(a) General eligibility. Eligibility and administration of the Post-9/11 GI Bill are the responsibility of the VA. Policies and procedures for utilization of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are available from that agency. Those policies and procedures are codified in 38 CFR part 21 and presented and updated at http://www.gibill.va.gov.
(b) Kickers--(1) Enlistment kickers. The use of enlistment kickers should be based on the criticality of the skill or the length of enlistment commitment and may be offered in amounts from $150 to $950 a month in increments of $100. Reporting codes for enlistment kickers are listed in DoD Instruction 1336.05 and DoD Manual 7730.54-M-V1.
(1) Enlistment kickers. The use of enlistment kickers should be based on the criticality of the skill or the length of enlistment commitment and may be offered in amounts from $150 to $950 a month in increments of $100. Reporting codes for enlistment kickers are listed in DoD Instruction 1336.05 and DoD Manual 7730.54-M-V1.
(2) Affiliation kickers. The use of affiliation kickers shall be based on the criticality of the skill and/or unit and the length of Selected Reserve commitment, and may be offered in amounts from $150 to $950 a month in increments of $100. If an individual is already eligible for an enlistment kicker, the amount of the affiliation kicker is limited to the amount that would take the total to $950. For those individuals who are offered an affiliation kicker on top of an enlistment kicker, the increases above the enlistment kicker will be in $100 increments. Reporting codes for affiliation kickers are the same as the codes for enlistment kickers listed in DoD Instruction 1336.05 and DoD Manual 7730.54-M-V1.
(3) Reenlistment kickers. The use of reenlistment kickers should be based on the criticality of the skill and may be offered in amounts from $100 to $300 a month in increments of $100, based on length of additional service. Reporting codes for reenlistment kickers are listed in DoD Instruction 1336.05 and DoD Manual 7730.54-M-V1.
(4) Payment of kickers. Kickers are paid by VA in conjunction with the monthly stipend paid pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 3313(c).
(c) Transferability of unused education benefits to family members. Subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary Concerned, to promote recruitment and retention in the Uniformed Services, may permit an individual eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance to elect to transfer to one or more of his or her family members all or a portion of his or her entitlement to such assistance (see paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section).
(1) Eligible individuals. Any Service member on or after August 1, 2009, who is entitled to the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the time of the approval of his or her request to transfer that entitlement under this section, may transfer that entitlement provided he or she meets one of these conditions:
(i) Has at least 6 years of service in the Military Services (active duty or Selected Reserve), NOAA Corps, or PHS on the date of approval and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS from the date of election.
(ii) Has at least 10 years of service in the Military Services (active duty or Selected Reserve), NOAA Corps, or PHS on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (Service or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
(iii) Is or becomes retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009, through July 31, 2012, and agrees to serve the additional period, if any, specified in paragraphs (c)(1)(iii)(A) through (c)(1)(iii)(D) of this section. A Service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active Federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 12732. This paragraph will no longer be in effect on August 1, 2013, and on or after that date all members must comply with paragraphs (c)(1)(i) or (c)(1)(ii) of this section to be eligible for transfer of unused education benefits to family members.
(A) For individuals eligible for retirement on August 1, 2009, no additional service is required.
(B) For individuals eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and before August 1, 2010, 1 year of additional service is required.
(C) For individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, 2 years of additional service is required.
(D) For individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2011, and before August 1, 2012, 3 years of additional service is required.
(iv) The provisions of paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section will apply to Service members recalled to active duty under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 688 or members of the Individual Ready Reserve ordered to active duty under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d) only when the active duty is for a period of at least 90 days.
(2) Eligible family members. (i) An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer that entitlement to his or her spouse, to one or more of his or her children, or to a combination of his or her spouse and one or more children.
(i) An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer that entitlement to his or her spouse, to one or more of his or her children, or to a combination of his or her spouse and one or more children.
(ii) For purposes of this provision, the definition of spouse and child are as codified in 38 U.S.C. 101. Confirmation of family members will be made using the DEERS.
(iii) Once an individual has designated a child as a transferee, a child's subsequent marriage will not affect his or her eligibility to receive the educational benefit; however, the individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time.
(iv) Once an individual has designated a spouse as a transferee, subsequent divorce will not affect the transferee's eligibility to receive educational benefits; however, the eligible individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time.
(3) Months of transfer. Months transferred must be whole months. The number of months of benefits transferred by an individual under this section may not exceed the lesser of:
(i) The months of Post-9/11 GI Bill unused benefits available.
(ii) 36 months.
(4) Transferee usage. (i) Policies and procedures for family member use of Post-9/11 GI Bill transferred educational benefits are the responsibility of the VA. Those policies and procedures are codified in 38 CFR part 21 and presented and updated at http://www.gibill.va.gov.
