RE: Why did my Recruiter tell me that i have to sign up for six extra years of reserves to be eligible for REAP ... Is this information correct ?http://forums.military.com/money-for-school/reserve/gi-bill/reserve-education-assistance-program-reap

Are officers entitled to receive REAP, chapter 1607, benefits?

In order to receive Reserve benefits, you must be an active member of the Reserves. So, if you plan to take six years to use up your benefits (which is possible if you don't go to school full-time), then your recruiter was right. Remember, though, your REAP benefits are dependent on how many years of active duty you have since September 11th.

Not exactly, REAP is not based on how many years you served after 9/11, but, as little as 90 days.However, serving more than 90 days, including 1,2, or more years, will increase yourREAP benefits...it's just too confusing..VA needs to make understanding these programs much easier.

Can a retired reservist be eligible for the REAP if been activated to active duty for 10 months, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom?

I am a marine reservist (0331) who spent 18 months activated, 6 months in Iraq, and honorably discharged..... I DONT QUALIFY FOR REAP OR ANY OTHER BENIFITS!!!

I just found out that because my end of drilling date was in August, and my end of official contract was in August 2007 that I am now ASSED OUT...

**I gave blood, sweat and tears and this is what I get**

quote:

Originally posted by 12310014:
Not exactly, REAP is not based on how many years you served after 9/11, but, as little as 90 days.However, serving more than 90 days, including 1,2, or more years, will increase yourREAP benefits...it's just too confusing..VA needs to make understanding these programs much easier.

So, if you serve in Iraq and come home and your still active and you would like to return to school...how does that work?

I agree with about those of us that were deployed more then once spent over 10 yr. Now what? We are SOL, Yet if I was active I could still have my education benefits.

I am a medically retired reservist for ptsd and shoulders. I spent 7 yrs in the reserves with 1 tour in Iraq 04-05. When I came back from Iraq, I finished college under REAP in 2006. Since then,I finally got out, medically retired (TDRL). My last reverve date is 7/31/07 in DOD and 8/1/07 for retirement date (TDRL).

They tell me I still have 11 months and 28 days of benefits, under both ch 1606 and ch 1607. The probelm for me right now is they are saying since dod has me leaving the reserves on 7/31/07, then I am only eligible for REAP up til that date because my disability retirement happened after Iraq activation. It doesn't make sense to me. I have been fighting with VA over this. They tell me I have to have DOD change my eligibility date. How do I do this?

I am now an apprentice and wanted to use up my remaing benfits while I am in the apprenticeship program.

Can anyone help clarify this??

quote:

Originally posted by USMC_HVEQ:
I am a medically retired reservist for ptsd and shoulders. I spent 7 yrs in the reserves with 1 tour in Iraq 04-05. When I came back from Iraq, I finished college under REAP in 2006. Since then,I finally got out, medically retired (TDRL). My last reverve date is 7/31/07 in DOD and 8/1/07 for retirement date (TDRL).

They tell me I still have 11 months and 28 days of benefits, under both ch 1606 and ch 1607. The probelm for me right now is they are saying since dod has me leaving the reserves on 7/31/07, then I am only eligible for REAP up til that date because my disability retirement happened after Iraq activation. It doesn't make sense to me. I have been fighting with VA over this. They tell me I have to have DOD change my eligibility date. How do I do this?

I am now an apprentice and wanted to use up my remaing benfits while I am in the apprenticeship program.

Can anyone help clarify this??

I do no completely understand your question. If the last day you were in the reserves was 7/31/07 and your retirement date started 8/1/07, then your REAP is based on the last date served 7/31/07.

Did you type in the wrong date for your retirement in your question?

If you go to this page, you can download federal forms which have the correct address's to apply to have your DD 214/service record corrected.http://www.forms.gov/bgfPortal/docSearch.do;jsessionid=D9A6A8134EA36557A9AB8838B2432F4D

no since i got medically retired, I thought I could still use reap? if I had jsut left voluntarily, I know I wouldnt get it. My question is how do I get DOD to change my eligibility?

