GI Bill benefits are available to National Guard and reserve military members to help with education and training costs.
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), is available to members of the reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as the National Guard.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will begin to phase out the Montgomery GI Bill in 2030.
Besides the MGIB-SR, activated reserve and Guard service members may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if they were activated under certain conditions. See our Post-9/11 GI Bill page for more details.
The MGIB-SR benefit is worth more than $17,000. This amount is based on the 2025-2026 monthly full-time student payment rate multiplied by the 36-month limit for a single term of service. This "payment rate" automatically changes Oct. 1 of each year. You get the likely increase no matter when you became eligible or started using the benefit.
Check out the current MGIB-SR rates.
Note: Your actual benefits may be higher if you signed up for the Army, Navy or Marine Corps College Funds.
MGIB-SR Eligibility
To be eligible for the MGIB-SR, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve or National Guard signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation.
- Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT).
- Receive your high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT.
- Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.
Using Your GI Bill
Your GI Bill can be used to pay for many different programs, including the following:
- College degree programs including associate, bachelor's and advanced degree programs
- Vocational/technical training, including non-college degree programs
- On-the-job/apprenticeship training
- Licensing and certification reimbursement
- National testing programs such as SAT, CLEP, AP, etc.
- Flight training
- Correspondence training
- Work-study programs
- Tuition Assistance Top-Up
- Tutorial Assistance
Keep Up With Your Education Benefits
Whether you need a guide on how to use your GI Bill, want to take advantage of tuition assistance and scholarships, or get the lowdown on education benefits available for your family, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have education tips and benefits updates delivered directly to your inbox.
