Are you unsure about which Veteran Education Benefit Programs you are eligible to receive?
While you complete the specified admissions requirements to register for your classes, we encourage all active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their dependents to seek guidance from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Resource Center on possibly applying for VA Education Benefits.
Unfortunately, schools cannot automatically determine a student’s eligibility for VA Benefits, as we do not have access to the Active Duty Service Member or Veteran’s military service file. Please call the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Office at at 1-888-442-4551 for more information. If you are eligible to apply for your education benefits, please click on the Applying for VA Benefits page to begin the process for the School Certifying Official to certify you for your benefits.
Here at the Veterans Resource Center and the Technical College of the Lowcountry, we are able to give students a general breakdown of the current VA Education Benefit Programs that you may be eligible to receive. Please note that students can only use one benefit at a time, even if they qualify for more than one Veteran Affairs Education Benefit program.
| Chapter 30: Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) | This chapter of benefits is for active-duty service members who served two years on active duty and contributed $1,200.00. Chapter 30 can provide up to 36 months of education assistance. You may use this benefit while on active duty or once you have ended your contract with your branch of service. If you are a veteran, you must also have an honorable discharge or lose your Chapter 30 benefits. If your contract ended early for any particular reason, you need to make sure that your early discharge does not conflict with the use of your benefits. If you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact the VA at 1-888-442-4551. To apply for this benefit, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty/. Chapter 30 recipients must pay out-of-pocket or apply for financial aid to avoid deregistration. |
| Chapter 31: Veterans’ Readiness & Employment Program® (VR&E) | Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, this program is for individuals with a compensable service-connected disability. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs determines that training and rehabilitation services are needed to overcome an employment handicap. Students eligible for this particular VA program will be assigned to a Case Manager that provides help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job-seeking coaching. To apply for this benefit, please visit https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation. Under Chapter 31, the assigned Case Manager will send an invoice and authorization form (VA Form 28-1905) via an electronic portal known as Tungsten to help pay for students’ tuition and fees and book and supplies costs. Please note that all Chapter 31 students must opt-out of the newly implemented First-Day Complete Program on Self Service every semester, as the Veterans’ Readiness and Employment Program will pay for your books and supplies with the TCL College Store. |
| Chapter 32: Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program® (VEAP) | This educational assistance program is only available for qualifying veterans who first entered active-duty military service anytime between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987, voluntarily contributed $25 to $2,700, completed their first period of service, and were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. Current active-duty service members must have at least three months of contributions to qualify for this benefit possibly. Qualifying students have up to ten years to use this benefit, or the VA will refund the money back to you. The government matches your contributions on a $2 for $1 basis. Eligible students may use this benefit for VA-approved degrees, certificates, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, vocational flight training programs, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, specific entrance examinations, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher training may also be available in certain circumstances. Contact the VA at 1-888-442-4551 for more information. To apply for this benefit, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/veap. |
| Chapter 33: Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® | This benefit is for service members and veterans who served at least 90 days on active duty, excluding training after September 10, 2001. You may also qualify if you served a minimum of 30 days and were discharged with a service-connected disability. Your percentage rating will be dependent on how much time was served after this date. If you have been discharged from the military, you must have an honorable discharge or one of three medical discharges, (EPTS) Existing Prior to Service, (HDSP) Hardship, or (CIWD) Condition Interfering with Duty to qualify. Under Chapter 33, tuition and fees are paid directly to the school, dependent on your eligibility rating, and will not surpass the school’s in-state tuition rate, which is $225.00 per credit hour. To apply, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/. Note: Active-duty service members can also perform a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) via https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/ to transfer their benefits to dependents. Once discharged, the service member can change the effective date of the transfer, adjust the number of months transferred, or revoke benefits for their dependents. |
| Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program® (DEA) | This benefit is for spouses and children of veterans who passed away or are 100% disabled due to a service-connected situation, including MIA (Missing In Action) and POW (Prisoner Of War). Chapter 35 benefits can provide up to 45 months of full-time benefits. If you are the spouse of a qualifying veteran, you have ten years from the date of eligibility to use the benefits or 20 years if the veteran passed away while on active duty. Children may use the benefit from the age of 18 to 26. If there are any issues with these time constraints, you may be able to have them extended by contacting the VA at 1-888-442-4551. To apply, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/. Chapter 35 recipients must pay out-of-pocket or apply for financial aid to avoid deregistration. |
| Chapter 1606: Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) | This benefit is for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. Chapter 1606 can provide up to 36 months of education benefits for those individuals as long as they have completed their initial active duty training and are in good standing with their reserve unit. Benefits typically last 14 years from the date of eligibility or when you get discharged, whichever comes first. If you cannot use your benefits, you can call the VA to get an extension by calling 1-888-442-4551 potentially. To apply, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-selected-reserve/. Chapter 1606 recipients must pay out-of-pocket or apply for financial aid to avoid deregistration. |
| Chapter 1607: Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) | This program is no longer active for certification purposes as of November 1, 2019. |
Need Help?
Christina Schatzle
Director of Military and Veteran Programs
Phone: 843-525-8358
mavrc@tcl.edu
VA School Certifying Official:
On Base:
Travis Newman
Veterans Enrollment Counselor
mavrc@tcl.edu
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Mondays — 0900–1300
Phone: 843-228-2659
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Tuesdays & Thursdays — 0900–1300
Phone: 843-228-7494