Army Reserve soldiers must be in good standing as a drilling reservist, meaning that they are fulfilling their time commitment for training. Secondly, the soldier must claim an educational goal that leads to a credential higher than his current level of education. All courses must be completed before his time of separation from the Army Reserve. If you are a commissioned officer, you must have at least four years of Selected Reserve service remaining upon the point of completion of the courses for which you are receiving tuition reimbursement.
The Army Reserve offers 100 percent tuition assistance, equaling up to $250 per semester hour. The benefit is limited to $4,500 annually for educational tuition assistance, equaling roughly 18 hours of coursework per year. If the soldier is considering coursework that is scheduled on a quarterly basis, then the tuition assistance is doled out at $166 per quarter hour.
Generally, the cost of college education rises nearly every year at every college. While there may be some exceptions, across the board the expectation is that tuition and student fees will increase on a yearly basis. If you are considering a partnership with the Army Reserve to pay for college, then you may want to consider if the tuition assistance program will be enough to cover your expenses, not only according to current tuition rates, but also two or three years down the road when tuition will most likely be higher. Ask the college you are considering for a report showing the trend of increase in tuition rate for the past several years to help make your decision.
Other programs at the Army Reserve include the Education Career Stabilization (ECS) program, which is offered by a majority of Army Reserve units across the country. ECS allows a soldier-student to finish a college degree while deferring mobilization and deployment. The Montgomery GI Bill is also available in addition to the regular tuition reimbursement program depending on the duration of enlistment for reserve soldiers. The GI Bill can offer up to $11,988 for college costs (as of April 2010).
In addition to the tuition assistance programs, the Army Reserve also offers education in the form of on-the-job training. There are multiple nationally recognized professional and trade certifications available through the Army Reserve. Different career options available through the Army Reserve include administration and support, multimedia, computers and technology, construction and engineering, intelligence and combat support, legal and law enforcement, medical and emergency, and transportation and aviation. In addition to receiving training, enlisting in the Army Reserve will also enable you to take advantage of help with locating and securing a job.