§2142 Educational Assistance Program: Eligibility

Summary

People who enlist or reenlist on active duty will become eligible for education benefits when they sign up if they meet the rules the branch Secretary sets. Eligibility is limited to people who joined active duty after September 30, 1980 and before October 1, 1981, who finished secondary school, and who meet any other requirements the Secretary sets. The benefit gives one standard academic year (or an equivalent) of education aid for each year of the enlistment, up to four years. If someone leaves active duty after at least two years but before finishing the full enlistment, they get one academic year of aid for each year they actually served; partial years are rounded to the nearest month and prorated. No aid is allowed if a person is discharged before completing two years of service or is discharged under conditions that are not honorable, and the benefit cannot be used until two years of active service are completed.