Question about the Montgomery GI Bill

[Golfer]

In order to fly fixed wing you need to be a rotorwing pilot for 2 years before going to training.  I believe all of their fixed wing training is done in Dothan, AL in Cessna 182s and King Air 200s.

I don't know if a commission is required but I've been to Dothan numerous times and remember seeing both Warrant Officers on up through Majors.  I don't have further details.

[rabbidrabbit]

I have a friend who flys c-12's.  He is a WO-4.   Not sure beyond that.

[USRanger]

Thx fellas.  In all my years in the Army, this is new info for me.  My units' fixed-wing transportation needs were all handled by the air force.

[Russian]

Why not call GI folks themselves and ask directly?

[nirvana]

I'm pretty sure you can after you pay for the initial PPL, but being that it's 11PM I'm going to be lazy and not look it up.  Ask your education officer if you can't figure it out otherwise.

[L0nGb0w]

I'm using my GI bill to get a ppl, instrument, multi-engine, and CFI, but I'm doing it through a 2 year professional pilot program at a college, not sure if you can use the GI bill for flight training by itself, but there may be funding under another name, same stuff that would pay for you to get a mechanics certification, electrician cert., etc.
Whatever you find out, best of luck on getting into WOFT, I'm going to try for the same thing as soon as I finish these 2 years of school. 

[Selino631]

Just talked to my Recruiter, he said i can use it for any educational schools. so that means yes!!!

[L0nGb0w]

Recruiters are sometimes clueless, as many well know, and would rather give you an answer that sounds good rather than go take the time to find out for sure.  I would spend some time looking for something that states in writing that you can use it for things like that, or just try it and find out. Either way, as a general rule if you need to find out something important, take whatever the recruiter says with a grain of salt and look the official documents up so you know you aren't been given a biased opinion on one thing or another. 

[Tarmac]

don't believe a single thing the recruiter says if it's not in writing.  Especially an Army recruiter. 

Do some searching on military.com, there's a ton of good GI bill info. 

And if you haven't enlisted yet, you'll most likely be covered under the Post 9/11 GI bill, not the Montgomery.  Your best bet may be a school that does pilot cert as part of a college degree.  Going off memory, your PPL is not covered by the GI bill, but later certs can be. 

[Selino631]

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances

I just took a peek at my enlistment contract, and apparently i have the Montgomery GI Bill (1984) in there, not the Post 911 GI Bill, hey guess i lucked out.

I enlisted on June 6th, 2009 lol

[L0nGb0w]

I went reading about the differences between the MGIB and the post 9/11 one and it seems that the post 9/11 is effective for any training done after august 1st, 2009.  I don't remember if you said you've been to basic or not yet but you won't be able to activate either until after your military training is done.

[Stoney]

From the VA website:

"In order to qualify, you must have a private pilot's license and valid medical certification before beginning training. VA will reimburse you for 60% of the approved charges.

Payments are issued after the training is completed and the school submits information to the VA."


http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/programs.htm#Flight

From what I remember, this training has to be done at a Part 141 school.  Talk to your flight instruction facility and find out if they are a 141 school, or look for one in your area.

[Selino631]

I went reading about the differences between the MGIB and the post 9/11 one and it seems that the post 9/11 is effective for any training done after august 1st, 2009.  I don't remember if you said you've been to basic or not yet but you won't be able to activate either until after your military training is done.

I leave for Infantry OSUT in July, and i'l be done i think in November, so when i get to my duty station i'll see about flying again

[lowZX14]

Here's a little more information about the MGIB for you....

Who is Eligible?

You may be an eligible veteran if you have an Honorable Discharge, AND you have a High School Diploma or GED or in some cases 12 hours of college credit, AND you meet the requirements of one of the categories below:

CATEGORY I

    * Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
    * Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
    * Continuously served for 3 years, OR 2 years if that is what you first enlisted for, OR 2 years if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4" Program)

CATEGORY II

    * Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
    * Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years)
    * On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-Era GI Bill

CATEGORY III

    * Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
    * On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91,
    * OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93,
    * OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
    * Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1200

CATEGORY IV

    * On active duty on 10/9/96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97
    * OR entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89 AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96, through 7/8/97
    * Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1200 lump-sum contribution


So kinda like what L0nGb0w said, you won't be able to use your MGIB until you have met the above criteria which means after you are discharged from Active Duty not just after you're done with your training.  If you're looking to finish your flight instruction, what you need to do is go and talk to a Tuition Assistance officer when you get to your first duty station.  I don't know how the Army does it but I do remember that part of our check-in list with the Marine Corps is to go buy the Education Building and check in with someone there.  When you're there you can ask them all sorts of questions about Tuition Assistance and if they cover flight training.  All branches offer some sort of Tuition Assistance which covers a few courses each semester.  Good luck to you and I hope it all works out.