eligibility conditions:

  • a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve, or, for an officer, an agreement to serve six years beyond an initial obligation;
  • completion of initial active duty for training;
  • a high school diploma or equivalent before finishing that training;
  • good standing in an active Selected Reserve unit;
  • the obligation began after June 30, 1985 — or after September 30, 1990 for some types of training.

How long you have. Benefits run until your eligibility period ends or you use the full entitlement, whichever comes first. Being called to active duty extends the period by the length of the mobilization plus four months.

Who is eligible?

Members of the Selected Reserve who meet the conditions above.

The catch is what happens when you leave. Eligibility for Chapter 1606 generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserve. That is the single most important fact on this page, because it turns "I'll use it later" into a benefit forfeited.

There are exceptions. You keep eligibility — for 14 years from the date your first six-year obligation began — if you were:

  • separated because of a disability not the result of misconduct;
  • in a unit deactivated between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2014;
  • involuntarily separated for reasons other than misconduct in that same window.

Two things worth doing. If you have any Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement from a qualifying active-duty period, compare the two before you spend either — Chapter 33's tuition and housing package is normally worth several times a Chapter 1606 monthly rate. And if you are leaving the Selected Reserve, work out what unused Chapter 1606 entitlement you are about to lose, because that is the moment it is worth using or writing off deliberately rather than by accident.

You need a Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) from your unit before applying.

How do I apply?

  • Get your Notice of Basic Eligibility from the unit: DD Form 2384-1, before you apply.
  • Apply on VA Form 22-1990: Online at va.gov or by mail.
  • Compare it against Post-9/11 first: Chapter 33 pays tuition, housing and books; Chapter 1606 pays a flat monthly rate.
  • Use it before you leave the Selected Reserve: Eligibility generally ends on separation.
  • Check the exceptions if you were separated involuntarily: A non-misconduct disability separation, or a deactivation between 1 Oct 2007 and 30 Sep 2014, keeps eligibility for 14 years.
  • Claim your mobilization extension: A call to active duty extends the period by the mobilization length plus four months.

Common questions

How many months does the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve pay?

Up to 36 months of education and training benefits, as a flat monthly rate paid to you rather than tuition paid to the school.

Do you lose Chapter 1606 when you leave the Selected Reserve?

Generally yes — eligibility ends on separation. Exceptions cover a non-misconduct disability separation, a unit deactivation between 1 October 2007 and 30 September 2014, and involuntary non-misconduct separation in that window, each keeping eligibility for 14 years from the start of your first six-year obligation.

What obligation do you need for MGIB-SR?

A six-year service obligation in the Selected Reserve, or for an officer an agreement to serve six years beyond an initial obligation, plus completion of initial active duty for training and good standing in an active unit.

Is Chapter 1606 or the Post-9/11 GI Bill worth more?

Usually the Post-9/11 GI Bill, because it pays tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a books stipend, where Chapter 1606 pays a flat monthly rate.

Does being mobilized extend your MGIB-SR eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility period is extended by the length of the mobilization plus four months.

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