student loan repayment program

we’ll help pay your student loans

The Army National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is available to eligible Soldiers and officer candidates who carry qualifying Title IV federal loans. Payments go straight to your lender — not to you as a reimbursement.

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who qualifies

Joining the National Guard for the first time (Non-Prior Service)
Transferifng from another branch (Prior Service)
Already serving — re-enlisting or extending

eligibility requirements

find your path to loan repayment

Requirements vary depending on where you are in your service journey. Find the path that fits, then expand to review the full requirements list.

joining for the first time

New recruits can qualify for SLRP as a standalone incentive — including those enlisting under the Split Training Option or Civilian Acquired Skills Program (CASP).

prior service soldier

Served in another branch? You may qualify for SLRP as a standalone incentive when you enlist or affiliate with the Guard.

Enlist for a minimum six-year term of service.
Enlist/affiliate in the grade of E-7 or below.
Must have fewer than 16 years of time in service (TIS) upon enlistment/affiliation.
Must have received an Honorable Discharge or Honorable Release at the conclusion of all prior service.
Enlist/affiliate into a Critical Skill (CS) vacancy within Tier Levels 1–6 matching your authorized skill level.
Must be Duty MOS Qualified (DMOSQ) in the contracted SLRP MOS at time of enlistment/affiliation.
Must not have previously received SLRP or a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) ROTC scholarship.
Must not be enlisting as a non-09S SLRP OCS candidate or 09R SMP cadet (except for 09S SLRP option).
Must have scored a minimum of 31 on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT).
Must not be enlisting under a Conditional Release (DD Form 368) from a SELRES component other than USAR.

Re-enlisting or Extending

Current Guard members re-enlisting or extending can access SLRP — and may extend their repayment term until reaching the maximum lifetime benefit.

program benefit

how much can the guard pay?

Each anniversary year of your incentive contract, the Guard pays up to $8,333 toward your qualifying federal loans — principal and accrued interest included. Payments go straight to your financial institution.
The Guard will not reimburse you for payments you've already made. All SLRP payments are made directly to the lender — no exceptions.

loan & program restrictions

Important details about which loans qualify, how default status is handled, and what can terminate your benefit. Review before committing.

SLRP Restrictions & Fine Print

You must have one or more qualifying, disbursed Title IV federal loans not in default at the time of enlistment or re-enlistment/extension.
Loans must have been disbursed before your enlistment date and be at least one year old by the contract anniversary date (unless adjusted for authorized nonavailability periods).
Loans disbursed after your enlistment, affiliation, or re-enlistment date are generally not eligible — unless you are re-enlisting for a minimum six-year contract 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 initially disbursed loan amount, including accrued interest.
Loans with a remaining balance less than the maximum yearly repayment amount will only receive payment up to that remaining balance. Loans with a zero balance are not eligible.
Prorated payments are not authorized — including for separations resulting in less than a full year of satisfactory participation, or for acceptance of an AGR or Military Technician position (including temporary technicians on assignment more than 189 days in any 12-month period).
You must make monthly loan payments (if required) to prevent your loans from entering default status.
Loans in default may become eligible on the next anniversary date if they are no longer in default. You must provide a written statement from your lender to refute a National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) report.
Lender information must be verified annually against NSLDS documents no older than 90 days from the scheduled anniversary payment date.
The National Guard pays your loan servicer directly. Payments will not be made to you, and the Guard will not reimburse anyone for payments already made.
Any break in service will permanently terminate SLRP eligibility, except for authorized periods of nonavailability. Soldiers with more than one authorized break in service must be terminated without recoupment.
Any Army Medical Department (AMEDD) officer who received SLRP will be terminated without recoupment on the date they are appointed into an AMEDD corps or branch — except for MOSs 67J, 70B, and 72D.
Any extension of less than six years will terminate SLRP eligibility.

This is a summary of eligibility conditions and restrictions. For complete program details, contact your Recruiter, state point of contact, or Education Services Officer (ESO).

next steps

ready to put your loans behind you?

Your country is counting on you. Your recruiter can confirm your eligibility and walk you through every detail — no obligation.

Contact a recruiter