---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2144"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2144"
heading: "Subsistence allowance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2144"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part III — Training and Education"
  - "Chapter 106A — Educational Assistance for Persons Enlisting for Active Duty"
---

# §2144. Subsistence allowance

- (a) Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) entitled to educational assistance under this chapter is entitled to receive a monthly subsistence allowance during any period for which educational assistance is provided such [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2). The amount of a subsistence allowance under this section is $300 per month, adjusted in accordance with [section 2145 of this title](/usc/10/2145.md), in the case of a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) pursuing a course of instruction on a full-time basis and is one-half of such amount (as so adjusted) in the case of a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) pursuing a course of instruction on less than a full-time basis.
- (b) The number of months for which a subsistence allowance may be provided to any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) under this section is computed on the basis of nine months for each standard academic year of educational assistance to which such [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) is entitled.
- (c) For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a), a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) shall be considered to be pursuing a course of instruction on a full-time basis if the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) is enrolled in twelve or more semester hours of instruction (or the equivalent, as determined by [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5)).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 96–342, title IX, § 901(a), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1112.)