E D U C A T I O N A N D I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R

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1 W I N T E R I S S U E Q U A R T E R 2, F Y 1 6 E D U C A T I O N A N D I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R S E C T I O N S T A F F U R G E N T A N N O U N C E M E N T S : C P T D A V I S E D U C A T I O N S E R V I C E S O F F I C E R S F C C O C C H I A R E L L A I N C E N T I V E S N C O I C Chapter 1607 GI Bill has sunset Proposed Chapter 33 GI Bill Changes Follow us on Facebook at the link below: S F C A N T H O N Y E D U C A T I O N N C O I C I N T H I S I S S U E : W O 1 F A L N E S S E D U C A T I O N C O U N S E L O R S G T R A S M U S S E N G I B I L L M A N A G E R Page 2 Charting the Right Educational Pathway Page 3 ETools for Charting your Educational Pathway Page 4 Yellow Ribbon Schools / Testing Resources M S. M A N K E F T A M A N A G E R M S. L A U R I E L I L L I S T A T E I N C E N T I V E S L E A D Page 5 State Reclassification Bonus Page 6 Sunset of Chapter 1607 Page 7 Proposed Chapter 33 GI Bill Changes / VA Suspended Payment M S. E M I L Y W E I S S S T A T E I N C E N T I V E S A S S I S T A N T Page 8 Reenlistment Incentives Page 9 Minnesota Veteran Education Assistance / Choice Act Page 10 Higher Education Veterans Programs (HEVP) If you have ideas on how to make this newsletter better, us at: ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil

2 Page 2 C H A R T I N G T H E R I G H T E D U C A T I O N A L P A T H W A Y By Mr. Troy Gipps, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Prior to contacting your State Education Services Office (ESO) for education counseling and benefit processing support, it is important to identify the career fields that interest you and, if possible, specific employers in your area to help you chart the right education pathway. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics online Occupational Outlook Handbook ( is a great tool for identifying high growth industries and conducting research on various occupational groups and specific job titles. The information is general in nature and provides national employment trend data, so the next logical step is to compare the data with your local employment market. What are the high growth industries in your state? How can you leverage your skills and interests to meet the needs of employers? What educational pathway will bridge the gap to a high-paying, rewarding career? State Departments of Labor and Workforce Development ( state_of.htm) can help you identify high-growth industries, hiring trends, and specific employers in your state that are facing a skills gap. Information regarding employers in receipt of state and federal workforce development grants may also be available. These types of grants are used by states to shape and develop the local job market. The next step is often overlooked. Once you have identified potential employers, contact them and ask to speak with their talent acquisition manager. What types of employees are they seeking? Is a college degree a baseline requirement for employment in your chosen career field? If so, does the employer have a preference to hire new employees who have graduated from a particular college or university program? Will a trade or professional certification credential enhance career opportunities? Do they offer apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or mentorship programs for new hires? Answers to these questions will help refine your choice of career fields, potential employers, and the education level required to reach your goal. Finally, contact the Minnesota National Guard J1 Education and Incentives office for additional counseling support and to identify the appropriate mix of benefits required to help fund your chosen educational pathway. You can reach them at

3 Page 3 Tools for Charting Your Educational Pathway: HERC - an online tool that provides college degree plans for ARNG Soldiers as well as links to hundreds of tuition free college courses - VIA - a decision support tool that helps you: identify your long term career goal, choose a degree plan that prepares you for your career goal, and select a best fit and best value school offering the your preferred degree plan - (accessed through your student profile on GoArmyEd) - TA Decide - an online information and comparison tool tailored to the unique educational needs of Servicemembers - College Navigator - provides important data to help refine a college search - GI Bill Comparison Tool - enables users to calculate benefits and research approved programs of study - Kuder Journey - a one-stop-shop for Service members as they plan, prepare and transition to civilian employment - MyMilitary GPS LifePlan - helps students set goals and design plans that will lead them to the success they desire. -

4 Page 4 Y E L L O W R I B B O N S C H O O L S The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of Schools: This program allows institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed either the annual maximum cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for public institutions. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Eligibility: Only Veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate, as determined by service requirements, or their designated transferees may receive this funding. (Active duty Service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program.) Child transferees of active duty Service members may be eligible if the Service member is qualified at the 100 percent rate. The link provided below will take you to the participant list. You can click on any state to see a current list of schools for that individual state: T E S T I N G R E S O U R C E S Are you in need of a computer based test? Fort Snelling Testing Center offers the following tests: ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery AFCT - Armed Forces Classification Test DLAB Defense Language Aptitude Battery SIFT - Selection Instrument for Flight Training OPI - Oral Proficiency Interview Testing is available Monday-Friday, at the 88th RSC Army Reserve Education Center, 506 Roeder Circle, Ft. Snelling, MN Appointments are required. POC is Pamela Lazor at or pamela.k.lazor.ctr@mail.mil.

