Reenlisting Soldiers' Spouses May Qualify for Transferred GI Bill Benefits

The Army has announced a pilot program transferring to the spouses of select reenlisting Soldiers more than $18,000 of the GI Bill benefits. The Army will study the results of the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Transferability of Benefits to Spouses program with the possibility of making it a permanent part of the Army's reenlistment policies. "The Army continues to focus on and provide support to Soldier's families because it is the right thing to do, and because we know that we recruit Soldiers, but retain families," said Maj. Gen. Sean Byrne, Director of Army Military Personnel Management. Enlisted Soldiers who have completed at least six years of service, reenlist for a minimum of four years, qualify for a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB), and are entitled to a Zone B or Zone C bonus will have the option to transfer up to 18 of 36 months of their MGIB entitlement. Soldiers can choose between a full SRB or slightly reduced SRB plus the ability to transfer over $18,000 in benefits. The FY06 basic MGIB monthly benefit for full-time training is currently $1,034. This benefit is also available but prorated for part-time enrollment. Soldiers who elected the Army College Fund (ACF) as an enlistment option and/or have enrolled and paid toward the $600 MGIB Additional Opportunity, can include their expanded benefit (MGIB, ACF and MGIB Additional Opportunity) in the transferability program. Education benefits are a key component of the incentive package used by the Army to attract and retain quality Soldiers. At the foundation of these benefits is the MGIB. MGIB Transferability of benefits is an additional lever being used to retain Soldiers with critical skills. Soldiers should visit their Army Retention Career Counselor for further guidance.