R 061458Z DEC 21
MARADMIN 693/21
SUBJ/UPDATE TO TRANSFER OF POST-9/11 GI BILL EDUCATION BENEFITS (TEB) TO DEPENDENTS PROCESS//
REF/A/MSGID: MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/R141706ZJAN20//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DODI/31MAY2013//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/DTM/31AUG2018//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/DODI/21DEC2018//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 017/20, TRANSFER OF POST-9/11 GI BILL EDUCATION BENEFITS (TEB) TO DEPENDENTS PROCESS. REF B IS DODI 1341.13, POST-9/11 GI BILL, INCORPORATING CHANGE 1, 12 JULY 2018. REF C IS DTM-18-006, TRANSFERABILITY OF UNUSED POST-9/11 GI BILL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS BY RECIPIENTS OF THE PURPLE HEART. REF D IS DODI 1332.46, TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT AUTHORITY (TERA) FOR SERVICE MEMBERS.//
POC/See paragraph 10//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN replaces reference (a), and provides updated guidance on the transferability of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB) education benefits (TEB) to dependents process.
2.  Introduction
2.a.  Per reference (b), eligibility and administration of the PGIB are the responsibility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Policies and procedures for utilization of PGIB benefits are presented and updated at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
2.b.  To promote recruitment and retention, the Marine Corps may permit an eligible Marine to elect to transfer:
2.b.1.  To specifically designated dependents,
2.b.2.  A specifically designated portion of his or her PGIB education benefits,
2.b.3.  For a specified period of use.
2.c.  Such election, as specified in paragraph 2.b., is considered an election to TEB.  For clarification purposes, upon a member’s death, months of PGIB education benefits and any dependents that are not specifically designated for transfer are not considered transferred.
2.c.1.  TEB policy is provided in references (b) and (c).  Except as provided by reference (c), TEB is neither an entitlement nor a transition or readjustment benefit.  Accordingly, Marines who submit a request to TEB should not presume that their request is automatically approved.  Further, Marines who have not submitted a request to TEB should not presume that they have transferred their PGIB education benefits to their dependents.
2.c.2.  TEB requestors are responsible to submit and revisit the status of their TEB actions via the Defense Manpower Data Center TEB Website (DMDC TEB Website), milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil.
3.  Key Update.  Marines who are submitting a TEB request, or have already been approved to TEB and have not already done so, are advised:
3.a.  To transfer all of their unused and undesignated PGIB education benefits to their eligible dependents.  This is not a mandatory requirement, however, doing so ensures that maximum months are designated should the Marine pass away with unused and undesignated PGIB education benefits.  Failing to do so may limit months that can be transferred by the VA amongst the dependents of a deceased Marine.
3.b.  To review and modify any specified periods of use that may have been designated (i.e., Transfer End Date), if so desired.  This is not a mandatory requirement, however, failing to do so may limit a dependent’s access to benefits in the case of a deceased Marine.  Transfer Effective Dates cannot be modified after a Veteran’s death.  See paragraph 7.b.3. of this MARADMIN for details.
3.c.  These actions may be accomplished via the DMDC TEB Website.
4.  Eligible Marines.  Marines who meet the following four criteria may request to transfer to one or more of their eligible dependents all or a portion of their entitlement to PGIB educational assistance.  An exception to this eligibility criteria is addressed in paragraph 5.
4.a.  Currently serving on active duty or in the Selected Reserve (SELRES). The term SELRES includes:  members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), and members of the Active Reserve (AR).  Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), Standby Reserve, or Retired Reserve may not request to TEB unless they are serving on active duty or in the SELRES and meet all other TEB-related requirements.
4.b.  Currently eligible for PGIB educational assistance.  Marines who have been awarded PGIB education benefits by the VA may request a formal GI Bill Statement of Benefits showing how much of their PGIB education benefits they have used and how much is remaining at the following VA website: va.gov/education/gi-bill/post-9-11/ch-33-benefit.
4.c.  Have completed at least 6 years, 0 months, and 0 days of creditable military service on the date that the request is submitted in the DMDC TEB Website (i.e., TEB Request Date).
4.c.1.  Creditable service is a function of the Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD) and the number of satisfactory years reflected in the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS).
4.c.2.  The determination of the total years of creditable service and the TEB Service Obligation End Date is based on the TEB Request Date (i.e., the date that the Marine submits a request in the DMDC TEB Website), not the date that the request is approved.
4.d.  Be able to complete four additional years of service (active duty or SELRES – with no break in service) from the TEB Request Date (i.e., the date that the request is submitted in the DMDC TEB Website).
