United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Minimum Length of Service

90 days active aggregate service (after 9/10/01) or 30 days continuous if discharged for disability

2 yr. continuous enlistment (minimum duty varies by service date, branch, etc.)

6 yr. commitment (after 6/30/85)

90 days active continuous service (after 9/10/01)

181 continuous days active service (between 12/31/76 and 7/1/85)¹

Not applicable

Maximum # of Months of Benefits ²

36

36

36

36

36

45

How Payments Are Made

Tuition: Paid to school

Housing stipend: Paid monthly to student

Books & Supplies: Paid to student at the beginning of the term

Paid to student

 Paid to student

Paid to student

 Paid to student

 Paid to student

Duration of Benefits

Generally 15 years from last day of active duty

Generally 10 years from last day of active duty

Ends the day you leave Selected Reserve

Generally 10 years from the day you leave  the Selected Reserve or the day you leave the IRR ⁴

10 yrs from last day of active duty

Spouse: 10 - 20 years ³

Child: Ages 18-26

Degree Training 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Non College Degree Training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Flight Training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Correspondence Courses

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Licensing & Certification

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

National Testing Programs

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Work-Study Program

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tutorial Assistance ⁵

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes