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 a Dedicated Army National Guard ROTC Scholarship

$200 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 Dedicated Guard 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
• Notify the VA Certifying Official at your school so they can certify your enrollment
• Continue to verify your enrollment each month online

• 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.