Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Chapter 1607 was established as a part of Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security will determine who is eligible for this program.
Who is Eligible for Chapter 1607
The Secretaries of each military service, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) will determine eligibility.
The law requires DoD to give you written notification of eligibility for REAP.
A member of a reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10 U.S. Code for a contingency operation and who serves at least 90 consecutive days or more is eligible for Chapter 1607. National Guard members also are eligible if their active duty is under section 502(f), title 32 U.S.C. and they serve for 90 consecutive days when authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense for a national emergency and is supported by federal funds. Individuals are eligible as soon as they reach the 90-day point whether or not they are currently on active duty. DoD will fully identify contingency operations that qualify for benefits under chapter 1607.
Disabled members who are injured or have an illness or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and are released from active duty before completing 90 consecutive days are also eligible.
Months of Entitlement
An eligible veteran will receive 36 months of full-time entitlement at his or her given rate. A Chapter 1607 participant may not use more than 48 months of entitlement under any combination of VA Educational programs. For example, if you’ve already used 20 months of Chapter 1606, you will only receive 28 months of Chapter 1607. Remember, that’s 36 months at the full-time training rate.