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I N T R O D U C T I O N:

C O U N T Y O U R B E N E F I T S

Today’s Army Reservists share a distinguished history with American

citizen-soldiers who served in World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict,

the Berlin Crisis, Vietnam, Granada, Panama, Southwest Asia and

Bosnia. Reservists are proud to continue serving our nation, ready to

preserve peace and defend our American way of life.

In addition to fostering national pride, the Army Reserve encourages

personal growth. Placed in situations rarely encountered in civilian life,

you learn to stretch your abilities and develop confidence and discipline.

Partly because Army Reservists share unique experiences, friendships

often last a lifetime.

When you count your benefits in the Army Reserve, remember to count

the intangibles as well: pride in belonging, patriotism, character, leadership and friendship.
1. R E S E R V E P A Y

You receive four days’ pay for each weekend of training attended, plus

full Army pay for your two-week Annual Training.

Depending on your rank and time in service, you earn $2,045 or more a

year. For example, a Specialist with four years’ active service would

earn nearly $3,000 annually (1998 pay) by just performing 48 drills and

two weeks of Annual Training.

Estimates show that during a six-year enlistment, a Reservist can expect

to earn nearly $18,000. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Year 1: $6,300+

Includes 6 months of active duty (Basic Training and Advanced

Individual Training) and 6 monthly weekend drills.

Year 2: $2,150+

Payment for monthly weekend drills, plus two weeks of Annual

Training.

Years 3, 4, 5, 6: $2,400+ per year

Based on receiving normal promotions.

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

PAGE

INTRODUCTION: COUNT YOUR BENEFITS 3

1. RESERVE PAY 5

2. MONEY FOR COLLEGE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING 6

3. EDUCATION 7

Education Programs

AARTS Transcript Service

USAR Education Services Directory

4. BONUSES AND INCENTIVES 10

Bonuses for Reenlistment

Student Loan Repayment Plan

Health Professionals Loan Repayment

5. ACTIVE RESERVE BENEFITS 11

Insurance Benefits

PX and Commissary Privileges

Home Loans

Space Available Travel

Family Support

Special Leadership Opportunities

Warrant Officer Candidate School

Marksmanship

Veterans Benefits

6. JOB PROTECTION 14

7. INCOME TAX BREAKS 15

8. RETIREMENT BENEFITS 16

Retirement Pay

Medical and Dental Care

PX and Commissary Privileges

Recreation Facilities

Space Available Travel

Officer and NCO Club Memberships

Survivor Benefit Plan

Veterans Benefits

9. MAKING SURE YOU GET YOUR BENEFITS 19
3. E D U C A T I O N

E D U C A T I O N P R O G R A M S

The following are education programs available:

■ 75% Tuition Assistance for the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional

Education Support (DANTES) Independent Study College. Courses are

available for all Active Guard Reserve and Troop Program Unit soldiers.

■ College Degree Planning. Soldiers can learn what credits may be

earned for their military experience and have a personalized 2-year/4-

year degree plan prepared. The planning service will survey all available

external degree programs to find the soldier’s Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) approved school which will offer maximum credit for

military training and prior college education based on a soldier’s background and desired degree.

■ Video College Level Examination Program/DANTES Subject

Standardized Tests (CLEP/DSST) Preparation Materials. Home study

video preparation materials for CLEP and DSST examinations are

provided free of charge to Reservists who wish to earn credit through

these examination programs. Video lessons are available to prepare for

12 different examinations. Textbooks and study guides are also available

through the 800 number, and must be purchased by the soldier. A

money-saving text rental program is also available. Exams are already

provided free of charge by the USAR.

■ The GED Examination Preparation Materials. Home study video

courses in reading, math, grammar and writing are available free of

charge to help Reservists prepare for the GED Tests. A study program

will be tailored to meet each soldier’s individual learning needs, pointing

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2. M O N E Y F O R C O L L E G E A N D

V O C A T I O N A L T R A I N I N G

If you’re attending (or planning to attend) college or vocational school,

you can qualify for one of the Army Reserve’s educational assistance

plans.

A six-year reenlistment or enlistment can qualify a Reservist for up to

$7,300 under the Montgomery G.I. Bill. This money can be applied

toward student expenses for:

■ undergraduate study (including a second or more baccalaureate

degrees),

■ graduate study,

■ vocational technical training,

■ civil flight training, or

■ other academic programs approved by the Veterans Administration.

Under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, full-time students may qualify for up to

$203 per month for 36 academic months. Three-quarter-time students

may receive $152 per month for up to 48 months for each month they

attend classes. And, half-time students may receive $101 monthly for up

to 72 months when they’re in school.

