 Congress and President Barack Obama extended the new GI Bill in August 2009 at the cost of roughly $70 billion over the next decade.The Department of Defense (DoD) allows individuals who, on or after 1 August 2009, have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces and who agree to serve at least another 4 years in the U.S. Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their surviving spouse.Servicemembers reaching 10-year anniversaries could choose to transfer the benefit to any dependent(s) (spouse, children).