Using Montgomery GI Bill benefits while at the Naval Academy

A

Aedan17

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Feb 13, 2020
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I am prior-enlisted Navy. I'll be joining the class of 2025. In boot camp, I opted for the Montgomery GI Bill. I've met my time requirement in service to be eligible to use the GI Bill. My question is, may I cash in on those benefits while I am at the Academy?
 
Best advice is reach out to your local education center if still on active duty or the VA.

The MGIB is a pretty good deal in many ways but I would think using it at USNA isn't the best option.

I would retain it
- as insurance if USNA doesnt work out
- for future higher education after USNA if the military wont fund it
- to apply to future dependents and allow you more flexibility later in life with your finances.

I had my undergraduate and graduate education paid by DoD by the time we had kids and so when our oldest was 1 month old I transferred the benefit in his name. I was at 14 years of service so the ADSO was already part of my life plan. It is yours to use but think what is your best return to maximize that investment.
 
Aedan17 said:
I am prior-enlisted Navy. I'll be joining the class of 2025. In boot camp, I opted for the Montgomery GI Bill. I've met my time requirement in service to be eligible to use the GI Bill. My question is, may I cash in on those benefits while I am at the Academy?
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What benefits were you looking at trying to use? Are you at NAPS now or going direct from Fleet school or unit?

Your status will seamlessly go from separation and discharge from AD enlisted status to induction as Midshipman on AD, base pay at Midn rate (about 1/3 of O-1), reporting for duty under instruction in a pre-comm program.

All mids get the ACE loan upon induction, which covers a lot of initial things such as the computer package and other stuff. Payback is taken from your Midn pay. There are ways to use certain scholarship funds for USNA expenses.

The people most likely to know the answer to whether you can use your MGIB for things like books are the staff in Midshipman Disbursing, who handle mid pay accounts.
tel: 410-293-3297, 3301, 3303, 3307

Since the MGIB is a VA benefit, DOD folks may not know a lot about how it works, especially in the USNA situation. Someone will know, because prior enlisted personnel come to USNA every year. If you are at NAPS, someone in Disbursing might know the answer there.
 
emwvmi01 said:
Best advice is reach out to your local education center if still on active duty or the VA.

The MGIB is a pretty good deal in many ways but I would think using it at USNA isn't the best option.

I would retain it
- as insurance if USNA doesnt work out
- for future higher education after USNA if the military wont fund it
- to apply to future dependents and allow you more flexibility later in life with your finances.

I had my undergraduate and graduate education paid by DoD by the time we had kids and so when our oldest was 1 month old I transferred the benefit in his name. I was at 14 years of service so the ADSO was already part of my life plan. It is yours to use but think what is your best return to maximize that investment.
Click to expand...
Very good points here! You want to optimize the benefit.
 
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From earlier this year messages, it appears that @Aedan17 is at NAPS class of 2021 right now, and will join Midshipmen class of 2025 soon.
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OP, There should be a career counselor at NAPS/NAVSTA Newport who can counsel you on the MGIB options so you can do the comparative analysis.

And - well done on getting a seat at NAPS. Do well, and I Day will soon roll around.
 
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