Post-9/11 GI Bill Fallen Soldier Benefit

The Fallen Soldier Benefit, also known as the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, honors a fallen soldier who left behind three young children. Each child of service members who have died while on active duty since September 11, 2001, qualifies for 36 months of full benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, regardless of the service member's length of service. Here's a list of the benefits:

• Each child receives funding for tuition and fees at a qualified college. The funding amount varies by state. Learn more here.
• A housing allowance is paid at the "E-5 with dependents" rate. Determine your housing allowance here.
• There's a book stipend of $1,000 per year, except for those on active duty.
• The children of some service members may also qualify for a "rural benefit allowance," which is a one-time, $500 payment.

Details about applying can be found at http://www.gibill.va.gov under "Apply for Benefits".

Learn more about other aspects of the Post-9/11 GI Bill:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill – Basics
• Post-9/11 GI Bill – for Dependents
• Post-9/11 GI Bill – Yellow Ribbon Program
• Post-9/11 GI Bill – Comparison to the Montgomery GI Bill for Active Duty

Additional Resources:

• Find out about your student aid eligibility and net costs estimates by college, years before you apply, with a College Cost & Planning Report^®
• Learn about all forms of military education aid, including the ROTC scholarship program
• Learn about federal and state-based financial student aid programs available to help you pay for college