65.5—Responsibilities.
(a)
The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy (DUSD(MPP)), under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall:
(1)
Develop procedures to implement policy for the Post-9/11 GI Bill authorized by chapter 33 of title 38, U.S.C.
(2)
Coordinate administrative procedures with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), as applicable.
(3)
Review and approve each Military Department plan to use supplemental assistance under the provisions of section 3316 of title 38, U.S.C.
(4)
Establish the standard data elements needed to administer the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program.(see Appendix A to this part).
(1)
Provide guidance on budgeting, accounting, and funding for the educational benefits program in support of policies established in § 65.6(b) of this part, and for investing the available DoD Education Benefits Fund balance.
(2)
In coordination with the DUSD (MPP), review and approve the Military Department budget estimates for the supplemental payments under the provisions of section 3316 of title 38, U.S.C.
(1)
Provide regulations, policy implementation guidance, and instructions governing the administration of the GI Bill program established under chapter 33 of title 38, U.S.C. consistent with this DTM and other guidance issued by the DUSD(MPP) and USD(C)/CFO consistent with the needs of the Military Services. Regulations must include Service implementation of kickers and the transfer of unused educational benefits as established in section 3319 of title 38, U.S.C., as outlined in § 65.6 of this part.
(2)
Ensure that all eligible active duty members and members of the Reserve Components are aware that they are eligible for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program upon serving the required active duty time as established in Chapter 33 of title 38, U.S.C.
(3)
Advise all officers without earlier established eligibility, following commissioning through Service Academies, with the exception the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, or Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship Programs, that their eligibility for benefits does not begin until they have completed their statutory obligated active duty service. Any active duty service after that obligated period of service may qualify and entitle the Service member to accrue active duty service for the Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.
(4)
Ensure that Service members participating in the student loan repayment program under chapter 109 of title 10, U.S.C., receive counseling on qualification for the Post-9/11 GI Bill program and understand that their service commitment due to such participation does not count as qualifying active duty service. Any service after that obligated period of service may qualify and entitle the Service member to accrue active duty service for Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.
(5)
Determine the need for Supplemental Educational Assistance (Kickers) for recruitment and retention of individuals with special skills under section 3316 of title 38, U.S.C., and submit plans to the DUSD(MPP) for approval. That submission shall include justification for providing benefits to those skills, identification of skills for which benefits shall be offered, other special incentives offered in those skills, estimated number of participants, costs, and eligibility requirements.
(6)
Budget for and transfer funds to support the Supplemental Educational Assistance (Kickers), in accordance with § 65.6 of this part and guidance issued by the USD(C)/CFO.
(7)
Provide active duty participants and members of the Reserve Components with qualifying active duty service individual pre-separation or release from active duty counseling on the benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and document accordingly.
(8)
Maintain records for individuals who participate in supplemental educational assistance programs under section 3316 of title 38, U.S.C. Ensure that records on that participation are provided to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and the DVA.
(9)
Use DoD standard data elements and codes established by DoD Instruction 1336.5 (available at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/133605p.pdf) and DoD Instruction 7730.54 (available at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/773054p.pdf) and listed in table 1 of appendix A to this part, when specified. A Military Service failing to comply either with the coding instructions or with codes registered in the DoD Data Element Program shall be responsible for the conversion costs in accomplishing data interchange.