GI Bill® Kicker

The Army National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Kicker program encourages qualified 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 Montgomery GI Bill benefit, and eligibility can be established only if you're eligible for the MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606, or MGIB-AD, Chapter 30, programs.  A Soldier may receive a maximum of 36 months of benefits under the Kicker program based on the kicker rate they contracted for. All payments are tax-free. When eligibility for the basic benefit expires, so does eligibility for the Kicker.

KICKER CATEGORIES

$350 Enlisted Accessions (EA)

Non-Prior Service (NPS)

• ASVAB score of 50 or above (Cat I-IIIA)
• Education tier level 1 (high school diploma or equivalent) 
• Critical skill/critical UIC vacancy (tier level 1-7) 
• Includes Civilian Acquired Skills Program (CASP) or Split-Training Option

Prior Service (PS)

• ASVAB 50 or above (Cat I-IIIA)
• DMOSQ E7 or below
• Critical skill/critical UIC vacancy (tier level 1-7)
• Meet RE and SPD code requirements for if affiliating from active duty
• If affiliating from a service other than Army, meet the requirements to be awarded an MOS at time of affiliation/enlistment and be coded DMOSQ in SIDPERS/GIMS

$350 Re-Enlistment/Extension (RE) 

• Re-enlist or extend DMOSQ grade E7 or below for at least six years
• May extend any time after completing three continuous years of service in the ARNG, but prior to completing 14 total years of service
• Deployed Soldiers with a 999K excess code are eligible
• Soldiers in the Medical Management Activity (MMA) are not eligible while medically non-available

$350 Officer Commissioning (OC) 

Officer Candidate School (OCS)

• Have previously completed IADT and have an Enlisted MOS
• Complete MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435) after completion of OCS Phase 1 and prior to commissioning
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

• Enrolled in the Simultaneous Member Program (SMP) 
• Have previously completed IADT and have an Enlisted MOS
• Have not received an ROTC Scholarship (Title 10, Section 2107)
• Complete SMP Agreement (NGB Form 594-1) and ROTC Cadet Contract (DA Form 597 series) prior to contracting for the Kicker
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract

Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC)

• Have previously completed IADT and have an Enlisted MOS 
• Complete Kicker Addendum after entry into commissioning program and prior to commissioning
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract 

The Standard Officer Kicker (SOK)

• May contract for the SOK within one year after commissioning
• Complete the MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum and sign a DA 5447-R Officer Service Agreement for a period of six or more years on the same day 
• Commissioned Officers without a bachelor's degree and Direct Commissioned Officers are eligible for this incentive 
• Must complete the requirements for Branch Qualification before being eligible to receive payment

Supplemental (Bump-Up)

An Officer Candidate, Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer who is within one year after commissioning may be eligible for an increase in their Kicker rate to $350, provided they: 

• Have previously contracted and established eligibility for a $100 or $200 MGIB-SR Kicker 
• Have completed or agree to complete the original six-year service obligation 
• Are enrolled into a commissioning program
• Complete the Supplemental MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435-1) after entry into the commissioning program, and within one year after commissioning 

No additional service obligation is required for Soldiers who have completed the original MGIB-SR Kicker six-year obligation. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Be eligible for either Chapter 1606 or Chapter 30 GI Bill
• Agree to serve in a current critical skill/critical unit or enter an officer commissioning program (ROTC, Officer and Warrant Officer)
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Complete IADT or BOLC Phase 1
• Sign a valid Kicker contract
• Not be on Military Technician or AGR/Active Duty status
• Not be flagged for AWOLs
• Not be using a Dedicated Army National Guard ROTC Scholarship

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.

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 website.