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The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to include the children and surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. The scholarship includes tuition and fees (with limits), a monthly living stipend and book allowance. Entitlement is up to 36 months at the 100% level.

Children of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, are eligible for this benefit.

  • A child may begin an approved program of education at the age of 18 or after high school graduation (whichever comes first).
  • If the parent was a service member who died before January 1, 2013, eligibility ends on the child’s 33rd birthday. If the parent was a service member who died on or after January 1, 2013, there is no eligibility time limit for using this benefit.
  • 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 on or after September 11, 2001, are also eligible for this benefit.

  • A surviving spouse will lose eligibility to this benefit upon remarriage

Additional information:

  • A child whose parent died in the line of duty on or after August 1, 2011, you may use both the Fry Scholarship and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) only if you qualify for DEA benefits under a different event. Combined DEA and Fry Scholarship benefits are capped at 48 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.

More information about the Fry Scholarship can be found on the VA website at https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/education-and-careers/fry-scholarship/.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Classes Start Jul 22, 2025*

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