As of August 1, 2011, active duty members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service are authorized to transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to their eligible dependents.

Transferability is authorized under provisions of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-37). The extension of these benefits, and approval for their use by officers, are the result of efforts by the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Surgeon General of the United States, and the Under Secretary of the Department of Defense, in concert with the Commissioned Officer Association and the Military Officers Association of America.

Designed as a recruitment/retention tool under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, transferability is unprecedented and affords active duty members the ability to transfer their education benefits to one or more eligible dependents, including a child or spouse. Interested officers must request transferability via the Transferability of Education Benefits (TEB) website at https://www/dmdc.osd.mil/TEB .

Currently, access to the website requires the use of a card reader and the member’s active duty ID card (also known as the Common Access Card). In lieu of the card reader, officers may obtain a DoD Self Service Logon (DS Logon) at either a TRICARE Service Center (TSC) or Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO). However, please note that many of the TSC and VARO offices are just acquiring the capability of providing the DoD Self Service Logon.

In November an additional method, Remote Accessing, is scheduled to become available which will preclude the necessity of the card reader or a visit to the TSC or VARO. Unless an officer needs to transfer benefits immediately, they are encouraged to wait for the advent of Remote Accessing.

For further description of the available benefits, eligibility, and instructions for requesting transferability, please visit the CCMIS website at http://dcp.psc.gov . Questions and comments may be addressed by e-mail to OCCOHelpdesk@hhs.gov or (301) 453-6031.