Your Education Benefits: Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve, REAP, and More
Several programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide financial
assistance to veterans for education programs. To receive benefits, the education program must
be VA approved. You may receive benefits for a wide variety of approved training, including
undergraduate or graduate degree programs at a college or university. Also included are
accredited independent study programs, leading to a standard college degree as well as a
cooperative training program. Technical and vocational programs, correspondence courses,
flight training courses, on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs, licensing and
certification test reimbursement and national tests for admission or credit may also be
taken.
The two programs designed for members of the Guard and Reserves are the Montgomery GI
Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP).
- Eligibility for MGIB-SR requires a commitment to serve a minimum of six years in the Selected
Reserve.
- There are provisions that may allow you to use your MGIB-SR benefits after you separate from
the National Guard or Reserves. For example: If you were activated at any time, you may
remain eligible to use your MGIB-SR benefits for the number of months you were activated, plus four
months. So, if you were activated for 3 months, you may be able to use your GI Bill-SR
benefits for up to 7 months after you leave the guard or reserves.
- REAP (Reserve Educational Assistance Program) is a new benefit which provides education
assistance to members of the reserve components who were called or ordered to active service in
response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. Eligibility
is determined by the DoD or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and requires that the member
serve on active duty 90 consecutive days or more and continue to serve in the Ready Reserve after
demobilization/deactivation.
If you originally served in an active duty component before affiliating with the National
Guard or Reserves, you may have remaining benefits under either the Veterans' Educational
Assistance Program (VEAP) or the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). Both programs are intended to help
you develop skills that will enhance your opportunities for employment. As a rule, the
benefits under either of these programs must be used within 10 years of separation from active
duty. However, your 10-year limit may be extended if you were activated for more than 90 days
during your service in a Reserve Component. Consult with your unit Education Officer, Navy
College Representative, or contact the Regional VA Office nearest you and speak with a counselor
regarding these benefits.
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Hot Tip:
Be sure to fill out and submit VA Form 22-1990, “Application for Education Benefits” (
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/22-1990.pdf)
as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to begin school. You will reduce the processing
time later by doing this now.
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Your eligibility for any of VA administered education programs is determined by many factors
including length of service (duty) requirements, original enlistment date, character of service,
and whether or not you were activated. Each program's eligibility criteria is listed
below:
MGIB-SR Eligibility
You must have received a "Notice of Basic Eligibility" after signing a six-year obligation to
serve in the Selected Reserve or National Guard.
MGIB eligibility is straightforward for most veterans, but it can be complex for
others. If you have questions about MGIB-SR eligibility, check with your Education Center, or
call the VA toll-free education number, 1-888-GI Bill-1 (1-888-442-4551). You may also get
information at the VA Education Service website
http://www.gibill.va.gov.
Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) – Chapter 1607
To be eligible for REAP, under Chapter 1607, you must have served on active duty on or after
September 11, 2001 under Title 10, U. S. Code at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency
operation.
- National Guard Service members are also eligible if their active duty is under Section 502(f),
Title 32, U. S. Code and they served for 90 consecutive days when authorized by the President or
Secretary of Defense for a national emergency and is supported by federal funds.
Disabled Service members who have an illness or disease incurred or aggravated in the
line-of-duty are released before completing 90 consecutive days, are also
eligible.
