republic-os/legal/us/code/title-38/chapter-30/section-3018.md

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LegalText	38 U.S.C. § 3018	Opportunity for certain active-duty personnel to withdraw election not to enroll	us	united_states_code	code_section	38	VETERANS’ BENEFITS	30	ALL-VOLUNTEER FORCE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM	3018	38 U.S.C. § 3018	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t38/s3018	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml	174f846d35cf884af1629393e0f75ff5e44429e42f3b17ded46711b13b247b5d	372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66	33c5439f84a3ab68879610363363845bbbb37892e3f32b41cc222910844f4e75	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

38 U.S.C. § 3018 - Opportunity for certain active-duty personnel to withdraw election not to enroll

Text

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, during the period beginning December 1, 1988, and ending June 30, 1989 (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “open period”), an individual who—

(1) first became a member of the Armed Forces or first entered on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces during the period beginning July 1, 1985, and ending June 30, 1988;

(2) has continuously served on active duty without a break in service since the date the individual first became such a member or first entered on active duty as such a member; and

(3) is serving on active duty during the open period,

shall have the opportunity, in accordance with this section and on such form as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe, to withdraw an election made under section 3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title not to receive educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) An individual described in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this section who made an election under section 3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title and who—

(1) while serving on active duty during the open period, makes a withdrawal of such an election;

(2) continues to serve the period of service which, at the beginning of the open period, such individual was obligated to serve;

(3) (A) serves the obligated period of service described in clause (2) of this subsection;

(B) before completing such obligated period of service, is discharged or released from active duty for (i) a service-connected disability, (ii) a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, (iii) hardship, or (iv) a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability and did not result from the individual’s own willful misconduct but did interfere with the individual’s performance of duty, as determined by the Secretary of each military department in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense (or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service of the Navy); or

(C) before completing such obligated period of service, is (i) discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government after completing not less than 20 months of such period of service, if such period was less than three years, or 30 months, if such period was at least three years, or (ii) involuntarily discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense;

(4) before applying for benefits under this section—

(A) completes the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate); or

(B) successfully completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree; and

(5) upon completion of such obligated period of service—

(A) is discharged from service with an honorable discharge, is placed on the retired list, is transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list;

(B) continues on active duty; or

(C) is released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces after service on active duty characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service,

is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(c) The basic pay of an individual withdrawing, under subsection (b)(1) of this section, an election under section 3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title shall be reduced by—

(1) $1,200; or

(2) in the case of an individual described in clause (B) or (C) of subsection (b)(3) of this section whose discharge or release from active duty prevents the reduction of the basic pay of such individual by $1,200, an amount less than $1,200.

(d) A withdrawal under subsection (b)(1) of this section is irrevocable.

(Added Pub. L. 100–689, title I, § 103(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4164, § 1418; amended Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), (4)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; Pub. L. 102–16, § 10(a)(2), Mar. 22, 1991, 105 Stat. 55; renumbered § 3018 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 102–86, title V, § 506(b)(2), Aug. 14, 1991, 105 Stat. 426; Pub. L. 102–568, title III, § 309(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4329; Pub. L. 105–368, title II, § 203(a), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3326; Pub. L. 106–419, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1825; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(d), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2315.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2002—Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”. 2000—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 106–419 amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “before completing such obligated period of service (i) has completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or an equivalency certificate), or (ii) has successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree; and”. 1998—Subsec. (b)(4)(ii). Pub. L. 105–368 substituted “successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for)” for “successfully completed”. 1992—Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 102–568 added cl. (iv). 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1418 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–86 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(4)(A). See 1989 Amendment note below. Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1)” for “1411(c)(1) or 1412(d)(1)” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1)” for “1411(c)(1) or 1412(d)(1)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–16 substituted “service (i)” for “service,” and added cl. (ii). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1)” for “1411(c)(1) or 1412(d)(1)” in introductory provisions. 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(4)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 102–86, inserted “of Defense” after “Secretary” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–368 effective Oct. 1, 1998, see section 203(b) of Pub. L. 105–368, set out as a note under section 3011 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 AmendmentPub. L. 102–568, title III, § 309(b), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4329, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as if enacted on December 1, 1988.”

Effective Date of 1991 AmendmentPub. L. 102–86, title V, § 506(b), Aug. 14, 1991, 105 Stat. 426, provided that the amendment made by section 506(b)(2) is effective as of Dec. 18, 1989.