§16162 Educational Assistance Program

Summary

Each military department must set up and run a program, following rules from the Secretary of Defense, to give education help to members of the Ready Reserve. The Secretary of Homeland Security does this for the Coast Guard when it is not operating as part of the Navy. The program pays education benefits for any school or training program that is approved under chapter 30 of title 38. Payments are made by the military department through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and are based on the rate in 38 U.S.C. 3015 (the rate for someone who served three years on active duty), adjusted by a percent tied to how long the member served on active duty: 40% for 90 consecutive days but less than one year, 60% for one continuous year but less than two, and 80% for two continuous years or more or an aggregate of three years or more. The program also follows any reduced rates that chapter 30 sets for certain courses. A member may get up to 36 months of benefits (or the part-time equivalent). If a member had to stop courses because they were ordered to active duty under 10 U.S.C. 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302, or 12304 and they lost credit or training time, payments for that course period will not be charged against their entitlement or count toward the limits in 38 U.S.C. 3695; the exempt period cannot be longer than the time of lost credit or training. Help for licensing and certification tests applies as described in 16131(j), with the needed cross-reference to this section’s payment rules. Eligible members may voluntarily contribute up to $600 in multiples of $20 (not more often than monthly) to raise their monthly benefit. Each $20 adds $5 per month for full-time schooling (a smaller, prorated increase applies for less than full time). Contributions go to the member’s military department, which deposits them into the Treasury.