5 Army Reserve Education Benefits

Introduction to Army Reserve Education Benefits

The Army Reserve offers a range of education benefits to its soldiers, helping them to achieve their academic and career goals. These benefits are designed to support soldiers in their pursuit of higher education, whether they are looking to earn a degree, certification, or simply to enhance their skills and knowledge. In this article, we will explore the five key Army Reserve education benefits, highlighting their features, eligibility criteria, and application processes.

1. Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) is a popular education benefit offered by the Army Reserve. This benefit provides soldiers with a monthly stipend to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and other education-related expenses. To be eligible for MGIB-SR, soldiers must:

• Have a six-year commitment to the Army Reserve
• Be in good standing with their unit
• Be enrolled in an approved education program
• Not be receiving any other type of VA education benefit

The MGIB-SR benefit can be used to pursue a degree, certification, or other education program at an approved institution.

2. Army Reserve Tuition Assistance (TA)

The Army Reserve Tuition Assistance (TA) program is designed to help soldiers cover the costs of tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This benefit can be used in conjunction with the MGIB-SR benefit, providing soldiers with additional financial support for their education. To be eligible for TA, soldiers must:

• Be in good standing with their unit
• Have a minimum of two years of service remaining
• Be enrolled in an approved education program
• Not be receiving any other type of TA benefit

The TA benefit can be used to cover up to 100% of tuition and fees, up to a maximum of $250 per credit hour.

3. Army Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)

The Army Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) is a benefit that provides soldiers with a monthly stipend to help cover the costs of education-related expenses. This benefit is designed for soldiers who are no longer eligible for the MGIB-SR benefit, but still wish to pursue higher education. To be eligible for REAP, soldiers must:

• Have served at least 90 days of active duty since September 11, 2001
• Be in good standing with their unit
• Be enrolled in an approved education program
• Not be receiving any other type of VA education benefit

The REAP benefit can be used to pursue a degree, certification, or other education program at an approved institution.

4. Army Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

The Army Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is a benefit that helps soldiers to repay their student loans. This program is designed to provide financial assistance to soldiers who have outstanding student loans, and can be used in conjunction with other education benefits. To be eligible for SLRP, soldiers must:

• Have a minimum of two years of service remaining
• Be in good standing with their unit
• Have an outstanding student loan balance
• Not be receiving any other type of SLRP benefit

The SLRP benefit can be used to repay up to $20,000 of outstanding student loan debt.

5. Army Reserve GI Bill Kicker

The Army Reserve GI Bill Kicker is a benefit that provides soldiers with an additional monthly stipend to help cover the costs of education-related expenses. This benefit is designed for soldiers who are enrolled in an approved education program, and can be used in conjunction with other education benefits. To be eligible for the GI Bill Kicker, soldiers must:

• Be enrolled in an approved education program
• Be in good standing with their unit
• Not be receiving any other type of VA education benefit

The GI Bill Kicker benefit can be used to pursue a degree, certification, or other education program at an approved institution.

💡 Note: Soldiers should check with their unit or education counselor to determine which benefits they are eligible for, and to learn more about the application process.

Benefit	Eligibility Criteria	Benefit Amount
MGIB-SR	Six-year commitment, good standing, enrolled in approved program	Up to $384 per month
TA	Good standing, two years of service remaining, enrolled in approved program	Up to 100% of tuition and fees, up to $250 per credit hour
REAP	90 days of active duty, good standing, enrolled in approved program	Up to $1,426 per month
SLRP	Two years of service remaining, good standing, outstanding student loan balance	Up to $20,000
GI Bill Kicker	Enrolled in approved program, good standing	Up to $350 per month

In summary, the Army Reserve offers a range of education benefits to support soldiers in their pursuit of higher education. These benefits can be used to cover the costs of tuition, fees, and other education-related expenses, and can be combined to provide additional financial support. By understanding the eligibility criteria and application processes for these benefits, soldiers can make informed decisions about their education and career goals.