Eligibility criteria and additional information can be found in Army Regulation 135-7, Chapter 8.
U S A R E D U C A T I O N

S E R V I C E S D I R E C T O R Y

The USAR Education Services uses the Army Continuing Education

Systems (ACES) Program as an education tool for the USAR. Presently,

there is one permanent Education Services Specialist at each Regional

Support Command. The following Education Services offices can be

reached during normal duty hours to provide general educational assistance and help Reservists with MGIB/Incentive programs.

63rd RSC, Los Alamitos, Calif. (310) 235-4256

Calif., Nev., Ariz. (562) 795-2739

70th RSC, Fort Lawton, Wash. (800) 347-2733

Wash., Ore., Idaho (206) 301-2125

77th RSC, Fort Totten, N.Y. (718) 352-5782

N.Y., N.J.

81st RSC, Birmingham, Ala. (205) 940-9181

Ky., Tenn., N.C., S.C., Miss., Ala. Ga., Fla. (800) 613-4882

88th RSC, St. Paul, Minn. (800) 843-2769, ext. 3081

Minn., Wis., Mich., Ill., Ind., Ohio (612) 713-3081

89th RSC, Wichita, Kan. (800) 892-7266, ext. 291/316

Kan., Neb., Iowa, Mo. (316) 681-1759, ext. 291

90th RSC, Little Rock, Ark. (800) 501-1493, ext. 8705

Ark., Okla., N.M., Texas, La. (501) 771-8705

94th RSC, Fort Devens, Mass. (508) 796-2410

Mass., Conn., R.I., N.H., Mass., Vt. (800) 554-7813

96th RSC, Salt Lake City, Utah (801) 584-4283/85, ext. 225

Utah, Colo., Wyo., Mont., N.D., S.D.

99th RSC, Oakdale, Penn. (800) 567-9518

Pa., W. Va., Va., Md., Washington, D.C. (412) 693-2266/67

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toward the GED Examination.

■ DANTES Spouse Testing Program. DANTES college-level examinations will be free of charge for all spouses of USAR soldiers. (CLEP/

DSST Exams only).

■ DANTES Civilian Testing Program. DANTES college-level examinations will be free of charge for all USAR civilian employees (CLEP/

DSST Exams only).

■ Soldiers can enroll in the College Video Project World Class

Program, (800) 852-5277.

Contact your Regional Support Command Education Services Specialist

for more information.

A A R T S T R A N S C R I P T S E R V I C E

The Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System

(AARTS) provides AARTS Transcripts to TPU soldiers who enlisted after

Oct. 1, 1981.

The AARTS Transcript Service provides the following:

■ An official transcript of college credit for military training and

experience.

■ A description of military experience in civilian terms.

■ A tool for Guidance Counselors and Education Services Specialists.

■ A cost savings in tuition assistance.

■ A time savings in college course requirements.

For more information, contact your regional Education Services Specialist or AARTS Operation Center at (913) 684-3269.
5. A C T I V E R E S E R V E B E N E F I T S

I N S U R A N C E B E N E F I T S

Reservists are eligible for low-cost life insurance under Servicemembers

Group Life Insurance. Premiums are 8.5 cents per $1,000 of coverage.

For $17 a month, you can receive up to $200,000 coverage for your

spouse and family members. “Gray area” retirees are also eligible for

SGLI. For more information, call (800) 419-1473.

Reservists can retain government life insurance benefits if they separate

before a 20-year retirement or become eligible to draw retirement pay

through Veterans Group Life Insurance. The Retired Reserve

Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance program was eliminated October

1996 and replaced with the VGLI program. Unlike the Retired Reserve

SGLI, retired Reservists can retain lifetime coverage under VGLI instead

of being cut off from coverage when drawing retired pay or reaching age

61.

P X A N D C O M M I S S A R Y P R I V I L E G E S

Army Reservists can shop at the Post Exchange (PX) which is like a

department store, and the commissary, which is a supermarket.

Reservists and their family members are entitled to unlimited PX shopping. Presentation of a valid military ID card is required. To order from

the PX catalog, soldier and family members must be enrolled in the

Defense Enrollment Eligible Reporting System (DEERS).

During each day of active duty Reservists and their family members have

unlimited access to military commissaries. In addition, up to 12 discretionary commissary visits per calendar year are authorized for Reservists

who have performed at least 12 days of active duty in the previous

calendar year. You must present a military ID card and DD Form 2529

U.S. Armed Forces Commissary Privilege Card for discretionary visits.

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4. B O N U S E S A N D I N C E N T I V E S

B O N U S E S F O R R E E N L I S T M E N T

You may be eligible for cash bonuses when you reenlist. Certain units

have special needs for personnel, and the Army Reserve will pay a

bonus to qualified soldiers who reenlist for these positions.

