What is it?
Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 30 is the law governing the MGIB Program. It allows the services to offer to increase the MGIB basic allowance at the time of initial entry onto active duty, for an individual who has a particular skill or specialty and is entering a rating in which there is a critical shortage. Navy exercises this option through the Navy College Fund (NCF). The amount of money the service adds to the basic allowance is referred to as a "kicker."
Am I eligible for the NCF?
Recruits may be eligible and qualified; however, due to limited quotas and budget constraints, the NCF Program is not offered to every recruit. Unlike the MGIB Program, the NCF is funded solely by the Navy and therefore is given only at the discretion of the classifier, not the recruiter. To be considered for an NCF guarantee and to qualify for NCF benefits members must:
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Qualify for training in a selected Navy rating as a non-prior service enlistee.
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Enter active duty on or after 21 November 1989.
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Agree to serve on active duty for 3 or more years (depending on the program for which the individual is selected).
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Graduate from high school - no equivalency accepted.
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Achieve an AFQT score of 50 or higher.
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Be 17-35 years old.
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Enroll in the MGIB Program and agree to pay the required $1,200 pay reduction.
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Receive an "Honorable" Character of Service. This does not include "General Under Honorable Conditions."
NOTE: The guarantee of NCF is made only by the classifier and is documented on DD Form 4 or its annex. If NCF is not documented on your DD Form 4 or its annex, you will not receive NCF benefits.
How much is my NCF worth?
Remember, the amount of money the Navy added to the MGIB basic allowance at the time you entered active duty is your NCF kicker. For example, if your DD Form 4 or its annex reflects your NCF is $40,000.00 and your initial entry onto active duty was 1 November 1999, your NCF kicker and monthly kicker are calculated as follows:
$ 40,000.00 (NCF)
$ -19,296.12 (MGIB Program Basic Allowance on 1 November 1999)
$ 20,703.88 (NCF Kicker)
/ 36 (Maximum Months of MGIB Entitlement)
$ 575.11 (Monthly NCF Kicker)
You may obtain the MGIB Program basic allowance at the time of your entry onto active duty from this chart:
NCF Kicker table.docx