Montgomery GI Bill/Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

An educational program for active members of the Selected Reserve. Selected Reserve components include the Army, Naval, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army and Air National Guard. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (for Coast Guard personnel) determine who’s eligible for Chapter 1606. The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the program and pays the benefits. Basic eligibility requires a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve and satisfactory participation in required training.

Required VA Forms (obtain from Chemeketa Veterans' Services or click on the form number, fill out, print and turn in to us):
VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Educational Benefits. Use if you are a first time user of your educational benefits OR you previously applied for benefits under a different Chapter                                                        OR
VA Form 22-1995, Request For Change of Program or Place of Training. Use if you have previously used educational benefits elsewhere, you are changing your Chemeketa program, or you have had an absence from Chemeketa for more than 1 year.  IF YOU COMPLETE THIS FORM TO CHANGE YOUR PLACE OF TRAINING TO CHEMEKETA, YOU MUST STILL CONTACT THE VA DIRECTLY TO CHANGE/UPDATE YOUR DIRECT DEPOSIT INFORMATION IF YOU HAVE CHANGED BANKS.

Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) : Must be submitted with your initial application.  Access to the NOBE is available in your IPERMS record or it may be obtained from your unit education officer.

You may also apply for Chapter 1606 benefits using the VA's online application system. If you apply on-line, we ask that you provide Chemeketa Veterans' Services with a copy of the application.

Required Chemeketa Forms:
Chemeketa Request For Veterans' Educational Benefits
Request for Advance Pay of Veteran Educational Benefits. Requests for an advance payment of benefits must be submitted to the Chemeketa Veterans' Service office at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the term.  To be eligible, a student must be registered at least 1/2 time, be requesting benefits for the first time or not have had benefits for at least one term, or had a break of at least 30 days between terms and was not eligible for the payment of benefits during the break.

Chemeketa Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (Submitted once each academic year).
Request For Evaluation and Transfer of Previous Credit. The VA requires all prior college credit to be evaluated against a students declared degree or program. If the student changes programs, prior credit must be reevaluated against their new program. The student is responsible for ensuring official (sealed) transcripts of all previous college courses are provided to Chemeketa Enrollment Services. Students may request benefits one term at a time for a maximum of three terms until their prior credit has been evaluated.

Other Forms:
To have your prior military training & schooling evaluated against the requirements of your specific degree or program, you must complete and submit the appropriate transcript request as required by your branch of service.
Army: AARTS Transcript
Marine Corps: SMART Transcript
Navy: SMART Transcript
Air Force: CCAF
Coast Guard: USCG Institute
If hand delivered, official transcripts MUST be sealed with the original seal.  Official transcripts MUST be mailed to the following address:
Chemeketa Community College
Admissions Office
P.O. Box 14007
Salem, OR 97309

Entitlement
36 months

Delimiting Date
Can be either 10 or 14 years depending on various factors. Please come to the Veterans' Services office for details.

Monthly Verification
You must verify your enrollment each month you are in school to receive your benefit payment. This verification can by done beginning the last calendar day of each month (verification may be done after the last calendar day, but not before) either by using the V.A.'s Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) website or by calling 1-877-823-2378 and using the V.A.'s Interactive Voice Response (I.V.R.) system and following the prompts. It does not matter if the last day of the month falls on a Sunday or holiday. The W.A.V.E and I.V.R. systems require at least 3 working days to process and update the V.A.'s system.  For those students using Direct Deposit, you will usually receive your benefit payment 3 - 5 business days after you verify your enrollment.  Students receiving a check will usually receive a benefit payment within 7 - 10 business days.

Processing time
Initial applications and certifications-60 to 90 days Continuing certifications- 30 to 45 days.

Unanticipated Military Service
    Chemeketa Community College students receiving VA Educational Benefits who receive unanticipated orders to active military service, including active duty for training that requires them to drop some or all of their classes, should notify Chemeketa Veterans’ Services as soon as possible after receiving orders or notification.
    If this happens within 30 days of the beginning of the term, the Veterans’ Services staff will ask you to complete and submit a “Change in Veteran Educational Benefit Enrollment Status” request.  We will then immediately notify the VA of your change in status.
    If you receive orders/notification more than 30 days after the beginning of the term, please notify Chemeketa Veterans’ Services as soon as possible after you receive notification.  The Veterans’ Services staff will ask you to complete and submit a “Change in Veteran Educational Benefit Enrollment Status” request and provide a copy of your orders.  We will immediately notify the VA of your change in status as well as the circumstances of your withdrawal from classes.  By following these steps, the VA should not create an overpayment.
     If you have any questions, please contact the Chemeketa Veterans’ Services office.

Updated JUne 9th, 2009 by Chemeketa Veterans' Services.