OK, here's the scoop on REAP (1607)

If you were actively drilling with the Reserves/Guard and were called to active duty for 90 or more days and upon being demobilized and go back to drilling with the Reserve/Guard, you are eligible. If after that you leave the Reserves, your REAP will be terminated. If at anytime you go back to drilling status with the Reserves/Guard you become REAP eligible again regardless of how long your break in service was.

If you were medically retired/discharged from the guard/Reserves and meet REAP eligibility, you are entitled to use REAP for a 10 year period from your date of discharge. This is spelled out in Public Law 110-181. Send VA a copy of your discharge certificate showing you were medically discharged. If VA has already denied you REAP benefits because you are now discharged, send them a letter with the words "Notice of Disagreement" on the top and then in the body of the letter let them know that under Public Law 110-181 you are entitled to a 10 year delimiting date from your date of discharge.

If you signed up and did eight years in the Reserves/Guard and meet REAP eligibility and at the end of your eighth year you were actively drilling, then you too are entitled to use your REAP benefit for 10 years from date of discharge. This also is in Public Law 110-181. If this sounds like your situation send the VA a copy of your original eight year contract and your NGB 22 (I believe that is your discharge certificate). If VA has already denied you, send them a letter that says on top of it "Notice of Disagreement". And let them know that under Public Law 110-181 you are entitled to a 10 year Delimiting Date because you completed your eight committment actively drilling.

If you are eligible for REAP and retire from the Reserves/Guard, you are entitled to use REAP education benefits for a 10 year period from your date of retirement. Also covered under Public Law 110-181. Send in a copy of your discharge paper work.

Officers as well as NCO's and enlisted personnel can be eligible for REAP. As long as they meet the 90 days called up etc.

If the sum total of all your deployments is 3 years or more, you are qualified for the Active Duty benefit Chapter 30. Although with Chapter 33 coming August 1, 2009, you might not want to convert to chapter 30 cuz they'll hit you up for $1200. The VA will not ask for this money, but your service organization will.

Some of you that posted here may not qualify for REAP because you left the Reserves/Guard and don't meet the requirements for a 10 year delimiting date. However you more than likely will qualify for Chapter 33 come August 1, 2009.

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

Public Law 110-181 was passed around March 2008. In it Congress established, amongst other things, a 10 year period to use REAP for certain Reservist/Guardsmen discharged from actively drilling with their reserve component. So, if you applied before March 08, and you were denied REAP education benefits because you left the Reserves/Guard, you were probably denied by the VA appropriately. The law now has changed...REAPPLY now. You may NOW be qualified.

To the pupa that started this thread, Reinlisting might not be necessary to keep your REAP benefits for the above mentioned reasons.

Stay tuned!!!

wow, that is very imformative.

My sitaution again was this. SMCR reservist from 01-04 ,activated 04-05, went to Iraq for OIF 2. I was going to college prior to 04 on then ch106 (now called ch 1606). I did 365 days, so I qualified for 60% benfits under REAP. I went back to college and continued drilling. I rec'd REAP benefits when they became available in 2006. I had graduated college in 2006 under ch 1607 @ 60% REAP.

I was already in process to be medically separated in 2006. I went to a MEB in 2007. I was found unfit and diagnosed with PTSD. I also had bad shoulders, the medical parts aren't the issue. I was informed by the PEB that I was to be placed on TDRl (temp disability retired list) for ptsd and my shoulders rated at 40% combined rating. I was told by DFAS my retirement date was 8/1/07. Since i was a reservist at this point I was not given a DD214. I was given an honorable discharge certificate with 7/31/07 as the date. I also rec'd a TDRL certificate.

I am now in local 4 operating engineers (Boston) apprenticeship. I looked into using my remaining benefits, which are 11 months and 28 days. I filed for it using VONAPP. I've been in program since june but didnt start classes and work til September. I am only asking for September, on forward as I wasnt attending or working yet. I am currently not working but going to classes 3 days a week (15 hrs/wk), I was told I was eligible for REAP from august(after my 90 days til July 31, 2007.

what I dont understand or not sure what to do, is how can REAP say if disability then 10 yrs after eligibity date but yet they are trying to deny me ch 1607.

I've been in contact back and forth with VA via the questions option online. They say I need DOD to change my eligibility date, how do I do that?

quote:

Originally posted by USMC_HVEQ:
wow, that is very imformative.

