The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides GI Bill benefits to the surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Although not actually a scholarship, it pays basically the same benefit as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
The Fry Scholarship features 100% payment of tuition and fees at the in-state rate (this money is paid directly to the school) for all public schools. Private school attendance is also possible, but the benefit has a ceiling limiting payment to a maximum per-academic year rate.
The Fry Scholarship has a time limit. Dependent children who qualify become eligible as of their 18th birthday, but this benefit expires when the dependent reaches her or his 33rd birthday. Surviving spouses generally have 15 years from the date of the death of the service member to use the Fry Scholarship, though benefits have been extended by federal law.
According to VA.gov, “A new provision of the law signed on December 16, 2016, extends the benefit eligibility to January 1, 2021 for the spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2005.”
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Education Benefits
- 36 months of benefits at the 100% level.
- Full tuition & fees paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students. For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition & fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount per academic year.
- A Monthly Housing Allowance.
- A books & supplies stipend.
Eligibility
Surviving spouses and children of active duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Children
- A child is eligible on their 18th birthday or earlier if they have graduated from high school
- Eligibility ends on the child’s 33rd birthday
- A child’s marital status or age over 23 has no effect on eligibility
Surviving Spouses
- 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
Eligibility for the Fry Scholarship in not based on grades.
FAQ
Can the Yellow Ribbon be used with the Fry Scholarship?
In the past the Yellow Ribbon program could be used with the Fry Scholarship. However, with the Forever GI Bill students receiving GI Bill payments through the Fry Scholarship program will be able to use the Yellow Ribbon benefits as well. This became effective August 1, 2018 and apply to Fry Scholarship recipients receiving GI Bill payments after September 10, 2001.
How to apply for the Fry Scholarship?
Obtain and complete VA form 22-5490 “Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits”. Send to the VA Regional Processing Office indicated in the instructions of the form.
Can the Fry Scholarship and Dependents’ Educational Assistance be used together?
The Department of Veterans Affairs states that the two programs cannot be used concurrently. Those who may be eligible for both programs must choose “irrevocably” between one program and the other.
Exception: A child of a service member who died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011, can use both DEA and the Fry Scholarship and get up to 81 months of education and training. Only one program can be used at a time.
Fry Scholarship Vs DEA Comparison
| Features | DEA | Fry Scholarship |
| Benefit Payments | Monthly amount paid directly to the student. The current monthly payment for full-time training is $1,224.00 | Tuition & Fee Payment (Paid to School) – Full in-state tuition costs covered for training pursued at public institutions. Up to $22,805.34 per year at private institutions.
Books and Supplies Stipend (Paid to Student) – Up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. Paid to the student proportionately for each term. Monthly Housing Allowance (Paid to Student) – Stipend based on local BAH for E-5 with dependents and paid monthly. Online students receive half of the BAH national average |
| Duration of Benefits | Surviving Spouses of those who died in the line of duty may use benefits for up to 20 years from the Servicemember’s date of death. | 15 years from the Servicemember’s date of death (or, in accordance with Section 401 of Public Law 114-315, if the death of death is prior to January 1, 2006, then benefits are extended until January 1, 2021) |
| Maximum Months of Benefits | 45 months | 36 months |
| Concurrent Receipt of DIC and Education Benefit for Spouse | Yes | Yes |
| Programs Covered | College, Business, Technical, or Vocational Programs Certification Tests Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training Tutorial Assistance Work-study |
College, Business, Technical, or Vocational Programs Certification Tests Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training Vocational flight training Tutorial Assistance Work-study |
History of the John D. Fry Scholarship
Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship amended the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to include the children and surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. On March 8, 2006, Marine Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry was killed in action while disarming an IED in Anbar Province, Iraq. At 28 years old, he left behind his wife, Malia, and three young children.
After her husband was killed in action, Malia Fry, a Marine Corps widow, did not know how she was going to send her children to college. The Fry Scholarship came to be out of her efforts to honor her husband’s memory and sacrifice to our country. Malia’s efforts have helped send hundreds of children of fallen Servicemembers to college.
He laid down his life so other Marines would be safe, and he did it willingly.
–Malia Fry, wife of John David Fry
The scholarship was created with the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, enacted on June 24, 2009.
