Eligibility — Under VEAP, active duty personnel voluntarily participated in a plan for education or training in which their savings were administered and added to by the federal government. Servicemembers were eligible to enroll in VEAP if they entered active duty for the first time after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985. Some contribution to VEAP must have been made prior to April 1, 1987. The maximum participant contribution is $2,700. While on active duty, participants may make a lump-sum contribution to the training fund.

A servicemember who participated in VEAP is eligible to receive benefits while on active duty if: (1) at least three months of contributions are available, except for high school in which case only one month of contributions is needed; and (2) the first active duty commitment is completed.

If the individual's first term is for more than six years, benefits may be available after six years. To attend a high school program, the individual must be in the last six months of the first enlistment. A veteran who participated in VEAP is eligible to receive benefits if the discharge was under conditions other than dishonorable and: (1) the first enlistment was prior to September 8, 1980; or the participant entered active duty as an officer on or before October 17, 1981, and served for a continuous period of 181 days or more, or was discharged for a service-connected disability; or (2) the participant enlisted for the first time on or after September 8, 1980; or entered active duty as an officer on or after October 17, 1981, and completed 24 continuous months of active duty.

Education eligibility may be established even though the required active duty is not completed if the veteran: (1) receives VA disability compensation or military disability retirement; (2) served a previous period of at least 24 continuous months of active duty before October 17, 1981; or (3) was discharged or released for early out, hardship or service-connected disability.

An individual who contributed or who could have contributed to VEAP before being involuntarily separated from active duty with an honorable discharge may elect before separation to receive Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) benefits. VEAP participants who voluntarily separate from active duty after December 4, 1991, under the Special Separation Benefit or the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program also may elect to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty). VEAP participants on active duty may make an irrevocable election to transfer to the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) program.

Education and Training Available — VEAP participants may pursue associate, bachelor or graduate degrees at colleges or universities. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools may also be taken. Other opportunities include apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs; cooperative courses; correspondence-school courses; tutorial assistance; remedial, refresher and deficiency training; and state-approved alternative teacher certification programs. Flight training also may be pursued, including solo flying hours up to the minimum required by the FAA for the rating or certification being pursued. Before beginning training, the veteran must have a private pilot license and meet the physical requirements for a commercial license. A participant may study abroad in programs leading to a college degree and in programs which offer, as part of the curriculum, nontraditional training away from school. A participant with a deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance benefits if enrolled half-time or more. Remedial, deficiency and refresher training is available.

Payments — When the participant elects to use VEAP benefits to pursue an approved course of education or training, the Defense Department will match the participant's contribution at the rate of $2 for every $1 the individual put into the fund. The Defense Department also may make additional contributions to the fund in exchange for special duties performed by the participant. A typical VEAP payment: A participant contributes $1,800 over a 36-month period and the government adds $3,600 (2 for 1 match); there is no additional contribution from the Defense Department. This results in a total entitlement of $5,400. This amount would be divided by 36 months, yielding a monthly benefit of $150 for full-time schooling for the veteran.

Period of Eligibility — A veteran has 10 years from the date of last discharge or release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. This 10-year period can be extended by the amount of time the veteran could not train because of a disability or because of being held by a foreign government or power. The 10-year period may also be extended if the veteran re-enters active duty for 90 continuous days or more after becoming eligible. For periods of less than 90 days, the veteran may qualify for extensions under certain circumstances. The extension ends 10 years from the date of discharge or release from the later active duty period. A veteran with a discharge upgraded by the military will have 10 years from the date of the upgrade.

Work-Study — To be eligible for work-study benefits, a person must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate.

Much of this information has been provided by the
Uniformed Services Almanac.™
Click here to learn how to obtain a copy.