REAP stands for the “Reserve Educational Assistance Program”, a program that was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.
The program is designed to provide military education loan assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
A new component of the program is the so-called “$600 Buy-up Program” which allows some reservists to contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. You must be a member of a Ready Reserve component (Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, or Inactive National Guard) to pay into the “buy-up” program. For more information contact your personnel or payroll office. For a listing of the increased monthly rates click HERE.