Army Reserve Soldiers and their families receive numerous benefits. These benefits include retirement, insurance, education, commissary, medical, and legal. Listed below are examples of programs available that make sure you and your family are taken care of.

Reenlistment Bonus Student Loan Repayment Program Montgomery GI Bill Tuition Assistance Affiliation Bonus

Reenlistment Bonus - Army Reserve Soldiers may qualify for a reenlistment bonus for the following incentive amounts based on the terms of the reenlistment:

• Six years for a $5,000 reenlistment bonus.
• Three years for a $2,500 reenlistment bonus immediately followed by an additional three years for $2,000 (total $4,500).

To be eligible for a reenlistment bonus, Soldiers -

• Must have less than 14 years of service at their Expiration Term of Service (ETS).
• Must be Duty Military Occupation Specialty Qualified (MOSQ) against a valid position in a Troop Program Unit (TPU) and possess a bonus MOS as designated by Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA).
• Have not previously received a reenlistment bonus (exception is the 2nd three year reenlistment).

Eligible Soldiers must -

• Sign a DA Form 5261-2-R (USAR Reenlistment Bonus) at the time of reenlistment.
• Be otherwise qualified for reenlistment.

Payments are received in annual increments based on terms of contract. Soldiers must remain in an active Selected Reserve status to receive incentive payments. Reenlistment bonus payments will continue for Soldiers who are mobilized or deployed (exception is entry on Extended Active Duty).

For additional information, contact your local Center Retention and Transition NCO.

Soldiers who are at least Staff Sergeant (SSG) with ten or more years of service may qualify for a reenlistment bonus with an Indefinite Reenlistment if they are otherwise eligible for the incentive.

Reminder: The reenlistment bonus is not taxable when the reenlistment is executed in a calendar month in which a Soldier serves at least one day in a Combat Zone (Combat Zone Tax Free Exclusion) as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (www.irs.gov).

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Student Loan Repayment Program - Army Reserve Soldiers may qualify for the Selected Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) for either $10,000 or $20,000 (depending on MOS), if they meet the following qualifications:

• Must possess a bonus MOS as designated by HQDA (either $10,000 or $20,000).
• Must be otherwise qualified for reenlistment.
• Must reenlist for at least three years.
• Must sign a DA Form 5261-4-R (Selected Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program) at the time of reenlistment.

Soldiers who previously qualified for SLRP do not need to sign an additional
DA Form 5261-4-R.

SLRP provides assistance to qualified Army Reserve Soldiers in payment of qualifying Student Loans. Student Loans that qualify for SLRP are:

• Stafford Loan Program (formerly Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL)).
• Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL).
• Perkins Loan (formerly National Defense Student Loan and National Direct Student Loans (NDSL)).
• Supplemental Loans for Student (SLS)).
• Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students (ALAS).
• Consolidated Loan Program (CLP).
• SMART Loans

SLRP will pay 15% of the original principal of one of more qualifying student loans for each year served satisfactorily as a member of the Selected Reserve or $500 per year, including interest, whichever is greater. There are maximum annual payments based on the MOS a Soldier possesses at the time of qualification.

Contact your local Center Retention and Transition NCO for additional information and qualifications.

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Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve, Chapter 1606) - Army Reserve Soldiers who have incurred a six year Selected Reserve obligation after July 1985 may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606).

Qualified Soldiers are eligible to receive up to $10,152 of educational assistance based upon full-time or pro-rated part-time attendance at Veteran's Administration (VA) qualifying universities, colleges, technical colleges or schools. (Contact local VA to determine school or college's VA eligibility).

Technical programs such as certain technical accreditation, certificates and flight training may qualify for MGIB-SR educational assistance.

Soldiers have 10 years after establishing eligibility to use MGIB-SR. Education assistance from MGIB-SR is not considered taxable income and is paid directly to the student. It is not a tuition assistance program. Soldiers are responsible for tuition payments.

Contact your local Center Retention and Transition NCO for additional information and qualifications.

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Tuition Assistance - Army Reserve Soldiers can use Tuition Assistance (TA) for attendance at colleges, universities, technical schools or other qualifying educational institutions to help defer the cost of higher education.

The Army will pay 100% of tuition costs, up to $250 per credit, for Army Reserve Soldiers who are pursuing a degree or an approved certification or accreditation program.

The maximum annual amount a Soldier can receive for TA is $4,500.

Contact your local Center Retention and Transition NCO for additional information and qualifications.

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Affiliation Bonus - Soldiers who transition from Active Duty into an Army Reserve unit who have a remaining Military Service Obligation (MSO) may be entitled to the Selected Reserve Affiliation Bonus.

Eligible Soldiers will receive $50.00 per month for every remaining whole month of MSO while serving in any Army Reserve unit as long as the Soldier is MOS qualified against a valid vacancy in the unit.

Listed below is qualifying criteria for the Selected Reserve Affiliation Bonus:

• Soldier must be MOS qualified against a valid unit vacancy.
• Soldier must have MSO time remaining in their initial Active Duty enlistment.
• Soldier must have served a satisfactory period of time on Active Duty.

Depending on the amount of MSO a qualified Soldier has, this incentive is paid in increments or in a lump sum upon assignment to the unit.

Soldiers may transition directly from Active Duty or from the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) as long as there is a remaining MSO and the Soldier served a satisfactory period while on Active Duty.

Soldiers who have served a satisfactory period of service on Active Duty meeting the above listed criteria may be eligible for the Affiliation Bonus while training as a Drill Sergeant.

Contact your local Center Retention and Transition NCO for additional information and qualifications.

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