SUBJ: RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (REAP)
A. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) FY 2008
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 081349Z MAY 08/ALCOAST 227/08
1. THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES CLARIFICATION AND GUIDANCE FOR
ADMINISTERING THE RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(REAP) TITLE 10 UNITED STATES CODE (U.S.C.) CHAPTER 1607.
2. REAP WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE RONALD REAGAN NDAA OF 2005.
THIS BENEFIT IS FOR RESERVISTS WHO WERE ACTIVATED FOR AT LEAST
90 DAYS IN SUPPORT OF A CONTINGENCY OPERATION ON OR AFTER 11
SEP 2001. ELIGIBLE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS ARE OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE
(ONE), OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF),AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
(OIF).
3. THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE IS A PERCENTAGE OF
THE MGIB-AD (CHAPTER 30) THREE YEAR RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF
DAYS SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY.
 A. THE TIME SERVED AND PERCENTAGES OF MGIB-AD ARE AS
FOLLOWS:
  (1) 40 PERCENT - AT LEAST 90 CONTINUOUS DAYS BUT LESS THAN 1
CONTINUOUS YEAR.
  (2) 60 PERCENT – 1 CONTINUOUS YEAR BUT LESS THAN 2 CONTINUOUS
YEARS.
  (3) 80 PERCENT – 2 OR MORE CONTINUOUS YEARS OR 3 CUMULATIVE
YEARS.
 B. A SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) MEMBER WHO WAS ORDERED TO ACTIVE
DUTY FOR A CONTINGENCY BUT WAS RELEASED FROM DUTY BEFORE COMPLETING
90 CONSECUTIVE DAYS DUE TO INJURY, ILLNESS, OR DISEASE
INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, AND NOT OF THEIR
OWN WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO EDUCATION
ASSISTANCE AT THE 40 PERCENT RATE.
4. MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY OF REAP:
 A. A RESERVIST RETAINS ELIGIBILITY TO REAP WHILE IN THE READY
RESERVE IF:
  (1) MEMBER IS CALLED UP FROM SELRES AND RETURNS TO SELRES
WHEN DEMOB OCCURS, OR
  (2) MEMBER IS CALLED UP FROM IRR AND RETURNS TO THE SELRES OR
IRR WHEN DEMOB OCCURS.
 B. A SELRES MEMBER WHO IS ENTITLED TO REAP AND IS SEPARATED
FROM THE SELRES REMAINS ELIGIBLE FOR REAP FOR 10 YEARS IF THE
MEMBER MEETS BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
  (1) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A SERVICE CONTRACT (ENLISTMENT,
REENLISTMENT)
  (2) SEPARATED BETWEEN 28OCT04 AND 27JAN08 UNDER A MINIMUM
OF OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE OR WAS SEPARATED ON OR AFTER
28JAN08 UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
 C. WHEN A SELRES MEMBER WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAP TRANSFERS TO
THE IRR, BUT HAS NOT COMPLETED THEIR SERVICE CONTRACT,
PAYMENTS WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE MEMBER REAFFILIATES
WITH THE SELRES.
5. BUY-UP PROGRAM: NDAA 2008 ESTABLISHED A BUY-UP PROGRAM
ENABLING A RESERVIST TO CONTRIBUTE UP TO 600 DOLLARS WHICH
WOULD INCREASE THE APPROPRIATE MONTHLY BENEFIT 5 DOLLARS
FOR EVERY 20 DOLLARS CONTRIBUTED. THE MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION
IS 20 DOLLARS AND THE MAXIMUM IS 600 DOLLARS. CONTRIBUTIONS
MAY NOT BE MADE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN MONTHLY AND MUST BE
IN MULTIPLES OF 20 DOLLARS.
 A. THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR ELIGIBLE
BUY-UP PARTICIPANTS REGARDLESS OF PAYMENT METHOD: MEMBERS
ELECTING TO PARTICIPATE MUST COMPLETE A MGIB INCREASED BENEFIT
CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM FORM DD-2366-1 WITH "REAP BUY-UP" CLEARLY
MARKED ON THE TOP OF THE FORM. THIS IS AN ACTIVE DUTY FORM. YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO BE ON ACTIVE DUTY BUT MUST BE IN THE READY RESERVE. THE
MEMBER SHALL COMPLETE BLOCKS 1 AND 2 USING EMPLID. DO NOT USE A
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. MEMBER WILL SCAN AND EMAIL SIGNED FORM TO
RESERVEVAEDUCATION(AT)USCG.MIL. MEMBERS QUALIFYING TIME WILL BE
VALIDATED AND THEIR CERTIFIED MGIB INCREASED BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION
PROGRAM FORM DD-2366-1 EMAILED BACK TO THEM WITH A COPY TO PPC.
ONCE APPROVAL IS RECEIVED, MEMBER MAY SEND PAYMENT.
 B. BUY-UP PAYMENT:
  (1) SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO "U.S. COAST GUARD"
WITH "REAP BUY-UP" AND EMPLID CLEARLY MARKED IN THE CHECK
MEMO BLOCK, TO PPC (DC) AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
COMMANDING OFFICER (DC)
USCG PAY AND PERSONNEL CENTER (PPC)
444 SE QUINCY ST.
TOPEKA, KS 66683-3591
ATTN: COLLECTION CLERK
  (2) FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENT: CALL PPC AT 785-339-3610. PLEASE
ENSURE THE CLERK KNOWS THE MEMBER IS MAKING PAYMENT FOR
THE REAP BUY-UP PROGRAM.
 C. MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS WILL POST ON THE MEMBERS LES. IF
PAYMENT IS RECEIVED AFTER THE 15TH OF THE MONTH, IT MAY NOT
POST TO THE LES UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONTH. WHEN APPLYING
FOR REAP BENEFITS, THE VA MAY REQUEST COPIES OF THE COMPLETED MGIB
INCREASED BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM FORM DD-2366-1 AND FINAL LES
SHOWING CONTRIBUTION. MEMBER SHOULD MAINTAIN A COPY OF THE MGIB
INCREASED BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM FORM DD-2236-1 ALONG WITH
PAYMENT RECORDS.
 D. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. THERE IS NO PROVISION
IN THE LAW TO ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF THE REAP BUY-UP
CONTRIBUTION TO THE POST 9/11 GI BILL SHOULD THE MEMBER
CHOOSE TO CONVERT TO THE POST 9/11 GI BILL.
6. A SELRES MEMBER WHO SERVED AT LEAST TWO CONTINUOUS YEARS
ON ACTIVE DUTY MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR MGIB-AD (CH-30).
QUALIFIED MEMBERS WOULD MAKE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF
1200 DOLLARS AND MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE ELECTION TO HAVE THEIR
TIME COUNTED FOR CH 30 IN LIEU OF CH 1607. BY DOING SO, THEIR
CH-30 QUALIFYING TIME WOULD NOT COUNT FOR MGIB-SR (CH-1606).
MEMBERS WOULD RECEIVE THE MGIB-AD TWO OR THREE YEAR RATE
ACCORDING TO THE LENGTH OF THEIR CONTINUOUS ACTIVE DUTY
SERVICE. MEMBERS SHOULD REVIEW THE COSTS AND BENEFIT
AMOUNTS ON THE VA WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.GIBILL.VA.GOV/  TO
DETERMINE THE BEST PATH TO TAKE.
7. MEMBERS CAN EMAIL RESERVEVAEDUCATION(AT)USCG.MIL FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
8. CAPT ANDREA L. CONTRATTO, ACTING DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND
TRAINING, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.