MGIB Chapter 1606 (Reserves/guard)

The Montgomery G.I. Bill Chapter 1606 benefits are available to reservists who enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment in the Selected Reserve for not less than six years on or after July 1, 1985.  For officers, the six-year period is in addition to any other obligated period of service.  Eligibility for the program requires that the reservist have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent, complete the initial active duty training (IADT), and remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.

For more information about Chapter 1606 benefits, please visit the Veterans Affairs website or contact VA at 1-888-442-4551.

Current Chapter 1606 Rates 

If you are requesting Chapter 1606 benefits for the first time

Application Process: Eligibility for benefits begins with the "one-time only" application

  • Complete and submit to VA online: VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits.  This can be done thru the VONAPP website.
  • Watch for: Letter of Eligibility or denial letter from VA within 12 weeks after submission of application.  Any questions about the content of either letter should be directed to the Veterans Affairs Office at 1-888-442-4551.

When notified by VA of eligibility, the service member must have been accepted as a student by JMU, paid the required admissions deposit, and enrolled in classes before contacting the VA Certifying Official at JMU to begin the request for payment process.  Enrollment in courses must meet major, GenEd, elective, or degree requirements, or an approved certificate or teacher licensure program to qualify.

Once you have applied and received your Letter of Eligibility from VA, please contact:

Trudy Ham
VA Certifying Official
Office of the Registrar - Warren 504
540-568-6569
hamth@jmu.edu

or

Samantha Shuey
VA Certifying Official
Office of the Registrar - Warren 504
540-568-4769
shueyss@jmu.edu

At your initial meeting with a JMU VA Certifying Official, please bring the following:

  • Letter of Eligibility
  • Kicker Contract (if applicable)
  • DD-2384, Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) (available from your unit commander)
  • Military or Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) transcript (if you've taken classes at another college)
  • JMU form, Request for Veterans Educational Benefits 

If you've previously received MGIB Chapter 1606 benefits while attending JMU

If you wish to request benefits for an upcoming semester or session, you will need to complete the JMU form, Request for Veterans Educational Benefits, and submit it to one of the VA Certifying Officials.  If you've made changes to your degree or major, you will also need to complete VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (available from the VA Certifying Officials).

If you're receiving  MGIB Chapter 1606 benefits at a college or university other than JMU

If you've received Chapter 1606 benefits at another college or university within the past year, you will need to complete the VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (available from the VA Certifying Officials), and the JMU form, Request for Veterans Educational Benefits.

What happens after I submit the requested forms to the VA Certifying Official?

JMU's VA Certifying Official will process a student's request for benefits and within 5-8 weeks, VA will generate and mail an active award benefit letter to the student.  After receiving this letter, the student must CERTIFY school attendance in either VA's Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) online system or by phone at 877-823-2378 to release VA payments.  Certifying attendance, after the initial period, MUST be completed on the last calendar day of every month that the student attends classes.  Failure to do so will result in a delay of payment for the classes attended the month before.