Pictured | Rhiannon Carlson, B.A. | Purdue University, 2008 | Veteran Counselor and Program Coordinator

Veteran Student Services

Rhiannon Carlson | Program Coordinator 

Administration 101 | (574) 520-5233 | veterans.iusb.edu

The core mission of the Office of Veteran Student Services (OVSS) is to ensure that the veterans who attend IU South Bend have the resources they need to persist and succeed in their education and make the transition back into their civilian life.  The OVSS strives to provide a one-stop support center that acts as a liaison to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the campus-community, and the regional community for our student veterans and service members. 

In keeping with the diverse and intersectional character of the Armed Forces, the OVSS believes in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. Education for the student veteran and service member is the end goal, nevertheless the OVSS is committed to educating the community about the unique character of this population and to empowering the student to actively engage in their academic experience.  

Applying for Veteran Affairs (V.A.) Education Benefits

As a special service to current and former members of the armed forces, complete information on veterans’ educational benefits may be obtained at the IU South Bend Office of Veteran Student Services or e-mail at veterans@iusb.edu. Soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen can visit www.benefits.va.gov to apply for education benefits online. From this webpage, applicants should click [APPLY FOR BENEFITS] and follow the on-screen prompts. Completed applications will be processed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and eligibility letters will be mailed directly to the student.

For more information you may visit the V.A. Office or webpages listed.

The 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 after September 10, 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.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Current and former members of the armed services or eligible dependents who qualify for Post 9/11 benefits and are classified as nonresidents for fee paying purposes may be eligible for this program if one of the criteria listed below is satisfied:

• Honorably discharged veterans who served a minimum of 36 months of active-duty after September 10, 2001
• Honorably discharged veterans with a 30 percent or more service connected disability and who served a minimum of 30 active-duty days after September 10, 2001

Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

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. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

Montgomery GI Bill-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.

You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.

Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.

You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.

Your eligibility for the program normally ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

One exception to this rule exists if you are mobilized (or recalled to active duty from your reserve status), in this case your eligibility may be extended for the amount of time you are mobilized PLUS four months. For example, if you are mobilized for 12 months your eligibility period is extended for 16 months (12 months active duty PLUS 4 months.) So even if you leave the reserves after mobilization, you may have additional eligibility to the MGIB-SR.

If your unit is deactivated during the period beginning on October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2014 or you are involuntarily separated (for reasons other than misconduct) you will retain your original period of eligibility which is 14 years from the date of your first 6 year obligation with the selected reserves.

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 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 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.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others are no longer eligible for REAP benefits.

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if 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. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available.

Educational Assistance Test Program (Section 901)

Section 901 is a National Testing Program created by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1981 (Public Law 96-342) to encourage enlistment and reenlistment in the Armed Forces. Benefits are available to individuals who entered on active duty after September 30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981 (or before October 1, 1982, if entry was under a delayed enlistment contract signed between September 30, 1980, and October 1, 1981).

Survivors’ and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. 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.

National Call to Service Program

There is a three-tiered service requirement to qualify for incentives under the National Call to Service program:

• First, after completion of initial entry training, individuals must serve on active duty in a military occupational specialty designated by the Secretary of Defense for a period of 15 months.
• After this, and without a break in service, these individuals must serve either an additional period of active duty as determined by the Secretary of Defense, or a period of 24 months in an active status in the Selected Reserve.
• After completion of this period of service, and also, without a break in service, the remaining period of obligated service specified in the agreement will be served as follows:

• On active duty in the armed forces
• In the Selected Reserve
• In the Individual Ready Reserve
• In Americorps, or another domestic national service program jointly designated by the Secretary of Defense and the head of such a program

• Any combination of the service referred to above may also be approved by the Secretary of the military department concerned pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and specified in the agreement.

Students who plan on using VA education benefits at IU South Bend will need to submit a copy of their DD214 and eligibility letter to the IU South Bend Office of Veteran Student Services