S T U D E N T L O A N R E P A Y M E N T P L A N

If you are enlisting in a bonus unit or military specialty, or reenlisting for

certain military specialties or units, you may be eligible for the Student

Loan Repayment Program. This program helps pay off a qualifying

federally insured student loan. For each year of satisfactory service in

the Army Reserve, up to 15% or $500, whichever is greater, plus accrued

interest up to $1,500 not paid by the Department of Education, will be

paid off. For some critical military specialties, up to $3,000 of your loan

can be paid off annually, with a total repayment of $20,000.

Reference: AR 135-7, Chapter 5

H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N A L S

L O A N R E P A Y M E N T

This program applies to commissioned officers in the Medical Corps or

Army Nurse Corps who entered after September 30, 1990. After a year

of satisfactory service, members are eligible for up to $3,000 a year in

loan repayment, with a total repayment not to exceed $20,000.

Reference: AR 135-7, Chapter 7
F A M I L Y S U P P O R T

Reservists have access to the Family Support Program through their

units. The Army-wide Family Liaison Office can also be contacted at

(800) 833-6622.

S P E C I A L L E A D E R S H I P

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

You can apply for Officer Candidate School (OCS) if you’re a U.S. citizen

with at least 60 accredited semester hours of college and are between

your 19th and 29th birthdays.

W A R R A N T O F F I C E R

C A N D I D A T E S C H O O L

U.S. citizens between ages 19 and 46 have a chance to become Army

Reserve systems managers through Warrant Officer Candidate School

(WOCS) in as little as a year. As a specialized expert and trainer, you

operate and administer the USAR’s equipment, support activities or

technical systems.

M A R K S M A N S H I P

Some Army Reserve units operate marksmanship programs for Reservists. The Army Reserve also has teams that compete internationally.

V E T E R A N S B E N E F I T S

The survivor of a soldier who dies during Annual Training or Active Duty

for Training receives a death gratuity. Call the Veterans Administration at

(800) 827-1000 for more information.

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H O M E L O A N S

As a member of the Army Reserve, you may qualify for a Veterans

Administration (VA) or approved Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

loan. The down payment and interest rate are usually lower than conventional home loans.

To be eligible, you must have served at least 90 days of continuous

active duty during wartime (including the Persian Gulf War) or 180 days

of continuous active duty during peacetime.

You’ll also need a VA certificate of eligibility. For those whose active duty

service began after 1980 (enlisted) and 1981 (officer), two years of

continuous active service are required.

To receive a certificate of veteran status, complete VA Form 26-8261

(Request for Certificate of Veteran Status) and submit it to any regional

VA office for processing.

S P A C E A V A I L A B L E T R A V E L

Army Reservists are eligible for space available travel on military aircraft

within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Virgin

Islands and Puerto Rico.

Because official duty passengers can displace you from an aircraft at

any point en route, it’s smart to be flexible. For example, be prepared to

provide your own return transportation. When flying as a Reservist you

may wear civilian clothes, have your military ID card with you and have a

DD Form 1853 signed by your unit commander. Passengers are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations can be

made.

For more information, call the nearest Air Force or Navy base and ask to

be connected with the Space Available Passenger Terminal.
7. I N C O M E T A X B R E A K S

You may be able to deduct some of the expenses associated with

inactive duty drills. These include:

■ Transportation to a drill if the location is outside the city or area of

your primary employment;

■ Meals, lodging and round-trip expenses in excess of reimbursements if you are required to stay overnight in the performance of duties;

■ Dues for membership in Reserve-oriented associations;

■ Personal items lost in performance of military duties;

■ Educational expenses for tuition, books and travel when undertaken primarily for maintaining or improving your Army Reserve skills or

meeting Army Reserve requirements.

Because tax laws change, you should consult the IRS or a tax accountant for specific information about how business expense deductions

apply to your tax situation.

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6. J O B P R O T E C T I O N

As a Reservist, you are protected against discrimination in hiring, employment, retention and loss of any benefits of employment as a result of

your Reserve status.

No employer may discriminate against a Reservist because of the

employee’s Reserve commitment or duty. This means employers cannot

release Reservists from employment nor deprive them of any normal

employment benefits in the areas of pay, status or promotion opportunities because of their commitment.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

also provides for reemployment rights after Active Duty for Training,

Annual Training or Inactive Duty Training drills, whether voluntary or

involuntary. Provisions of the law provide reemployment rights for

Reservists who are disable or hospitalized during training.

If you are a career federal government employee, you’re entitled to leave

with pay for up to 15 days a year when on Annual Training or Active Duty

for Training. In addition, you receive your full military pay.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, (800) 336-4590, is available to support Reservists in issues

relating to their reemployment rights.

