Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 1607 was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, and was signed into effect on October 28th, 2004 by President George W. Bush. This is a new program designed to assist National Guard and Reserve members who have been called to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress.

The secretaries of each military service, Department of Defense (DOD), and department of Homeland Security will determine eligibility and establish the program to provide educational assistance to members of the reserves of the Armed forces who are called to duty for 90 days or more. Members may be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 11, 2001.

If you have served over 90 days, but less than 1 year consecutively, you may qualify to receive 40% of the Chapter 30 rate.

If you have served over 1 year, but less than 2 years consecutively, you may qualify to receive 60% of the Chapter 30 rate.

The current Chapter 30 rates can be found here.

Under Chapter 1607 you will receive 36 months of full-time benefits. However, your lifetime benefits cannot exceed 48 months.

For example: If you have used 28 months of benefits under Chapter 1606, you will receive 20 months of Chapter 1607.

Your Chapter 1607 benefits may be used as long as you remain within your component. Your benefits will be terminated if you leave the reserves or participate in an ROTC program under Title 10, Section 2107.

Members released for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty may receive Chapter 1607 benefits at the 40% rate. You will have 10 years form your eligibility date to completely use you benefits.

No, you must make an irrevocable election as to which program you will apply your time on active duty. If you are receiving a Chapter 1606 kicker you will continue to receive that kicker.

All education programs that are available to Chapter 30 will be available under Chapter 1607. Please consult the handbook for details.

Chapter 1607 benefits can be made retroactive until September 11, 2001, or you can elect to start them on the application date. It is up to the student to determine which is more beneficial to them.

If a student chooses retroactive payments, the student will be paid the difference between Ch 1606 and Ch 1607, according to the amount of benefits used after September 11, 2001. The months that these benefits cover will be deducted from the 36 months of benefits allotted.

If a student chooses to start their Chapter 1607 benefits on the application date, they will be eligible to receive 36 months of full-time benefits, as long as those do not exceed the lifetime 48 months of full-time benefits allotted.