Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§16166 Administration of program

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART IV— - TRAINING FOR RESERVE COMPONENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Chapter CHAPTER 1607— - EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESERVE COMPONENT MEMBERS SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER OPERATIONS › § 16166

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs must run the education benefits program under agreements made with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security. Those agreements must set up procedures so the Defense or Homeland Security office sends money quickly to VA so payments can be made. Many rules from title 38 apply to this program, specifically sections 503, 511, 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3482(g), 3483, and 3485 and subchapters I and II of chapter 36 (except 3686(a), 3687, and 3692). The words “eligible veteran” and “person” in those rules mean someone eligible under this program. The VA Secretary may approve extra flight training if it is needed for a known aviation job, the student has a private pilot certificate and meets the medical standards for a commercial pilot on the first day of training, and the courses meet FAA standards and are approved by the FAA and the State approving agency. Payments come from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund under section 2006 of this title.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §16166

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Educational assistance under this chapter shall be provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, under agreements to be entered into by the Secretary of Defense, and by the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such agreements shall include administrative procedures to ensure the prompt and timely transfer of funds from the Secretary concerned to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the making of payments under this chapter.

(b)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of section 503, 511, 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3482(g), 3483, and 3485 of title 38 and the provisions of subchapters I and II of chapter 36 of such title (with the exception of section 3686(a), 3687, and 3692) shall be applicable to the provision of educational assistance under this chapter. The term “eligible veteran” and the term “person”, as used in those provisions, shall be deemed for the purpose of the application of those provisions to this chapter to refer to a person eligible for educational assistance under this chapter.

(c)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the pursuit of flight training (in addition to a course of flight training that may be approved under section 3680A(b) of title 38) by an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter if—

(1)such training is generally accepted as necessary for the attainment of a recognized vocational objective in the field of aviation;

(2)the individual possesses a valid private pilot certificate and meets, on the day the member begins a course of flight training, the medical requirements necessary for a commercial pilot certificate; and

(3)the flight school courses meet Federal Aviation Administration standards for such courses and are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State approving agency.

(d)Amounts for payments for benefits under this chapter shall be derived from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund under section 2006 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 16166

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73