Some airmen will be able to transfer all or a portion of their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their family members without incurring a four-year active duty service commitment thanks to a program phase-in extension implemented this month.
When initially implemented, the Post-9/11 GI Bill education transfer program was phased in to enable airmen nearing retirement to accept a 1-, 2-, or 3-year active duty service commitment. In some cases, no additional commitment was required. The phase-in period expired July 31, 2012, but many Airmen were unable to take advantage of the opportunity before the expiration date.
ìAir Force leaders want to make sure all eligible airmen have the opportunity to share this benefit with their families. The initial expiration date caught some members by surprise, so the phase-in period has been extended through July 31, 2013,î said Bruce Houseman, Air Force Personnel Center education services and benefits chief.
Members must apply to transfer their benefits no later than July 31 to qualify under these graduated service obligations, and – as in past – some members who transfer benefits will not incur an associated ADSC, while others will incur between one and four years.
- Members on active duty who were eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009 can transfer benefits without incurring an ADSC.
- Active duty members eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009 and before Aug. 1, 2010 will incur one additional year of service from the date of their request.
- Members eligible to retire after Aug. 1, 2010 and before Aug. 1, 2011 will incur two additional years of service from the date of their request.
- Members eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2011 and on or before Aug. 1, 2012 will incur three additional years of service from the date of their request.
- Members who are retirement eligible after July 31, 2012 will incur a four year active duty service commitment from the date of their request if they want to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to family members.
Eligible airmen can transfer all or some of their benefit to one or more family members, but no matter how much you transfer, you will incur the ADSC associated with your retirement eligibility date, Houseman explained. ìThe ADSC begins with the approved application, so if you plan to transfer benefits, donít wait until youíre near retirement.
For more information about transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to family members, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil, and enter Post 9/11 GI Bill in the search window. To apply to transfer benefits, go to MilConnect at www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect, the virtual MPF self-service actions section accessible via myPers, or the Air Force Portal, and follow the instructions.
