The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level.

Benefits include full tuition & fees paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students, a monthly housing allowance, and a books & supplies stipend. For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition & fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount per academic year.

NOTE: Fry Scholarship beneficiaries are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits.

 

Who is Eligible?

Children of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, are eligible for this benefit.

  • A child may begin an approved program of education before the age of 18.
  • Eligibility ends on the child’s 33rd birthday.
  • A child’s marital status has no effect on eligibility.

Surviving spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, are also eligible for this benefit.

  • A surviving spouse can receive benefits for terms beginning on or after January 1, 2015.
  • A surviving spouse’s eligibility generally ends 15 years after the Servicemember’s death.
  • A spouse will lose eligibility to this benefit upon remarriage if this occurs during the 15 year period.
 
RULES FOR ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS SERVING, OR WHO HAVE SERVED, IN THE ARMED FORCES:
  • If the child or surviving spouse is eligible under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, and/or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), then he or she must relinquish eligibility under one of those programs to receive benefits under Post-9/11 GI Bill.
  • A child’s character of discharge from his or her own service does not impact eligibility resulting from the line of duty death of a parent or spouse.
  • A child or surviving spouse on active duty will receive benefits at the active duty benefit rate.
  • A child or surviving spouse eligible for benefits under the Fry Scholarship Program can also be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits based on his/her won service, and may also be eligible to use transferred entitlement.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE USED OR WISH TO USE ENTITLEMENT UNDER DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE (DEA)

Children eligible for the Fry Scholarship may also be eligible for DEA. Effective August 1, 2011, children are not able to establish eligibility for both Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits based on a parent’s death in the line of duty.

  • A child whose parent died after July 31, 2011, must make an irrevocable election between the Fry Scholarship and DEA when applying for benefits.
  • A child whose parent died before August 1, 2011, may still be eligible for both benefits, but he/she may only use one program at a time, and combined benefits are capped at a total of 81 months of full-time training.

Surviving spouses eligible for the Fry Scholarship may also be eligible for DEA. Surviving spouses are not able to establish eligibility for both Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits based on a parent’s death in the line of duty. Surviving spouses must make an irrevocable election of which benefit he or she wishes to receive for any and all school enrollments beginning on or after January 1, 2015.

Find out more about DEA

 

How to Apply

  1. To apply, obtain and complete VA form 22-5490 “Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits.”
  2. Send it to the VA Regional Processing Office indicated in the instructions of the form.

Download VA Form 22-5490