National Call to Service Program

The National Call to Service Program became effective on October 1, 2003, to those service members who perform a period of national service that allows you the ability to choose an education benefit as an alternative to the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB).  

Available Benefit Incentives:

• A cash bonus of $5,000, or
• Repayment of a qualifying student loan, not more than $18,000, or
• Educational assistance is equal to the 3-year monthly MGIB rate for 12 months, or
• Educational assistance equal to 50% of the less-than-3-year monthly MGIB rate for 36 months

You qualify for the National Call to Service program if you meet the requirements listed below.

Both of these must be true:

1. You completed your initial entry training and then continued to serve on active duty for 15 months in a military occupational specialty designated by the Secretary of Defense, and
2. Then, without a break in service, you served either an additional period of active duty as determined by the Secretary of Defense or a period of 24 months in active status in the Selected Reserve

And one of these must be true:

Without a break in service, you then spent the rest of your obligated service:

On active duty in the Armed Forces, or
In the Selected Reserve, or
In the Individual Ready Reserve, or
In AmeriCorps, or another domestic national service program jointly designated by the Secretary of Defense

Source: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/national-call-to-service-program/