4.d.1.  CMC (MM/RA) will consider each request and determine whether or not a TEB applicant is precluded by statute or policy from being able to complete four additional years of service from the applicant’s TEB Request Date (i.e., the date that the request is submitted in the DMDC TEB Website).  CMC (MM/RA) will not approve a TEB request for a Marine who is precluded by statute or policy from being able to complete the additional service obligation.  CMC (MM/RA) may, when consistent with retention and force management policies, approve requests to reenlist or extend to meet the required additional service obligation.
4.d.2.  The applicant’s ability to complete the additional service obligation, reflected in a member’s TEB Service Obligation End Date, should be taken extremely seriously.  VA systems identify members who fail to complete the required additional obligated service.  Any amount of approved transferred entitlement that is used by the dependent(s) of a member who fails to complete the additional obligated service is treated as an overpayment of educational assistance and is subject to collection by the VA.
5.  Purple Heart Recipients.  Per reference (c), eligibility provisions regarding years of creditable service and ability to complete an additional period of obligated service do not apply to Service members awarded the Purple Heart.  All other TEB requirements and limitations remain in effect, to include that TEB eligibility is limited to Marines currently serving on active duty or in the SELRES at the time that the request is submitted in the DMDC TEB Website.
5.a.  Purple Heart recipients are required to submit a request to TEB in accordance with this MARADMIN.
5.b.  Purple Heart recipients who are submitting a request to TEB are responsible to contact their respective TEB primary point of contact (POC) to confirm award information in conjunction with their application submitted via the DMDC TEB Website.
5.c.  Purple Heart recipients who do not have a DMDC Approval Letter posted at the DMDC TEB Website have not been approved to TEB.
6.  Eligible Dependents.  Only dependents enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and identified as eligible in the DMDC TEB Website are authorized to be designated as a TEB transferee.
7.  Process.  Review this MARADMIN along with reference (b), in their entirety.
7.a.  Prior to submitting a request to TEB, Marines are advised to speak with their unit Career Planner about re-enlistment and extension options available in conjunction with their request.  In cases where a Marine is submitting for re-enlistment or extension in conjunction with a TEB request, the Marine and Career Planner must ensure that the retention request being submitted specifies:  “For purposes of establishing the required service obligation to TEB under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.”
7.b.  Marines must use the DMDC TEB Website to submit a request to TEB. An individual submitting a request to TEB must designate the dependent(s) to whom the months of benefits are being transferred, designate the number of months of benefits to be transferred to each dependent, and specify (if desired) the period for which the transfer shall be effective for each dependent designated.  A fully completed and submitted request in the DMDC TEB Website generates the TEB Request Date.
7.b.1.  During the application process on the DMDC TEB Website, Marines are required to complete the TEB Acknowledgements checklist. For clarification purposes, Marines completing the TEB Acknowledgements checklist agree to complete the prescribed additional period of service and acknowledge their responsibility for any overpayments due to not completing the additional obligated term of service before separating from active duty or the SELRES.
7.b.2.  Marines are advised to designate at least 1 month of benefits to each eligible dependent prior to separation from the Service, as a Marine may not change a 0-month designation after separation, except in extremely limited cases authorized by the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.  Any of the Marine’s months of education benefits that were not allocated to a dependent(s) prior to a Veteran’s death may not be allocated.
7.b.3.  In the case that a member desires to specify an effective period of use for a dependent (i.e., Transfer End Date), the period must be on or after the date of designation.  In the case that a member does not elect to designate an effective period, dates will be set to default eligibility dates in accordance with law.  Marines are advised that the specification of an effective period (i.e., entering an effective period) may limit the VA’s ability to distribute unused months of benefits to the dependents of deceased Service members.  Accordingly, the best practice is to leave this optional field blank.
7.c.  Before approving a TEB request, CMC (MM/RA) will determine whether an applicant meets all of the eligibility criteria and can complete the additional service obligation (i.e., four years from the TEB Request Date on active duty or the SELRES, with no break in service).  In cases where an applicant is submitting a request to extend or re-enlist in conjunction with a TEB request, CMC (MM/RA) will maintain the Marine’s TEB request in a pending status for a reasonable period (i.e., generally, no more than 180 days) to allow processing time for the Marine’s request to extend or re-enlist.
7.c.1.  Efforts to accomplish desired retention or extension actions, consistent with current retention policies, are a shared responsibility between the Marine, his or her unit, and CMC (MM/RA).  Marines are responsible to track their request to extend or re-enlist; do not assume approval.
7.c.2.  CMC (MM/RA) will reject TEB requests, on a case-by-case basis, held in a pending status beyond the 180-day period, when CMC (MM/RA) has not authorized a Marine to extend or re-enlist to meet the additional service obligation.  When CMC (MM/RA) rejects a TEB request, this action resets the service obligation clock for any subsequent TEB request(s).