(i) Policies and procedures for family member use of Post-9/11 GI Bill transferred educational benefits are the responsibility of the VA. Those policies and procedures are codified in 38 CFR part 21 and presented and updated at http://www.gibill.va.gov.
(ii) Commencement of use by a family member is subject to these conditions:
(A) A spouse may start to use the benefit only after the individual making the transfer has completed at least 6 years of service in the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS.
(B) A child may start to use the benefit after the individual making the transfer:
(1) Has completed at least 10 years of service in the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS, or
(2) Is separated for one of the reasons referred to in paragraph (c)(7)(ii) or (c)(7)(iii) of this section.
(5) Designation of transferee. An individual transferring an entitlement to educational assistance under this section shall, through notification to the Secretary Concerned as specified in paragraph (c)(9) of this section:
(i) Designate the family member or members to whom such entitlement is being transferred.
(ii) Designate the number of months of such entitlement to be transferred to each family member.
(iii) Specify the period for which the transfer shall be effective for each family member. The effective period must be on or after the date of designation.
(6) Time for transfer, revocation, and modification--(i) Time for transfer. An individual approved to transfer entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer such entitlement to the individual's family member only while serving in the Military Services (active duty or Selected Reserve.), NOAA Corps, or PHS. An individual may not add family members after retirement or separation from the Uniformed Services.
(i) Time for transfer. An individual approved to transfer entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer such entitlement to the individual's family member only while serving in the Military Services (active duty or Selected Reserve.), NOAA Corps, or PHS. An individual may not add family members after retirement or separation from the Uniformed Services.
(ii) Modification or revocation. (A) An individual transferring entitlement in accordance with this section may modify or revoke at any time the transfer of any unused portion of the entitlement so transferred.
(1) An individual may add new family members, modify the number of months of the transferred entitlement for existing family members, or revoke transfer of entitlement while serving in the Uniformed Services.
(2) An individual may not add family members after retirement or separation from the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS, but may modify the number of months of the transferred entitlement or revoke transfer of entitlement after retirement or separation for those family members who have received transferred benefits prior to separation or retirement.
(B) The modification or revocation of the transfer of entitlement shall be made by submitting notice of the action to both the Secretary of the Military Department concerned and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Additions, modifications, or revocations made while in the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS will be made through the TEB Web site as described in paragraph (c)(8) of this section. Modifications or revocations after separation from the Military Services, NOAA Corps, or PHS will be accomplished through VA.
(7) Failure to complete service agreement. (i) Except as provided in this section, if an individual transferring entitlement under this section fails to complete the service agreed to consistent with paragraph (c)(1) of this section in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the amount of any transferred entitlement that is used as of the date of such failure shall be treated as an overpayment of educational assistance and shall be subject to collection by VA.
(i) Except as provided in this section, if an individual transferring entitlement under this section fails to complete the service agreed to consistent with paragraph (c)(1) of this section in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the amount of any transferred entitlement that is used as of the date of such failure shall be treated as an overpayment of educational assistance and shall be subject to collection by VA.
(ii) Paragraph (c)(7)(i) of this section shall not apply to an individual who fails to complete service agreement due to:
(A) His or her death.
(B) Discharge or release from active duty or the Selected Reserve for a medical condition that pre-existed his or her service and was not service-connected.
(C) Discharge or release from active duty or the Selected Reserve for hardship as determined by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.
(D) Discharge or release from active duty or the Selected Reserve for a physical or mental condition, not a disability, that did not result from his or her willful misconduct, but did interfere with the performance of duty.
(iii) The transferor is also considered to have completed his or her service agreement as a result of being discharged for a disability or a reduction in force or force shaping.
(iv) The Secretaries of the Military Departments may promulgate guidance regarding waiver of the military service obligation agreed to consistent with paragraph (c)(1) of this section if the individual revokes all transfers and no benefits have been used.
(8) Procedures. All requests and transactions for individuals who remain in the Uniformed Services will be completed through the TEB Web application at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/. The TEB Users Manual, maintained on that site, will provide instruction for enrollment; verification; and additions, changes, and revocations. Modifications or revocations after separation from the Uniformed Services will be accomplished through VA.
(9) Regulations. The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall promulgate guidance to administer the transferability of unused education entitlements to family members in accordance with this part. Such guidance shall specify:
(i) The manner of verifying and documenting the additional service commitment, if any, consistent with paragraph (c)(1) of this section, to be authorized to transfer education benefits.
(ii) The manner of determining eligibility to authorize the transfer of education benefits as allowed in paragraphs (c)(1)(i), (c)(1)(ii), or (c)(1)(iii) of this section.