{"id":107134,"date":"2018-07-12T16:39:04","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T16:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/12\/breaking-dod-to-bar-gi-bill-transfer-for-long-serving-troops\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:20:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:20:36","slug":"breaking-dod-to-bar-gi-bill-transfer-for-long-serving-troops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/education-transition\/2018\/07\/12\/breaking-dod-to-bar-gi-bill-transfer-for-long-serving-troops\/","title":{"rendered":"DoD to bar GI Bill transfer for long-serving troops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Starting next year, service members who have been in the military for more than 16 years will no longer be able to transfer GI Bill benefits to their dependents \u2014 a change to current Pentagon policy that\u2019s garnered mixed reviews from military advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department announced today it is instituting the 16-year cap, effective in one year, and making other changes \u201cto more closely align the transferability benefit with its purpose as a recruiting and retention incentive,\u201d according to a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, service members with at least six years under their belt may transfer their GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, provided they agree to serve in the military for four more years. Effective immediately, service members who are not eligible to fulfill the additional service requirement \u2014 including because of mandatory retirement, high-year tenure or medical issues \u2014 may not transfer their benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year minimum requirement is not changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith these updates, the department addresses the intent of Congress and ensures the benefit is available for future service members,\u201d DoD spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell in an email. \u201cThis change is an important step to preserve transferability as a retention incentive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maxwell said the policy change will impact about nine percent of active-duty service members, National Guardsmen and reservists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe understand that it will take some time for service members and their families to decide on transferring benefits, so by giving them a one-year window, we believe it will give them ample time to gather information and make decisions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t