Using Your GI Bill for Apprenticeship and OJT Training | Military.com

Oct 14, 2024

Did you know you can use your GI Bill benefits to receive job training in an on-the-job training (OJT) or apprenticeship program? If you are a veteran or currently in the Guard or reserve, both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills offer alternative ways to use your benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay your GI Bill benefits on a sliding scale depending on how long you are in training. You will also receive a salary from your employer. The VA benefit usually decreases every six months as your salary increases. At the end of your training, you will be certified in your skill.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will phase out the Montgomery GI Bill beginning in 2030.

On-the-job trainees and apprentices eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill can receive up to $1,000 per academic year for books and supplies plus a monthly housing allowance that's based on the military's basic allowance for housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in the employer's ZIP code. VA may reduce the full housing allowance rate according to the percentage of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits the trainee is eligible for; how many hours a month the person will train (120 hours equals full time); and how long the person has been in training (100% of the applicable housing allowance for the first six months of training, 80% for the second six months, 60% for the third six months, 40% for the fourth six months, and 20% for the remaining months of training).

Those using the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty in the 2024 fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, can get $1,828.50 a month for the first six months of training, $1,340.90 for the second six months of training and $853.30 for remaining training.

VA pays Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve participants on a similar scale but at the following reduced rates in fiscal 2024: $360.75 a month for the first six months of training, $264.55 for the second six months of training and $168.35 for remaining training.

Surviving dependents and spouses and dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans are also eligible to apply for on-the-job training and apprenticeship benefits.

To qualify, your job must meet the following criteria:

Here is a list of well known organizations that have participated in the VA's OJT and apprenticeship programs in the past:

Whether you need a guide on how to use your GI Bill, want to take advantage of tuition assistance and scholarships, or get the lowdown on education benefits available for your family, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have education tips and benefits updates delivered directly to your inbox.

Amanda Miller is an editor and writer for Military.com specializing in coverage of military and veteran pay and benefits. She became a journalist in the 1990s, began covering the military in 2007 for Military Times, and has since contributed to a number of military-oriented publications including Military Officer Magazine, The War Horse, and Air & Space Forces Magazine. Read Full Bio