My sitaution again was this. SMCR reservist from 01-04 ,activated 04-05, went to Iraq for OIF 2. I was going to college prior to 04 on then ch106 (now called ch 1606). I did 365 days, so I qualified for 60% benfits under REAP. I went back to college and continued drilling. I rec'd REAP benefits when they became available in 2006. I had graduated college in 2006 under ch 1607 @ 60% REAP.

I was already in process to be medically separated in 2006. I went to a MEB in 2007. I was found unfit and diagnosed with PTSD. I also had bad shoulders, the medical parts aren't the issue. I was informed by the PEB that I was to be placed on TDRl (temp disability retired list) for ptsd and my shoulders rated at 40% combined rating. I was told by DFAS my retirement date was 8/1/07. Since i was a reservist at this point I was not given a DD214. I was given an honorable discharge certificate with 7/31/07 as the date. I also rec'd a TDRL certificate.

I am now in local 4 operating engineers (Boston) apprenticeship. I looked into using my remaining benefits, which are 11 months and 28 days. I filed for it using VONAPP. I've been in program since june but didnt start classes and work til September. I am only asking for September, on forward as I wasnt attending or working yet. I am currently not working but going to classes 3 days a week (15 hrs/wk), I was told I was eligible for REAP from august(after my 90 days til July 31, 2007.

what I dont understand or not sure what to do, is how can REAP say if disability then 10 yrs after eligibity date but yet they are trying to deny me ch 1607.

I've been in contact back and forth with VA via the questions option online. They say I need DOD to change my eligibility date, how do I do that?

I can't answer your REAP question but have you considered applying for the Voc Rehab program? www.vetsuccess.gov

If you are now medically discharged, you do get to use your 1607 education benefit for 10 years from your date of discharge. Everytime the VA works a 1607 claim the VA Claims Examiner goes to a web site to see if the Vet still has 1607 eligibility. More than likely your unit reported that you left the Reserves/Guard and therefore the claims examiner sees a code on that web site that basically says "no longer eligible". That's probably why they stopped your 1607 benefits on 8/1/07. And more than likely the VA has no information on you being medically discharged.

Here's what to do...send VA a copy of your discharge paperwork showing that you were medically discharged. Along with that information send a letter with your name, address, social security # (at least your last four such as XXX-XX-1234). On the top of the letter put "Notice of Disagreement"
Then in the body of the letter tell them that you were medically discharged after returning from your call to active duty. Also state that you would like to receive a 10 year delimiting date from your date of discharge based on you being medically discharged. Also put in the letter that under Public Law 110-181 you are entitled to a delimiting date.

Also you should be able to switch to chapter 33 this August if you still have some months/days of education benefits that have not been used.

KB325 and others,

thanks for the great info on my questions/problems. KB325, I think you hit the nail on the head witht eheligibility thing. How do i get my old unit to change that date? I will send in NOD along with discharge paperwork to regional office in BUffalo. I rec'd an honorable discharge but was placed on TDRL.

I was told in past by VA in emails that i need to get reserves to change eligilbity date, any idea who i ask in my old unit?

quote:

Originally posted by USMC_HVEQ:
KB325 and others,

thanks for the great info on my questions/problems. KB325, I think you hit the nail on the head witht eheligibility thing. How do i get my old unit to change that date? I will send in NOD along with discharge paperwork to regional office in BUffalo. I rec'd an honorable discharge but was placed on TDRL.

I was told in past by VA in emails that i need to get reserves to change eligilbity date, any idea who i ask in my old unit?

Each unit has a Unit Administrator - usually a GS position. I would start with her/him.

Can I pass REAP down to a child?

quote:

Originally posted by 19208473:
Can I pass REAP down to a child?

The Department of Defense is in charge of establishing the rules for transfering benefits to spouse and children - they haven't put out those rules yet. sorry, can't answer this at this time.

I need to get my entitlement dates in the DOD system changed. I was an activated reservist from 2004-2005 for OIF 2 and became eligibile on 8/15/04 for REAP. I was medically retired due to PTSD and shoulders in 7/31/2007. The problem I am currently incurring is that the VA says my dates of entitlement/eligibility are from 8/15/04-7/31/07. they need DOD to change the dates to include a 10 yr window for disability, becuase that is why I left the SMCR.

