THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARMY
1775
1984
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
26 March 2025
*Army Regulation 621–202
Effective 26 March 2025

Education

Army Educational Incentives and Entitlements

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

Official:

MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a mandated revision. The portions affected by this mandated revision are listed in the summary of change.

Authorities. The authorities for this regulation are Title 10 United States Code Chapters 109, 1606, 1609, Title 38, United States Code Chapters 30 through 34, DoDI 1304.36, DoDI 1322.16, DoDI 1322.17, and DoDI 1341.13.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app C).

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments or suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1 (DAPE–MPA–IB), usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-1.mbx.dmpm-eib-branch@mail.mil.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 621-202, dated 13 November 2023.
AR 621–202 • 26 March 2025
UNCLASSIFIED

Reserve Education Assistance Program

National Guard)

Active Guard Reserve personnel National Guard and Reserve members who are on voluntary active duty providing full-time support to Na- tional Guard, Reserve, and AC organizations for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, in- structing, or training the RCs.

Break in service A period of more than 90 days between the date when individuals are released from active duty (or other- wise receive a complete separation from active duty service) and the date they re-enter on active duty (up to 365 days).

Continuous active duty Active duty served without interruption.

Critical skill Skill or specialty designated by the SECARMYSECARMYSecretary of the Army as a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel or for which it is difficult to recruit.

Delayed Entry Program A program under which an individual may enlist in an RC and specify a future reporting date for entry on active duty that would coincide with availability of training spaces and with personal plans; allows individu- als to delay entry onto active duty in the Army for a period of up to 365 days.

Equivalency certificate A credential awarded based on successful completion of any of the following: General Education Devel- opment certificate, high school diploma based on general educational diploma, correspondence school, California High School Proficiency Examination, high school attendance certificate, high school comple- tion certificate, adult education certificate or diploma, or external or competency based diploma.

Kicker Supplemental educational assistance awarded at the discretion of the SECARMYSECARMYSecretary of the Army for Soldiers with critical skills or specialties or who serve in specified critical job areas for a prescribed period in the Army in addi- tion to the other requirements for eligibility for the basic benefits. These amounts are added to and paid in conjunction with any other education benefits to which the individual may be entitled.

Post-9/11 GI Bill–Armed Forces For the purposes of Post-9/11 GI Bill, the term Armed Forces includes all active duty, SELRES, and IMA service regardless of branch of Service or component. It does not include those who have retired, have membership in the IRRIRRIndividual Ready Reserve, or those who have been discharged or separated from the Armed Forces.

Qualifying term of service The period of service when full entitlement to education benefits is earned.

Selected Reserve Those units and individuals within the Ready Reserve designated by the SECARMYSECARMYSecretary of the Army and approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as so essential to initial wartime missions that they have priority over all other re- serves.

Top-Up The name given to the DVA program that allows a Soldier to combine MGIB–AD benefits under 38 USCUSCUnited States Code Chapter 30 with Army tuition assistance in cases in which the cost of the course exceeds the tuition assis- tance rate cap.

Veteran For the purposes of MGIB–AD, MGIB–SR, and Post-9/11 GI Bill, the term veteran includes Soldiers who have separated from active duty and are serving in an active status in the SELRES.