GI Bill® and Flight Training: What Veterans Should Know
The GI Bill®, formerly known as the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, helps eligible Veterans pay for school or education. Veterans who want to become a pilot can use the educational benefits under the GI bill to cover the costs of flight school.
Phoenix East Aviation proudly supports veterans by offering flight training programs approved for GI Bill® benefits, allowing eligible individuals to use their educational benefits toward one of our FAA-approved training programs.
GI Bill® Certificate of Eligibility
Veterans are able to use the benefits under the GI Bill®, so long as they are eligible. To use these benefits, an application must be submitted for VA Education Benefits to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before enrolling in flight school.
It is up to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to distribute educational benefits used to help cover the cost of flight training. These payments are given to veterans after approval of their GI Bill® application, where they can then use the payments to cover costs of training.
There are several ways to become eligible for the GI Bill®, as described below.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® Eligibility
Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits are eligible for service members who have served at least 90 days on active duty after the date of September 10, 2001. This can be either continuous or interrupted into shorter periods over time. Alternatively, those who have served for 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001 and were discharged because of a service-connected disability are eligible. Veterans who received a Purple heart after September 10, 2001 are also eligible.
Montgomery GI Bill® Eligibility
Veterans who served at least 2 years on active duty may be eligible for these benefits through MGIB-AD if they meet the all following requirements:
- Honorably discharged
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit
- Didn’t decline enrollment in MGIB-AD when starting active duty
All other requirements for the MGIB-AD are listed on the U.S. Veterans Affairs website.
Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard Reserves must meet the following requirements to be eligible for benefits under the MGIB-SR:
- Agreed to serve 6 years in the Selected Reserve
- Officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to the initial service obligation
- Complete initial active duty for training (IADT)
- Receive a high school diploma or GED before finishing the IADT
- Stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit
Will the GI Bill® Pay for Flight Training?
Yes, GI Bill® benefits can be used to help with the costs of flight training. But, it cannot cover the entirety of the professional flight training program. GI Bill® benefits do not cover the costs of obtaining a private pilot license (PPL). In addition, GI Bill® benefits cover Part 141 programs, not Part 61 programs. The GI Bill® has a maximum rate it pays out per academic year. Each veteran who wants to use the GI Bill® to help cover some of the costs of flight training will have to apply to determine how much it will cover.
Using these benefits can help veterans achieve their next career goal of becoming a commercial pilot. Benefits can cover advanced training like instrument rating, certified flight instructor programs, and commercial pilot programs.
How Much Will the GI Bill® Cover?
GI Bill® benefits can cover the cost of flight training up to the maximum rate that they are capped at per academic year. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill caps benefits at $17,097.67 for the current academic year, which runs between August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026.
Each individual applying for the GI Bill® benefits will know how much they are eligible to receive upon approval of their application with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
How Long Do You Have to Use the GI Bill®?
Most Veterans are eligible under the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill, which generally doesn’t expire for those discharged on or after January 1, 2013 due to the Forever GI Bill. Those discharged before that date typically have 15 years to use the benefits. Individuals under the Montgomery GI Bill® have 10 years since the service member’s last discharge to use the benefits.
Aviation Career Opportunities for Veterans
Flight training can open doors to an exciting new career for veterans. There are plenty of job opportunities available to those who train through a Part 141 program. Some airlines encourage veterans to apply for job opportunities once they have obtained their licenses and ratings. With the right training, the sky is the limit for veterans who are ready to take off into a new career as a pilot.