5 Page 5 S T A T E R E C L A S S I F I C A T I O N B O N U S $10,000 LUMP SUM BONUS Are you interested in a career change? Are you ready to make a big move and learn a new skill in the National Guard? ELIGIBILITY: or fewer years of service and meet reenlistment eligibility 2. Be in the grade or one below the assigned position 3. Extend for 3 years after completion of your MOS/AFSC school 4. Reclass into one of the below MOS/AFSC at an E5-E7 vacancy **Current Selective Reserve Incentives Program (SRIP) participants are subject to termination and recoupment of their federal incentive (Bonus or Loan Repayment) for becoming Non-Duty MOS Qualified.** If you are ready for the challenge and meet the eligibility criteria contact your Unit FTS and get the paperwork started!!!

6 Page 6 S U N S E T O F C H A P T E R G I B I L L.. D E A T H O F A G I B I L L On November 25th, the President signed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA included an amendment which effectively killed off the Reserve Education Assistance Program, more commonly known as Chapter 1607 GI Bill, for students who earned the benefit, but were not using it on the day the law was passed. The law also placed a sunset on the benefit which mandated program eligibility terminate for students currently using 1607 benefits no later than November 25th, Approximately 146,000 ARNG Soldiers earned REAP and had remaining entitlement on the date the law was passed. Of those, as few as 1,926 received payment in the second quarter of FY15 and would be eligible to retain retain their benefits going forward. W H O I S I M P A C T E D? New REAP Applicants Current REAP Beneficiaries -- REAP Beneficiaries Not At- Veterans who have not Veterans who were attending tending School -- enrolled in school and applied an educational institution on Veterans who applied for for REAP benefits prior to Nov. Nov. 24th, 2015, or during REAP but were not attending 25th, 2015, are no longer the last semester/quarter or an educational institution on eligible for REAP benefits. term ending prior to that Nov. 24th, 2015 or during Applications that were date, are eligible to continue the last semester/quarter, or We got hosed, Tommy, we got hosed received by the VA but not processed before that date may be terminated. In some cases, those Veterans will be to receive REAP benefits until Nov. 25th, 2019 or upon graduation, whichever happens first. It is important term ending prior to that date are no longer eligible to receive REAP benefits. Some of these Veterans may be -SPC Davey eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. to note that taking a semester off would terminate eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. GI Bill eligibility. L I G H T A T T H E E N D O F T H E T U N N E L? If you lost your Chapter 1607 Bill is a permanent, eligibility means a Soldier who attend all classes online, GI Bill eligibility, you may be non-revocable choice that may only gain eligibility under attend school in low BAH areas eligible to transfer your forfeits eligibility. one GI Bill per deployment. and those on AGR status will see benefits to the Chapter 33 Not all CH 1607 recipients Soldiers that selected the their monthly stipend sharply (Post 9/11) GI Bill program. will be eligible to transfer to Chapter 1607 GI Bill, may decrease or even disappear Soldiers may complete this this program. Soldiers who have lost their eligibility to completely. action by filling out the deployed after August 1st, switch to the Chapter 33 GI The VA is aware of this issue and VONAPP application on the 2011 may have been caught Bill. is attempting to find a solution to VA website (gibill.va.gov). Be in an unintended Some students will see much these problems. Soldiers may aware that any election to consequence of this law. The smaller payments from the have to rely on other education transfer to the Chapter 33 GI prohibition on dual GI Bill Chapter 33 GI Bill. Soldiers programs to pay their tuition.

