Montgomery G.I. Bill

ARNG GI BILL KICKER

Overview:

The MGIB-SR Kicker is an extra monthly GI Bill Bonus payment paid with the soldier’s MGIB-SR or MGIB-AD basic benefit. It’s purpose is to encourage the enlistment and retention of soldiers into designated units/MOSs

Eligibility:

Basic Eligibilty

  • Be eligible for the MGIB basic benefit (SR or AD)
    • Six year obligation, completion of IADT, HSDG/equivalent
  • Enlist/reenlist/extend to have a six year obligation
    • Can be done simultaneously with the six year MGIB-SR basic obligation or at anytime during enlistment
  • Enlist in a critical skill identified valid, position vacancy in a specified unit

Note:The MGIB Kicker is an ‘incentive’ not an entitlement, ARNG soldiers must apply for and qualify in order to receive it.

MGIB-SR Kicker Categories: (Effective 1 Oct 05)

  • Non Prior Service: $200
  • Prior Service Soldiers: $200
  • Current ARNG soldiers: $200
  • Officer Candidates/SMPs: $350

Note: To qualify for the MGIB-SR Kicker, soldiers must meet the basic criteria and the criteria for their specific category listed above.

Non Prior Service criteria, $200:

  • Test Score Category I-IIIA (50 or higher on ASVAB)
  • Enlist in a critical skill identified valid, position vacancy in a specified unit for your State
  • Glossary NPS are eligible for this incentive

Note: The critical skill list for the MGIB-SR Kicker is the same list used –for the NPS enlistment bonus.

Prior Service criteria, $200:

  • Enlist in a critical skill identified valid, position vacancy in a specified unit
  • Soldiers who have completed their Military Service Obligation (MSO) and have less than 16 years total time in service my enlist for this incentive at any time

Current ARNG Soldier criteria, $200:

  • Reenlist/extend in any MOS, must be MOSQ
  • Served past three ‘consecutive’ years in an active drilling status in the ARNG (time in the ING constitutes a break)
  • Current Officers who have not yet obtained their baccalaureate degree are also eligible

Officer Candidate criteria, $350

  • Must have an MOS to be eligible - must be deployable!
  • Must have completed Phase I (first 2 week session)
  • Not required to have 3 consecutive years of ARNG service
  • Soldiers who have completed the Federal or accelerated OCS program and have accepted a commission in the ARNG are eligible if they contract within 90 days of graduation or revert to the Current ARNG Soldier criteria

Note: NPS applicants enlisting under the OCS Enlistment Option are not eligible for the MGIB-SR basic benefit or MGIB-SR Kicker.

Warrant Officer Candidate criteria, $350:

  • Must have been appointed on orders as a warrant officer candidate
  • Not required to have 3 consecutive years of ARNG service
  • Soldiers who have completed the WOCS program and have accepted an appointment/commission in the ARNG are eligible if they contract within 90 days of graduation or revert to the Current ARNG Soldier criteria

Simultaneous Members (SMP) criteria, $350:

  • Must be enrolled in ROTC Advanced Course (usually MS III or IV)
  • Must sign the ROTC advanced course contract (DA Form 597-3)
  • Must sign a SMP agreement (NGB Form 594-1)
  • Soldiers who have completed the ROTC program and have accepted a commission in the ARNG are eligible if they contract within 90 days of graduation or revert to the Current ARNG Soldier criteria

Benefit:

  • $200 Basic Rate (NPS, PS and Current ARNG soldiers)
  • $350 (Officer Candidates, WOCs and SMPs)
  • Not subject to federal/state withholding
  • Paid monthly with the MGIB basic benefit (SR or AD)
  • Kicker entitlement lasts as long as the MGIB basic benefit, up to 36 months maximum
  • Payments are prorated when not enrolled full-time
    • Example: $200 Kicker at 1/2 time enrollment = $100

Suspension:

Soldiers will be suspended from their MGIB-SR Kicker when any of the following occur:

  • Transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or Inactive National Guard (ING). These soldiers are authorized a one time, period of non-availability up to 1 year for (3 years for missionary obligation) same as the MGIB-SR basic benefit
  • Voluntarily move to a non kicker eligible unit/skill during their 6 year obligation that entitled then to the MGIB-SR Kicker
  • Pending determination of satisfactory participation

Termination:

Soldiers will be terminated from their MGIB-SR Kicker with recoupment (unless otherwise noted) when any of the following occur:

  • Failure to return to a Kicker authorized unit/MOS after an authorized period of non-availability/suspension
  • Failure to extend for a period of non-availability
  • Failure to complete the required 6 year obligation
  • Failure to remain a satisfactory participant

How to become or verify eligibility:

  1. Apply for an ARNG MGIB Kicker Contract available from your unit, RRNCO or State MGIB Manager/ESO during enlistment or re-enlistment

Note: NGB Form 5435-R is the basic Kicker contract, NGB Form 5435-1-R is the supplemental contract used to increase from $200 to the $350 rate.

How to Receive Your Payments:

  1. Complete VA Form 22-1990, available from the VA’s web siteBring a copy of the Kicker contract, VA Form 22-1990, and NOBE to the VA Certifying Official at your school
  2. Forward a copy of the Kicker contract, VA Form 22-1990 and NOBE to your VA Regional Processing Office (RPO).

VA Help Information:

  • General VA Information: 1-800-827-1000
  • MGIB Information: 1-888-GI-Bill-1 (1-888-442-4551)
  • Automated Telephone System (WAVE): 1-877-823-2378
  • VA Web Site www.GIBILL.VA.gov


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