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Your User’s Guide to Military Education Benefits for the Reserve Servicemember

As a military servicemember, you haveaccess to several programs to support your educational goals. We want you to beaware of your options and get the most out of the benefits you earned throughyour hard work and service.

The Tuition Assistance program is one ofthe most popular and widely used by military personnel. However, the programguidelines, application procedures, and eligibility requirements differ betweenservice branches.

Though TuitionAssistance is a focal point, there are several other benefits you may beeligible for including service-specific education programs, college funds,scholarships, and more. Check out the following links to determine if any ofthese options will work for you:

Below you’llfind a breakdown of the most common education benefits available for Reserveservicemembers:

Tuition Assistance
Definition: Military benefit that pays for tuition costs aswell as some extra fees.
Eligible Recipients: Most servicemembers; however, eachbranch has slightly different eligibility criteria. Note: Some Reserve membersmay be eligible for State Tuition Assistance.
Benefit: Up to 100% of tuition covered; fees are not toexceed $250 per semester credit hour and $166 per quarter credit hour. Yearlycap is $4,500. (The Navy has a 16 credit hour annual limit.)

Montgomery G.I. Bill—Selected Reserve
Definition: A tuition payment program that pays for up to 36months, which is four regular school years, of education for the following:college, technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses, apprenticeshipor job training, or flight training.
Eligible Recipients: Guard and Reserve servicemembers who haveagreed to a six-year contract.
Benefit: Up to $309 per month for full-time education.

Montgomery G.I. Bill—Active Duty andVeteran
Definition: A tuition payment program that pays for up to 36months, which is four regular school years, of education for the following:college, technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses,apprenticeship or job training, or flight training.
Eligible Recipients: There are two categories of eligibleservicemembers:

Servicememberswho were in active duty for at least two years before joining the Guard orReserve.
Guardor Reserve services members who both served in active duty for two consecutiveyears and chose to pay the $1,200 contribution.

Benefit: Up to $1,075 per month for full-time education.Note: Benefits must be used within 10 years of the date of discharge or releasefrom active duty.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program(REAP)
Definition: Monetary support for Reserve or Guard who servedover 90 days in support of OEF/OIF.
Eligible Recipients: Participants must meet all of the following:

Be a member of a Reserve component that was on active duty on or afterSeptember 11, 2001 under title 10 U.S. Code for a contingency operation
Served at least 90 consecutive days
Eligible for chapter 1607

Benefit: Depending on the amount of time a Reserve or Guardmember has served, 40%, 60%, or 80% of the G.I. Bill for Active Duty will beissued.

State Tuition Assistance
Definition: Tuition assistance programs provided by selectstates to members of the National Guard.
Eligible Recipients: Varies depending on the state.
Benefit: Varies depending on the state.

Federal Student Aid
Definition: Low-interest federal loans and grants designed tohelp students finance educational costs.
Eligible Recipients: Basically everycitizen who falls within certain income levels is eligible for this benefit.
Benefit: Loans are issued for different amounts depending onlevels of financial need. Each year the government determines a different cap.

Scholarships
Definition: Money, vouchers or waivers issued to supporteducational goals—does not need to be repaid.
Eligible Recipients: Each scholarship is different.
Benefit: Can range from less than $100 in vouchers or waiversto full payment of tuition, room and board.