National Guard Benefits: College Loan Repayment Options

The rising costs of college education have led many students and recent graduates to consider joining the National Guard to help cover their college loans. The National Guard offers several benefits to its members, including the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), which can help cover up to $50,000 of student loan debt. Additionally, the National Guard can provide tuition assistance, room and board, and support for graduate school. With the SLRP, individuals can serve their country while receiving assistance for their higher education pursuits, making it an attractive option for those seeking to alleviate their financial burden.

The National Guard can help cover up to 100% of college tuition fees

The National Guard can be a great option for those who cannot afford the fees for higher education and do not want to take on massive amounts of student loan debt. It is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, but it is different from other types of active duty. Members of the National Guard serve their country directly and receive numerous benefits as a result. Most members of the National Guard hold a civilian job full-time while serving part-time with a unit.

Additionally, the National Guard offers the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) to help soldiers repay their student loans. The program is available to soldiers and officer candidates with one or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loans. The loans must be listed on the Department of Education National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) aid summary website and must not be in default at the time of enlistment. The National Guard's general repayment amount is up to $50,000, but benefits may vary depending on funding.

The National Guard also supports the Montgomery GI Bill, Post 9/11 GI Bill, and Army National Guard Kicker, which can provide additional financial assistance for college tuition. Furthermore, the Minuteman Scholarship offers full tuition and fees or $12,000 for room and board at colleges and universities served by an Army ROTC program. The National Guard also provides scholarships related to higher education learning and has helped many individuals receive their GED or high school diploma.

The Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

To qualify for the SLRP, you must have less than 16 years of time in service (TIS) upon enlistment/affiliation in the National Guard. You must have received an Honorable Discharge or an Honorable release at the conclusion of all periods of prior military service. You must enlist/affiliate into a Critical Skill (CS) and UIC vacancy that matches the authorized skill level position within Tier Levels 1-6. You must be Duty Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (DMOSQ) in the contracted SLRP MOS at the time of enlistment/affiliation. You must not have previously received the SLRP in your military career. Additionally, you must have scored a minimum of 31 on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT).

It is important to note that loans must have been disbursed prior to the date of enlistment, affiliation, or re-enlistment/extension and must be at least one year old on the anniversary date of the contract. Loans disbursed after the date of enlistment, affiliation, or re-enlistment/extension are generally not eligible for repayment unless you are re-enlisting or extending for a minimum six-year contract in the National Guard without a break in service from the original SLRP contract start date, except for 09S enlistments. Anniversary SLRP payments will not exceed 15% or $1,000 (whichever is greater) of the initial disbursed amounts that were approved upon the date of enlistment, affiliation, re-enlistment, or extension, including accrued interest.

The SLRP is just one example of how the Army National Guard values higher education and offers assistance to help soldiers and officer candidates manage their student loan debt while serving their country.

Qualifying for SLRP

The Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is available to soldiers and officer candidates who have one or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loans. The loans must be listed on the Department of Education National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) aid summary website.

• You must have one or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loans that are not in default at the time of enlistment or re-enlistment/extension.
• Loans must have been disbursed before the date of enlistment, affiliation, or re-enlistment/extension and must be at least one year old on the anniversary date of the contract.
• You must make monthly payments to ensure loans do not enter default status.
• You must have less than 16 years of time in service (TIS) upon enlisting/affiliating with the National Guard.
• You must have received an Honorable Discharge or Honorable release from all prior military service.
• You must enlist/affiliate into a Critical Skill (CS) and UIC vacancy that matches the authorized skill level position within Tier Levels 1-6.
• You must be Duty Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (DMOSQ) in the contracted SLRP MOS at the time of enlistment/affiliation.
• You must not have previously received the SLRP or a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) ROTC scholarship.
• You must have scored a minimum of 31 on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT).
• You must not be enlisting under the provisions of a Conditional Release from a Select Reserve component other than the US Army Reserve.
• If you are a current Guard member, you must meet all re-enlistment or extension eligibility criteria and extend within 365-91 days of your ETS for a minimum six-year term of service.
• You must re-enlist or extend in the grade of E-7 or below.
• You must not be in Mil-Tech status.

SLRP payment exclusions

The Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is available to soldiers and officer candidates (09S) who have one or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loan(s). However, there are certain SLRP payment exclusions to be aware of. Firstly, federal loans must be in the name of the soldier applying for the SLRP program to be eligible for repayment. State and private loans are not eligible for repayment under the SLRP. Additionally, loans that are in default are not eligible for repayment, and soldiers must ensure their loans do not enter into a default status to remain eligible. Loans must also have been disbursed prior to the date of enlistment and must be at least one year old on the anniversary date of the contract. Loans disbursed after the date of enlistment are generally not eligible for repayment unless the soldier is re-enlisting for a minimum six-year contract without a break in service from the original SLRP contract start date. Furthermore, soldiers must not have previously received the SLRP or a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) ROTC scholarship. They must also not be enlisting as a non-09S SLRP Officer Candidate School (OCS) or as a 09R SMP cadet, except for the 09S SLRP option. It is important to note that the National Guard will not make payments directly to soldiers; instead, payments are made directly to the loan provider.

Alternative loan repayment programs

The National Guard offers a Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) to soldiers and officer candidates (09S) with one or more qualifying and disbursed Title IV federal loans. The loans must be listed on the Department of Education National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) aid summary website and not be in default at the time of enlistment or re-enlistment/extension. The National Guard will not make payments directly to soldiers but will repay lenders directly. The Guard's general repayment amount is up to $50,000, but benefits can fluctuate based on funding issues. For example, in July 2023, the Army National Guard ceased payments to soldiers for student loan debt within the SLRP.

To be eligible for the SLRP, individuals must meet several requirements, including:

• Enlisting for at least six years in the National Guard
• Having less than 16 years of time in service (TIS) upon enlistment/affiliation
• Receiving an Honourable Discharge or Honourable release from prior military service
• Enlisting into a Critical Skill (CS) and UIC vacancy within Tier Levels 1-6
• Being Duty Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (DMOSQ) in the contracted SLRP MOS at the time of enlistment/affiliation
• Scoring a minimum of 31 on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT)
• Not having previously received the SLRP or a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) ROTC scholarship
• Not enlisting as a non-09S SLRP Officer Candidate School (OCS) or as a 09R SMP cadet (except for the 09S SLRP option)

It is important to note that the SLRP does not cover Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) in the name of anyone other than the soldier applying for the program or state and private loans. Additionally, individuals cannot receive the SLRP and the GI Bill simultaneously. If one signs up for the SLRP, they must reenlist for at least three more years to be eligible for the GI Bill.

Frequently asked questions