This website is not affiliated with the U.S. government or military.

Will I Have to Extend My Enlistment Another Four Years If I Transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to My Children?


Q: Ron – I reach my 18th year of active service in August 2012. I plan to retire at 20 years of service in the summer of 2014. I would like to transfer some of my Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to my children. In doing so, will I be required to extend an additional 4 years from point I make the transfer election? Or, will I be able to make the transfer and still have the option to retire at 20 without any additional service obligation. Thanks for any additional insight.

A: To use the Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer-of-Benefits Option, you have to have served for at least six years (which you have), be currently serving at the time of your transfer request (which you are) and agree to serve for an additional four years, UNLESS you will reach “retirement eligible” status (20 years of service or more) under your current enlistment. So if you will hit your 20 years under your current contract, you should be able to make a transfer request and get it approved without having to extend.

However, if your current contract does not take you out to at least 20 years, then you would have to extend for enough time (probably two years) to get you to at least 20 years. Even if you would have to extend, it would still be worth it financially to be able to pass your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to your children.

If you decide to make a transfer request, now would not be too early to start the process. Once your transfer is approved, then each child has to go to the eBenefits website and submit VA Form 22-1990e to get their Certificates of Eligibility which each will need when enrolling in school.


Privacy Policy | About Us | FAQ | Terms of Service | Disclaimers | Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA and NV residents)

Copyright © 2023 EducationDynamics. All Rights Reserved.

This is a private website that is not affiliated with the U.S. government, U.S. Armed Forces or Department of Veteran Affairs. U.S. government agencies have not reviewed this information. This site is not connected with any government agency. If you would like to find more information about benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, please visit the official U.S. government web site for veterans’ benefits at http://www.va.gov.

The sponsored schools featured on this site do not include all schools that accept GI Bill® funding or VA Benefits. To contact ArmyStudyGuide, email us.

Disclosure: EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Schools” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.

This is an offer for educational opportunities that may lead to employment and not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The financial aid information on this site is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.

VFW $30,000 Scholarship!
Write an essay on the annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, “Why Is The Veteran Important?”

X