10 U.S.C. § 2142 — Educational assistance program: eligibility

(a)(1) An educational-assistance program under this chapter must provide that a person who enlists or reenlists in an armed force under the jurisdiction of the relevant military-department Secretary becomes entitled to assistance under section 2143 when the person enlists, if the person meets the eligibility requirements set by that Secretary under subsection (b). This is subject to paragraph (3).

(2) The person is entitled to one standard academic year, or its equivalent, for each year of the enlistment^*, up to four years. If the person is discharged or otherwise released from active duty^* after serving two years of the enlistment but before completing the enlistment’s full term—or before four years of the term, if the enlistment is longer than four years—the person is entitled to one standard academic year, or its equivalent, for each year of active service^* during that term. A part of a year is rounded to the nearest month and then prorated to a standard academic year.

(3)(A) A member is not entitled to assistance if discharged or otherwise released from active duty before completing two years of active service in the enlistment supporting the entitlement, or if discharged or released under conditions other than honorable.

(B) A member may not use the entitlement until completing two years of active service in the enlistment supporting it.

(b) The Secretary concerned^* must limit eligibility to people who—

(1) enlist or reenlist for active duty in the Army^*, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps after September 30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981;

(2) graduated from a secondary school; and

(3) meet any other requirements the Secretary considers appropriate for this chapter and the armed forces’ needs.