One of the best ways to inform your employer about your military schedule is to give him or her a copy of the yearly training schedule.
P X A N D C O M M I S S A R Y P R I V I L E G E S

Unlimited PX and commissary privileges are available to retired Army

Reservists.

“Gray-area” retirees are also authorized 12 discretionary visits to the

commissary per year after transfer to the Retired Reserve and prior to

age 60. Presentation of a military ID card and DD Form 2529 U.S.

Armed Forces Commissary Privilege Card are required for discretionary

visits.

R E C R E A T I O N F A C I L I T I E S

Upon transfer to the Retired Reserve, you are eligible to use morale,

welfare and recreation facilities at military installations. Military recreation areas on lakes, seashores and mountains are also available on a

space available basis.

S P A C E A V A I L A B L E T R A V E L

Retired Reservists and family members are eligible for worldwide space

available travel. Family members of “gray area” retirees cannot fly

Space A. See page 12, Space Available Travel for Reservists, for more

information.

O F F I C E R A N D N C O C L U B

M E M B E R S H I P S

As a Reserve retiree, you’re eligible for membership in Officer and NCO

clubs.

S U R V I V O R B E N E F I T P L A N

If you choose to enroll in the Survivor Benefit Plan, your spouse or

beneficiary will receive up to 55 percent of your monthly retirement pay

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8. R E T I R E M E N T B E N E F I T S

R E T I R E M E N T P A Y

As a Reservist attending regular monthly drills and Annual Training, you

are building up points toward retirement pay. You are eligible to receive

retirement checks once you reach age 60 with 20 years of qualifying

service. Retirement pay is based on points earned during both active

duty (one point per day) and Reserve drill days, plus certain other

activities. Although the formula for calculating benefits can change and

depends on rank and length of service, here is a general formula:

1. Total Number of Points divided by 360 days = Years of Service

2. Years of Service x .025 = Percentage of Pay Due

3. Percentage x Current Base Pay = Retirement Pay Per Month

M E D I C A L A N D D E N T A L C A R E

Once you are receiving retirement pay, you and your spouse may be

eligible for medical care at military medical facilities on a space available

basis. You may also be eligible for CHAMPUS/TRICARE reimbursement

for civilian medical care.

Reservists not on active duty are authorized to receive periodic physical

exams and protective mask optical inserts. Only Reservists who are on

active duty or who were injured in the line of duty are eligible for Department of Defense medical treatment.

A voluntary dental insurance program began on October 1, 1997, for

Selected Reserve soldiers. Called the TRICARE Selective Reserve

Dental Program, it covers only the soldier, not family members. By law,

premiums cannot exceed $25 per year. The plan provides benefits for

basic dental care and treatment, including diagnostic services, basic

restorative services and emergency care. Enrollment terminates upon

discharge or transfer from the Selected Reserve or an order to active

duty for more than 30 days.
9. M A K I N G S U R E Y O U G E T

Y O U R B E N E F I T S

If you experience a problem with your Reserve pay or promotion, notify

your first line leader or supervisor immediately and ask for help.

Many of the benefits such as PX, commissary and space available travel

have specific procedures you must follow to use them.

Civilian education, military schooling, officer programs and retirement

benefits require applications.

Some sources of help for obtaining Reserve benefits:

■ Use your chain of command first, starting with your immediate

supervisor. Others who can help: your platoon sergeant, section leader,

unit retention NCO, first sergeant, unit commander.

■ Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act, especially for those mobilized.

when you die. The premium is paid with deductions from the monthly

retirement paycheck. Cost is 2.5% of the first $300 of monthly pay.

Reservists who have completed 20 years of service can participate even

if they are not yet 60 years old. Family members of a deceased “gray

area” retiree are eligible for medical benefits even if the retiree did not

elect the Survivor Benefit Plan. Eligibility begins on the date when the

retiree would have turned age 60.

V E T E R A N S B E N E F I T S

For eligible veterans, the Veterans Administration will reimburse a portion

of the money spent on a headstone or marker in a private cemetery. A

burial flag is provided for soldiers who have completed 20 years of

creditable service in the Army Reserve.

“Gray area” retirees are entitled to burial in a national cemetery and

memorial flag, or a headstone/marker if buried in a private cemetery (the

headstone is shipped at government expense but the VA does not pay

the cost of placing the headstone/marker). The family is eligible to

receive a Presidential Certificate that bears the President’s signature.

Many funeral homes are well-versed on the burial rights of veterans and

know the procedures to follow. Family members also can call the

regional office of the VA for assistance.

Some veterans may qualify for various pensions, burial in a national

cemetery, home loan guarantees and education benefits. The Veterans

Administration can provide more information on these programs. Call

them toll free at (800) 827-1000.

Reference: AR 135-180

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