7 Q U A R T E R 2, F Y 1 6 Page 7 P R O P O S E D C H A P T E R 3 3 G I B I L L T R A N S F E R Proposed legislation would cut the housing allowance of a dependent by approximately $750 per month... Proposed legislation may change GI Bill transfer benefits in 3 ways. The language in this bill would cut the housing allowance of dependents by 50%, cut the service obligation from 4 years to 2 years and increase the required time in service before a transfer request could be approved from 6 years to 10 years. While the overall service obligation would be reduced, the proposed legislation would cut the housing allowance of a dependent by approximately $750 per month if they were attending classes in the Twin Cities at 100%. Soldiers would be required to serve at least 12 years time in service before they could separate and retain the benefit as opposed to the current 10 year service obligation. Note that this is based on language that may change in the future if the bill passes. It is important to decide if transferring your GI Bill benefits now, or waiting, would be the best option for your situation. For more information and to view the proposed changes click here: V A G I B I L L S U S P E N D E D P A Y M E N T N O T I C E Until the VA can figure out a plan to implement the changes in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, all pending Chapter 1607 GI Bill payments have been suspended. This includes money owed to Soldiers who were attending classes in fall of 2015 who are still eligible to use the Reserve Education Assistance Program. Payments have been reported suspended for the months of November, December and January. The VA currently has no ETA on when payments will resume. This has placed some Soldiers in dire financial circumstances. If you are personally affected by this situation you have two options. You may be able to switch to the Chapter 33 GI Bill which is currently processing payments or you may use other education benefits to assist in paying for your tuition. Please contact the VA for further guidance if you are impacted by this change. VA Hotline: 1-(888)

8 Page 8 Reenlistment Incentives Interested in reenlisting? You could be eligible for a State or Federal bonus OR Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Contact your unit full-time staff to determine your eligibility. Use the chart below to compare the differences between the State/Federal Bonus and SLRP! Criteria State Reenlistment Bonus Federal Reenlistment Bonus Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) Position Requirement DMOSQ as a primary position holder Same grade or one down as position All units eligible DMOSQ as a primary position holder In an MTOE or Medical TDA unit DMOSQ as a primary position holder In an MTOE or Medical TDA unit Rank Requirements None E7 or below E7 or below Time in Less than 13 years Less than 13 years Less than 13 years Service (TIS) on ETS date on ETS date on ETS date Incentive Amount 3 yr: $6,000 6 yr: $15,000 2yr : $4,000 6 yr: $12,000 6 yr: Up to $50,000 Incentive 3 yr: $2,500 at the end of each good year 2 yr: Lump Sum at contract Start Annual payment Payments 6 yr: $2,500 at the end of each good year 6 yr: 50% at contract start and 50% at year 4 anniversary date 15% or $500, whichever is greater Yearly max $7,500

9 Page 9 M I N N E S O T A V E T E R A N E D U C A T I O N A S S I S T A N C E Veteran Education Assistance is provided to Veterans in the form of a one-time $750 grant for tuition to Veterans who have exhausted, through use, all of their GI Bill benefits to assist with completing a bachelor s degree. This grant is paid directly to the institution, or may be reimbursed to Veterans upon verification that tuition has been paid. You may apply for this benefit by accessing the application below and submitting directly to MDVA or applying with assistance through your County Veterans Service Officer. Eligibility requirements: The Veteran shall have been a resident of the State of Minnesota at the time of entry into the Armed Forces, and for six months immediately preceding entry. The Veteran must be a citizen of the United States and a current resident of Minnesota The Veteran must have completely exhausted his/ her federal educational benefits prior to the delimiting date or within the eligibility period during which benefits were available. MN VEB Form: V E T E R A N S A C C E S S, C H O I C E, A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y A C T O F Effective 1 July 2015, Section 702 of the Choice Act requires the VA to disapprove programs of education for payment of benefits under CH 30 (MGIB-Active Duty) and CH 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) at public institutions of higher learning if the schools charge qualifying Veterans and dependents tuition and fees in excess of resident student rates. For example, current rates for new students at the University of MN-Twin Cities this year ( ) are $13,840 for MN/SD/ND/WI/Manitoba residents as compared to the non-resident new student rate of $22,260. This is a difference of $8,420! The Choice Act defines who is a covered individual and outlines what schools must do to retain approval to receive payments for the VA s GI Bill programs. For more information:

10 Page 10 Higher Education Veterans Programs Higher Education Veterans Program (HEVP) Coordinators Mission: To support the success of Veterans, current military members and their families at Minnesota s colleges and universities by providing on-campus Veterans Resource Centers, comprehensive information about benefits and resources as well as creating institutional readiness in support of the unique needs of these students. 12 HEVP Regional Coordinators throughout MN campuses HEVP Coordinators help schools establish Veteran Friendly policies and procedures Follow the link below to find the coordinator on your campus: HEVP Coordinators Can Help You With: Military benefits explanation and determining the best programs for your situation Military transfer credit Veteran resident status Acting as a student advocate when dealing with the VA and school certifying officials Helping schools establish "Veteran friendly" policies and procedures Payment extensions while awaiting properly applied for educational benefits Options for withdrawal from classes due to deployment Introducing you to other veteran students who attend your school Connecting you with various veteran programs and agencies (not just school related!) And much more...