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Georgia Southwestern State University is approved for the educational training of veterans and certain eligible spouses and dependents of veterans. The institution serves only as a source of certification and information to the Veterans Administration as all financial transactions and eligibility determinations are handled directly between the student and the VA. Veterans and other eligible persons interested in obtaining educational benefits must meet all applicable requirements for admission. Any questions regarding the eligibility of a veteran or dependent can be answered by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL1.

Student Resources

Academic Resources

Changes During Enrollment

Adult Learners

Prior Learning Assessment

Applying for VA Benefits

After gaining admission to the university, students should begin the process of applying for VA Educational Benefits. To apply for VA Benefits, please visit the following link www.gibill.va.gov and click on the Apply for Benefits link which will direct you to the Veterans Online Application System (VONAPP). For a paper application, please visit www.va.gov/vaforms/ to download and complete a paper application. The application process normally takes 6 - 8 weeks for new education claims.

Contact

Office of the Registrar

800 GSW State University Dr.
Americus, GA 31709

229-931-2027
229-931-2021 fax
gswreg@gsw.edu

Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Staff


Need to find a VA form?

Search for a VA form by keyword, form name, or form number by visiting www.va.gov.

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Veterans' Affairs Benefits & Required Forms

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (MGIB)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-1995

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation (VOC-REHAB)

A veteran may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if he or she incurred or aggravated a service-connected disability on or after September 16, 1940 which entitles him or her to VA disability compensation and who is in need of vocational rehabilitation because his or her disability creates an employment handicap. Vocational rehabilitation may be provided for up to 48 months. An eligible veteran generally has 12 years from the date of notification of entitlement to VA compensation in which to use these benefits. Disabled veterans are encouraged to contact the VA office to obtain information.

  • Applicants complete VA Form 28-1900

Chapter 32 Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-1995

Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®)

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® . The Post-9/11 GI Bill® became effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill® benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill®. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational institution in the state where the educational institution is located. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill® to dependents.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-1995

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Chapter 33 Transfer of Entitlement

The Department of Defense (DoD) offers members of the Armed Forces the opportunity to transfer Chapter 33 benefits to their spouse or dependent children. If a member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve) serves six years and reenlists for 4 more years or has at least 10 years of service, then transfer of entitlement (ToE) is possible. While in the Armed Forces, members use the Transfer of Education Benefits website to designate, modify, and revoke a ToE request. After leaving the Armed Forces, members can provide a future effective date for use of ToE, modify the number of months transferred, or revoke entitlement transferred by submitting a written request to VA. 

NOTE: After separating from the Armed Forces individuals cannot designate new dependents to receive transferred entitlement or amend the effective date of the initial transfer of entitlement to an earlier date.

Refer to the Transfer of Entitlement link on the www.gibill.va.gov homepage. The link explains what the member must do, what the child or spouse must do, and gives all the needed links. 

There are two basic steps:

  1. The service member (transferrer) must transfer the entitlement. If approved, transfer data is put into a secure online database DoD shares with VA. That database, in addition to providing VA qualifying periods of Chapter 33 service, also provides ToE data.
  2. The spouse or child (transferee) must apply. The application, VA Form 22-1990e; Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits, can be completed online.

Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-5490 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-5495

Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-1995

Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

  • New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or,
  • Transfer students complete VA Form 22-1995

Required Items

The following documents should be submitted to the Certifying Official in order to begin your VA file for GSW:

  • DD Form 214 member 4 (Service Members). There are no physical education requirements for Veterans with at least one year of active duty or for reservists with at least one year of service. Veterans and reservists must submit this form in order to be awarded the P.E. exemption. This exception does not apply to majors in Exercise Science & Wellness, Health & PE, and Recreation.
  • DD-2384 NOBE (If Applicable)
  • Certificate of Eligibility letter. This is sent from the VA Regional Office after your application has been approved for educational benefits.

Note:

Each semester after you have registered and finalized your schedule, please complete & submit the Veteran’s Benefits Form to the VA Certifying Official at GSW. This form is required in order to submit your enrollment to the VA. Failure to submit this form may delay your benefits. The Veteran’s Benefits Form can be found on RAIN under Student Forms.

Where to Send Items:

Kicker Contracts/Buy Up documentation

Mail directly to the VA along with a copy of your DD-214.

Tuition Assistance

The service member should contact his/her unit. The unit will send the TA Form to our Students Accounts Office for payment:

GSW Students Accounts
800 GSW State University Dr.
Americus, GA 31709
Fax: 229-931-2768

Official military ACE transcripts should be submitted to the Admissions Office for possible college credits.

Certification of Benefits

When registering for classes, keep in mind that the VA will not pay for any classes that do not count toward your major. Be aware that the VA periodically checks all applicants to ensure that the courses being taken are relevant to the student's declared major. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to register for the correct courses and report changes before incurring an overpayment or possibly an underpayment. VA regulations prohibit payment for repeated courses ("A" through "D” grades) or for courses that are not required for your approved degree/program.

Certification will begin after you have submitted the Veterans’ Benefits form (each semester of enrollment) and upon receipt of all required documents. Veterans will only be certified for courses that are required for an approved degree/program. Each student is advised to obtain a copy of their curriculum sheet and refer to it prior to each registration. VA takes 6 - 8 weeks to process an enrollment certification. Please be timely when submitting your request. 

Monthly attendance verification for Chapter 30, 1606, & 1607 only

There are two ways to submit verifications:

  • Call the toll free number at 1-877-823-2378
  • Certify using W.A.V.E.

GSW’s faculty-to-student ratio and small-town feel made it a good choice for me to pursue my degree while being an active member of the Navy Reserves.

Dalton Holley Computer Science
Blakely, Georgia