7.c.3.  In the case that CMC (MM/RA) has rejected a Marine’s TEB request, the Marine must not reapply until he or she contacts their unit Career Planner or their respective TEB primary POC to determine the reason for rejection, and to determine an appropriate way-ahead, if desired.  This step is crucial, as subsequent requests will be assigned a new TEB Request Date and the service obligation clock is reset.
7.d.  TEB applicants must revisit the status of their TEB request via the DMDC TEB Website, and follow-up with CMC (MM/RA) as necessary.
7.e.  In the case that CMC (MM/RA) approves a Marine’s TEB request, an auto-generated DMDC Approval Letter will be posted at the member’s account in the DMDC TEB Website.
8.  Marines Approved to TEB.  Marines who have been approved to TEB are encouraged to carefully review this MARADMIN and their DMDC Approval Letter, which is available at the member’s account in the DMDC TEB Website.  The DMDC Approval Letter is addressed to the individual Marine who has been approved to TEB, and lists the Marine’s approved transferees, the approved portion of his or her PGIB education benefits that have been transferred to each approved transferee, the specified period of use (if selected), and the Marine’s TEB Service Obligation End Date.
8.a.  Marines are strongly advised to retain a copy of their DMDC Approval Letter.
8.b.  Marines who do not have a DMDC Approval Letter posted at the DMDC TEB Website have not been approved to TEB.
8.c.  Prior to using approved transferred benefits, designated dependents must request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA by completing VA Form 22-1990E, which is available through the VA website, va.gov/education/apply-for-education-benefits/application/1990/introduction.
8.d.  The DMDC TEB Website is also used to modify or revoke the previously approved TEB designations listed on the Marine’s DMDC Approval Letter.  For example, if a Marine designates 36 months of benefits to her child, and then decides to use all or a portion of any unused previously transferred months, the Marine must decrease the transferred months or revoke the transfer to a particular beneficiary before she can use the months for herself.  This can be done on the DMDC TEB Website.
8.e.  While serving on active duty or in the SELRES, Service members may designate additional eligible family members and months of unused education benefits to a previously approved TEB record.  This action may be completed through the DMDC TEB Website, and does not incur additional obligated service.  For clarification purposes, Service members cannot add a new transferee once they depart active duty or the SELRES, except in extremely limited cases authorized by the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.
9.  Failure to Complete Additional Service.  Any amount of approved transferred entitlement that is used by a dependent(s) of a member who fails to complete the additional obligated service (i.e., fails to serve to his or her TEB Service Obligation End Date on active duty or the SELRES without a break in service) will be treated as an overpayment of educational assistance and is subject to collection by the VA.
9.a.  The VA treats any break in service time (e.g., an active duty or SELRES member who drops to the IRR) as a breach of the TEB Obligation End Date.  A Marine, already approved to TEB, who is considering an intra- or inter-service transfer, and who believes that they could experience a break in service time, must contact Reserve Affairs (RAM-1) for guidance.
9.b.  This provision does not apply to a Marine who, after being approved to TEB, fails to complete the additional obligated service due to the specific exceptions listed in subparagraph 3.g.(2) of enclosure 3 of reference (b) or subparagraph 3.2 of reference (d). Broadly, these exceptions apply in the case of death, temporary early retirement authority (TERA), or under particularly designated involuntary separations.  A Marine, already approved to TEB, who believes that one of these specific exceptions applies to their case, must notify their respective TEB primary POC listed in paragraph 10 for final determination and assistance with any required modifications to their TEB record (e.g., TEB Service Obligation End Date).
10.  TEB Primary Points of Contact
10.a.  TEB policy, determinations, and adjudication, to include cases involving separated or retired Marines:  Manpower Military Policy (MPO).  Mr. Rob Barry, 703-432-9422, mpo@usmc.mil.
10.b.  Active Component enlisted Marines:  Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA-1).  703-432-9145, usmc.teb@usmc.mil.
10.c.  Active Component officers:  Manpower Management Officer Assignments (MMOA-3).  703-784-9284/9285, smbmanpowerofficerpr@usmc.mil.
10.d.  General Officers:  Manpower Management Senior Leadership (MMSL).  703-784-9231, Senior_Leader_Help_Desk@usmc.mil.
10.e.  Reserve Component Marines:  Reserve Affairs (RAM-1). 703-784-3676, ram-1@usmc.mil.
10.f.  Voluntary Education Program, education systems and training, transition readiness training, and liaison with the VA and the DMDC regarding the PGIB:  Marine and Family Programs (MF MRR-1). 703-784-9550.
11.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
12.  Release authorized by Brigadier General A. T. Williamson, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//