Army National Guard GI Bill Kicker

The Army National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Kicker program encourages quality applicants and Soldiers to enlist into critical military jobs and units.

This program applies only to specific critical Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs), and certain deployable units.

The Kicker is an incentive, not an entitlement, so you’ll need to be qualified in order to receive the benefit.

The Kicker is paid in conjunction with a basic GI Bill benefit, and eligibility can be established only if you’re eligible for either the MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606 or MGIB-AD, Chapter 30 program. When eligibility for the basic benefit expires, so does eligibility for the Kicker.

Payment Rates

  • Non-Prior Service - $200 per month (to a total maximum of $7,200)
  • Prior Service - $200 (to a total maximum of $7,200)
  • Current National Guard Soldier - $200 (to a total maximum of $7,200)
  • Officers Without Degrees - $200 (to a total maximum of $7,200)
  • Commissioning Kicker - $350 (to a total maximum of $12,600)

Specific eligibility criteria for each category can be found below in the “Eligibility” section.

A maximum of 36 months of benefits can be collected under the Kicker program.

If you are entering an officer commissioning program, you may increase the amount of your original contract to the amount of the commissioning Kicker.

Pre-Qualification

  • In order to receive the Kicker, you must be eligible to receive a basic GI Bill benefit (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606 or MGIB-AD, Chapter 30).
  • You must complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT). You may not receive the Kicker while on Active Duty.
  • Officer Candidate School (OCS) option Soldiers must complete Officer Basic Course (OBC) in lieu of Advanced Individual Training (AIT).

Eligibility

In addition to the basic pre-qualification criteria, you’ll also need to meet the specific criteria for your Army National Guard Kicker category. Click on a category below:

Show DivNon-Prior Service (NPS) applicants

  • You must enlist and remain in the National Guard for six years, in a valid position vacancy. Officers must complete an Officer Service Agreement (OSA) DA Form 5447-R for their six-year obligation.
  • You must enlist in either a critical MOS or Critical Unit ID Code (CUIC) (whichever is authorized by policy at time of enlistment) listed in the National Guard Selected Reserves Incentive Program (SRIP) policy.
  • You must enlist or access into any MTOE* unit or deployable TDA** unit.
  • You must score 50 or higher (test score category I-IIIB) on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Note: Glossary NPS applicants may be eligible to receive the Kicker.

*Modification Table of Organization and Equipment
**Table of Distribution and Allowances

Show DivPrior Service (PS) applicants

  • You must enlist and remain in the National Guard for six years, in a valid position vacancy.
  • You must be qualified in the MOS for which you enlist and be skill level 1 or 2 (Sergeant or below).
  • You must enlist into any MTOE unit or deployable TDA unit approved by NGB.

Show DivCurrent Army National Guard Soldiers

  • You must re-enlist/extend in any MOS in any MTOE unit or deployable TDA unit approved by NGB. You must be qualified in the MOS for which you enlist and be skill level 1 or 2 (Sergeant or below).
  • Current National Guard Soldiers who meet the eligibility criteria listed above may re-enlist/extend for the Kicker at any time after serving the past three consecutive years in an active drilling status. You do not have to wait until you are within one year of your current ETS.
  • Current National Guard officers in the rank of 1st or 2nd Lieutenant who have not yet obtained a bachelor's degree are also eligible under this category. You are not required to have served three consecutive years in the National Guard.

Show DivOfficer Candidates and Simultaneous Members (SMP):

National Guard Officer Candidate programs include:

  • State Officer Candidate School (OCS)
  • Accelerated OCS
  • Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
  • Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

All officer candidates, warrant officer candidates and simultaneous members in any MTOE unit or deployable TDA unit may re-enlist/extend for the Kicker, as long as they hold an MOS and meet the following criteria:

  • Officer Candidate School (OCS): State OCS candidates are eligible to extend their enlistment and sign a Kicker contract after completing Phase I (the first two-week training period) of the state OCS program. Newly commissioned Second Lieutenants are eligible to sign a Kicker contract up to 90 days after accepting their commission in the National Guard. OCS graduates without a bachelor's degree who apply for the Kicker after 90 days from course completion will be categorized as a Current National Guard Soldier.
  • Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS): Warrant Officer Candidates are eligible to extend their enlistment and sign a Kicker contract after they have been appointed on orders as a warrant officer Candidate. Newly appointed warrant officers are eligible to sign a Kicker contract up to 90 days after accepting their appointment in the National Guard. After 90 days from the appointment date, a WO candidate is no longer eligible for the Kicker program.
  • Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP): SMP participants who are enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Advanced Course (MS II, III or IV) are eligible to sign a Kicker contract, effective the date when the SMP Agreement (NGB Form 594-1) and the ROTC Advanced Course Contract* have been signed, whichever is later.
  • Officers must complete an OSA for their six-year obligation.

*Non-Scholarship DA Form 597 or Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship DA Form 597-3

Please note: National Guard Soldiers who complete the required six-year obligation, as stipulated in the Kicker contract, may transfer to any skill, unit or RC (other than IRR or ING) and retain eligibility for the Kicker.

Consult your state GI Bill Manager for information regarding current rates, eligibility and status changes. For more information about GI Bill benefits—including which GI Bill is best for you—talk to your state Education Services Officer (ESO). You can also find additional information at the VA's GI Bill website.

How to Apply

For application instructions, see How to Apply for the GI Bill Kicker. Be sure to read both the general application procedures and instructions specific to the Kicker.

Current Guard Soldiers can get information on education programs by emailing the Guard Support Center or calling 1-866-628-5999. If you would like to join the Guard and take advantage of these benefits, click Join the Guard below.

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