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 for these benefits have not yet been released. Congress passed
legislation requiring the Veterans Administration to create a process for applying
for the Fry Scholarship by August 1, 2010. Retroactive payments will be available
to eligible dependents who use the benefit before August 1, 2010.
Learn more about other aspects of the Post-9/11 GI Bill: