Scholarship Programs and Enlistment Plan Rewards
College tuition cost was the highest priority identified by this year's Army Family Action Plan and a number of Army-affiliated organizations are now offering scholarships and loans to ease the financial burden of education. Most programs begin accepting applications during early November and set deadlines in February and March.
The most effective way for prospective college students to begin their search is by calling their school liaison officers, who are located at all Army installations, said Sonia Wriglesworth, an education specialist with the Army Community and Family Support Center in Child and Youth Services Directorate. Wriglesworth also suggested investigating the resources listed below.
Scholarships for Military Children Program
The Scholarships for Military Children Program is offered by the Defense Commissary Agency, partnered with the Fisher House Foundation. Scholarships are for $1500 and the program is open to dependent unmarried children (under the age of 23) of active duty personnel, Guard, Reserve, and retired military.
Eligibility will be determined using the DEERS database. Applicants should ensure they, as well as their sponsor, are currently enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current ID card.
Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and must be planning to attend, or already attending, an accredited college or university full-time in the upcoming fall term. Students attending a community or junior college must be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.
Applications and instructions for the program can be downloaded from http://www.militaryscholar.org/apply/application.shtml. They can also be obtained at any commissary. Applications must be returned by hand or mail to a commissary.
MOOA Scholarship Loan and Grant Programs
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), formerly The Retired Officers Association (TROA), sponsors several scholarship programs. Applications are available at http://www.moaa.org/education/ beginning in November. Semifinalists are notified in March. Recipients are notified in June.
- Interest-Free Loan and Grant Program: This is MOAA's main program. The interest-free loans are renewable annually for up to five years of full-time undergraduate study. Assistance is available only to students who have not earned an undergraduate degree. The Interest-Free Loan and Grant program provides $3,750 loans, which are renewable for up to five years of undergraduate study. Students selected as loan recipients and their sponsoring parent must sign a promissory note before funds can be disbursed. Loans are disbursed in two increments: one-half by early August and one-half by mid-December.
- Base/Post Scholarship: Recipients are randomly selected. Only dependent sons and daughters, under age 24, of ACTIVE DUTY officers and enlisted military personnel are eligible to apply. This includes members of the Drilling Reserves and National Guard. The Base/Post Scholarship is for a one-time $1,000 scholarship grant to 100 students. Scholarships are disbursed by late August, payable only to the student. Membership in MOAA is not a requirement for a Base/Post Scholarship. There is no GPA requirement for this program.
- American Patriot Scholarship: Children (under age 24) of MOAA members and children of active-duty, Reserve, National Guard, or enlisted military personnel whose military parent has died on active service are eligible to apply. The amount of this award is dependent upon donations but will be at least $2,500. The number of scholarships will also be determined by the amount of the funds raised. Semifinalists for this program will be notified via email only.
- Grants: Loan applicants and recipients may be eligible for additional money through special grant programs. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will be notified.
Other Scholarship and Financial Aid Resources
- Starter Kit School Liaison Officer Scholarship, a compact disc which includes listings of more than 100 available scholarships. Also included on the CD are tips for winning scholarships, prioritizing, preparing, contacting schools to explore financial aid opportunities and application deadlines. This CD is available from school liaison officers.
- Need a Lift, a 152-page financial aid reference guide for veterans, veterans' dependents and members of The American Legion. The manual is available for $3.95 at the American Legion National Emblem, P.O. Box 1050, Indianapolis, IN 46206 or by calling 1-888-453-4466 for credit card orders. This reference guide is updated annually.
- Chapters of the Association of the United States Army, the Officers' Wives Club, and the Enlisted Wives Club.
- Private sector financial aid. Programs may be found by visiting Web sites, guidance offices, school liaison centers, and libraries.
DOD Developing Short-Term Enlistment Plan
According to Stars and Stripes, Congress and the White House have given the Pentagon an outline to start work on
a short-term enlistment program, which would let recruits commit to serving 15 months of active duty, after
completing all basic and specialized or advanced training. Under the new plan, the 15 months of active-duty time is to
be followed by either an additional active-duty period, also to be determined, or 24 months in an active status in the
Selected or Ready Reserve, or in a national service program such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. The remainder
would be inactive Reserve, for a total of eight years. For their commitment, those signing up for the short-term
enlistments can select one of the following rewards:
- $5,000 bonus paid after finishing the 15 months of active duty;
- repayment of student loans up to $18,000;
- an educational allowance at the Montgomery GI Bill monthly rate for one year, which now stands at $650;
- an educational allowance of one-half of the GI Bill monthly rate for three years. The current rate is $800, which would earn the recruit a $400 a month entitlement.
The plan is part of the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act.
Sources:
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=481 Courtney Brooks, "Scholarship season opens for 2003-2004 school year". ArmyLINK News, December 2002.
http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarships.shtml The Fisher House Foundation
http://www.commissaries.com The Defense Commissary Agency
http://www.moaa.org/education/ Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
