Title 10 › Subtitle E — Reserve Components › PART IV — TRAINING FOR RESERVE COMPONENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › CHAPTER 1609 — EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS › § 16303
The Secretary in charge can pay back education loans to help keep enough chaplains in the Selected Reserve. To get this, a person must meet the chaplain accession and commissioning rules, already hold or be fully qualified for a reserve chaplain appointment, and sign a written agreement to serve at least three years in the Selected Reserve. A person in the Chaplain Candidate Program is not eligible. The repayment can cover principal, interest, and related loan costs. The payment cannot be more than $20,000 for each three-year period of obligated service. No more than 50 percent of that amount can be paid before the person finishes the first year of service. The rest is paid at times set by regulation. If someone does not start or complete the agreed service, they must repay under 37 U.S.C. 303a(e) or 373. The Secretary of Defense must create rules to run the program.
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Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 16303
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110