My questions are how do I get DOD to change my eligibility dates in the system? I am medically retired and no longer part of the reserves, so asking me to go to my old unit is a waste of time, they are currently deployed in Iraq again. I appreciate all help in this matter.

quote:

Originally posted by USMC_HVEQ:
I need to get my entitlement dates in the DOD system changed. I was an activated reservist from 2004-2005 for OIF 2 and became eligibile on 8/15/04 for REAP. I was medically retired due to PTSD and shoulders in 7/31/2007. The problem I am currently incurring is that the VA says my dates of entitlement/eligibility are from 8/15/04-7/31/07. they need DOD to change the dates to include a 10 yr window for disability, becuase that is why I left the SMCR.

My questions are how do I get DOD to change my eligibility dates in the system? I am medically retired and no longer part of the reserves, so asking me to go to my old unit is a waste of time, they are currently deployed in Iraq again. I appreciate all help in this matter.

Your unit does have a higher hqs that could help you with this or maybe a state hqs.

the point is I'm no longer associated with my old unit as I was medically retired.

DOes anyone know how to get DOD to change the entitlement dates int he computer? I need the ending date changed from 7/31/07 to 10 yrs from when I became eligible. I need to do this so i can back date my claim for last year. I have an NOD pending on GI bill benefits. I have 11 months and 28 days in which I plan to use up as I am in a Union apprenticeship. VA told me, that I need DOD to change the date and don't knwo whom to contact.

thanks for your help. ANyone else eve have a problem like this?

This is not an education issue. I would try the Board of Correction of Military Records for your service.

ok, thanks for your help and advice. I still think it is an education issue partly. I'm trying to use up the remaining time I'm entitled to REAP and need to get my eligibility dates changed in DOD system.

I thank everyone for your help/opinions. I apologize if I'm still way off. Has anyone else had this problem?

Posted Wed 14 October 2009 06:23 PM Hide Post
the point is I'm no longer associated with my old unit as I was medically retired.

DOes anyone know how to get DOD to change the entitlement dates int he computer? I need the ending date changed from 7/31/07 to 10 yrs from when I became eligible. I need to do this so i can back date my claim for last year. I have an NOD pending on GI bill benefits. I have 11 months and 28 days in which I plan to use up as I am in a Union apprenticeship. VA told me, that I need DOD to change the date and don't knwo whom to contact.

thanks for your help. ANyone else eve have a problem like this?
Posts: 7 | Registered: Thu 01 January 2009




The changing of your dates/record is a DoD issue however this is definitely an education issue. If I am understanding you correctly, the VA is telling you that you only have a retro period of REAP benefits. Right. Well if you were discharged for a disability and that is what your dd214 says then you are eligible for a 10 year delimiting date. There is no need to change anything as far as your discharge date goes. VA might be dropping the ball on this one. Here a little advice. Since your claim is going nowhere in Buffalo, send in a new V22-1990 to one of the other 3 VA offices that work education claims. When you apply it will ask you if you know your educational goal. Answer yes and that you want to get a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. This action will send your "new" claim to St. Louis and a new set of eyes will look into your claim. If they make you eligible then you are in. Then have the folks from your local send in your hours to the appropriate office. Then, if the computer has you established as eligible, the person on the other end will simply pay you what you are entitled. I know this is kind of backing in but it will work. Let me know when you send in the new VA 22-1990. On line works best and quickest.

thanks for your advice and the advice of everyone. KM, you are correct. This is an education issue. It however is not a discharge issue. The problem is I was a reservist, hence the REAP GI bill coverage. When I got out due to disability retirement, I did not receive a dd214 for it. I have TDRL letter and now PDRL letter. I also have a letter from my VA c-file stating I left service due to disability incurred in the line of duty. I do believe the VA is dropping the ball. It seems like they know I need the date changed in the DOD system but dont want to do the running around work for me and want me to do it.

I got what you meant about getting another VA regional office to look at it. I appreciate it. I'm going to call someone at HQRTRS USMC and see if I can get someone there to help. If that mission fails, then I will take up your advice. I will keep you posted. I thank you again for you advice and help.