Military Department GI Bill Award Program

If you are an active member in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia you may be eligible for a state-funded program designed to provide an educational incentive to improve your skills, competencies, and abilities.

To qualify, you must:

• Be an active member who has served two (2) years in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia;
• Agree to remain an active member throughout the participation period in the program;
• Agree to use the award to obtain a certificate, degree, or diploma that you currently do not possess;
• Be enrolled in, registered at, or accepted to a qualifying institution;
• Agree to maintain enrollment of a minimum of three (3) academic units per semester, or the equivalent, at a qualifying institution as defined by California Education Code section 69432(l);
• Agree to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA); and
• Be a resident of California for at least one year.

INITIAL APPLICANTS:

The application opens on January 15. The Priority Deadline is April 30. After April 30, applications will continue to be accepted on a "first come-first serve" basis until all awards are exhausted or until January 14, whichever comes first.

Initial applicants must submit an online or paper application, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and the Statement of Understanding (SOU) specific to the academic year for which they are applying.

• CMD GI Bill Application
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• The Statement of Understanding (Print and hand deliver to your commanding officer for signature.)

Initial applicants must submit all three items for a complete application,

1. CMD GI Bill Application
2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid
3. Statement of Understanding

You can download the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov or call 1-800-433-3243 to have one mailed to you.

RENEWAL PARTICIPANTS:

The enrollment period for renewal participants is January 15th through June 1st of each year. Submit the Renewal Application and the Statement of Understanding (SOU), available on the links below, to the military department by June 1.

• CMD GI Bill Application – online
• The Statement of Understanding (Print and hand deliver to your commanding officer for signature.)

If any of the dates fall on a weekend, then the following business day date will be used.

To learn more, read the Applicant's Fact Sheet or visit the CMD GI Bill website.

You may contact the CMD GI Bill coordinator by e-mail at ng.ca.caarng.list.cn6-eaap-mailbox-access@mail.mil, by phone at (916) 854-4255 or (916) 854-4446, or by mail at the address below:

California National Guard
Attn: CMD GI Bill
PO Box 269101, Box 37
Sacramento, CA 95826-9101