GI Bill Kicker

The Kicker is an incentive given upon enlistment/reenlistment that adds an additional education payment to attract Soldiers to specific units, skills, or positions to meet and sustain ARNG readiness requirements.

• Be eligible for either Chapter 1606 or Chapter 30 GI Bill
• Agree to serve in a current critical skill/critical unit or enter an officer commissioning program (ROTC, Officer, and Warrant Officer)
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Complete IADT or BOLC Phase 1
• Sign a valid Kicker contract
• Not be on Military Technician or AGR/Active Duty Status
• Not be flagged for AWOLs
• Not be using or have ever received a ROTC Scholarship Title 10 USC 2107.
  

$350 Enlisted Accessions (EA) 

Non-Prior Service

• ASVAB score of 50 or above (Cat IIIA or higher)
• Education Tier level 1 (High school diploma or equivalent)

Prior Service 

• ASVAB 50 or above (Cat I-IIIA or higher)
• DMOSQ E5 or below
• Meet RE and SPD code requirements for if affiliating from active duty
• If affiliating from a service other than Army, meet the requirement to be awarded a MOS at the time of affiliation/enlistment and be coded DMOSQ in SIDPERS

$350 Re-Enlistment/Extension (RE) 

• Reenlist or extend DMOSQ grade E7 or below
• May extend any time after completing three continuous years of service in the Army National Guard, but prior to completing 14 years of service
• Deployed Soldiers with a 999K excess code are eligible
• Soldiers in the ARNG Medical Management Activity (MMA) are not eligible while medically non-available

$350 Officer Commissioning (OC)

Supplemental (Bump-Up) 

• Have previously contracted and established eligibility for enlisted accession MGIB-SR kicker at the $100 and $200 rate
• Have completed or agree to complete the original six-year service obligation
• Be enrolled in a commissioning program
• Complete the Supplement MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435-1) after entry into the Commissioning program, and prior to commissioning

Officer Candidate School (OCS)

• Complete MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum (NGB Form 5435) after completion of OCS Phase 1, and prior to commissioning, have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
• Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC)

• Be enrolled as a Simultaneous Member Program (SMP) as an MSIII Cadet
• Complete SMP Agreement (NGB Form 594-1) 
• Complete Kicker Addendum prior to commissioning (NGB Form 5435)
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
• Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC)

• Complete Kicker Addendum after entry into the commissioning program and prior to commissioning (NGB Form 5435)
• Have a concurrent six-year service obligation from the date of the Kicker contract
• Must have completed IADT and have an enlisted MOS

Standard Officer Kicker (SOK)

• Must complete the MGIB-SR Kicker Addendum and sign a DA 544-7R for a period of six or more years on the same day
• Commissioned Officers without a bachelor's degree and Direct Commissioned Officers are eligible for this incentive

Notes:  

—Receiving a ROTC Scholarship Title 10 USC 2107 will terminate a Soldier’s MGB-SR (Chapter 1606) basic benefit and kicker (if applicable).
—Cadets who have not completed AIT will not be eligible for payment until completion of BOLC

A Soldier may receive a maximum of 36 months of benefits under the Kicker program.

• $200 or $350 per month depending on the contracted rate
• Is in addition to your basic GI Bill payment
• Payment made directly to you each month. Can use with any GI Bill but must be eligible for either Chapter 1606 or Chapter 30 to retain eligibility

• Contact the Education Services Office (ESO) to validate eligibility
• Submit the Veterans Online Application: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
• Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) can take up to 30 days to come by mail. Once received, notify the VA Certifying Official at your school so they can verify your enrollment.
• Continue to verify your enrollment each month online: https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/

• Your eligibility for the program normally ends the day you leave the Selected Reserve.
• You are only eligible for a lifetime maximum of 36 months of Kicker benefits.
• Being assigned to the ING or IRR for a period of longer than 12 months (for personal reasons or 36 months for missionary purposes) or entering ING or IRR status for a second time, will terminate your GI Bill Kicker indefinitely.
• GI Bill Kicker does not expire after completion of your 6-year contract.
• GI Bill Kicker can be reinstated if you come out of a Military Technician or AGR status.