Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

August 15, 2007

Benefits for Guard and Reserve members ordered to active service in support of contingency operations and certain other operations.

Under the provisions under H.R 4200, the creation of a new education benefit was signed into law on October 28, 2004. The new benefit, Chapter 1607 under Title 10, makes certain individuals who were activated on or after September 11, 2001 eligible for educational assistance benefits* which may be in addition to other benefits if qualified for more than one VA educational assistance program. If you have served on active duty in support of a contingency operation or national emergency for at least 90 consecutive days, you may be entitled to educational assistance benefits that are outlined in the chart below. The amount of educational benefits to be provided under this program is primarily contingent on the amount of continuous time you have served. In many cases, these benefits are retroactive.

Unlike the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill, this entitlement is free to eligible members (i.e., no $1200.00 fee required).

* This benefit is limited to a cumulative maximum of 36 months of full Lifetime (or equivalent part-time) benefits and may be paid in addition to benefits previously received or eligible to be received from other VA educational programs, e.g., the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty or Selected Reserve), etc., subject to the following limitation(s): A member receiving educational assistance benefits, including Chapter 1607, may not receive more than 48 months of entitlement (cumulative-lifetime) under any combination of educational assistance programs to which entitled (VA or DoD). If the member qualifies for this program and the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) based on the same period of service, then an irrevocable election (made through the VA in conjunction with the respective Service) between the two programs must be made. If separated from the Ready Reserve due to a disability (not due to willful misconduct), entitlement will expire 10 years from the date of entitlement to educational assistance. Service used to qualify for this benefit cannot be used to satisfy the 6-year Selected Reserve obligation required to establish entitlement to the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve under Chapter 1606, 10 USC.

This benefit will cease:

1. These benefits are based on a monetary scale relative to Montgomery GI Bill benefits, as described in section 3015 of title 38 USC
2. If incurred or aggravated due to military service--Requires Line of Duty determination
3. Applies to Army or Air National Guard personnel performing active service authorized in response to a national emergency supported by Federal funds
4. IRR members must remain in the Ready Reserve--Selected Reserve members must remain in the Selected Reserve (Exception: A one-time only break in service of not more than 90 days authorized for SelRes members as long as they remain in the Ready Reserve during the break in service)
5. Under section 2107 of 10 USC

For more information, contact your unit education counselor or visit the VA GI Bill Website:

www.gibill.gov To enroll for REAP education benefits, submit an Application for VA Education Benefits" (VA Form 22-1990)

ALL applications and claims for this educational assistance benefit must be filed through the respective Service Point(s) of Contact prior to being submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs.