Military Scholarships

When talking about scholarships for military personnel, the G.I. Bill is one of the most well-known financial aid programs in the U.S. that comes to mind. The idea that the Montgomery G.I. Bill², which allowed returning warriors access to higher education, changed the nation’s trajectory is not exaggerated. The middle class, which would sustain the country in many ways, was greatly aided by the G.I. Bill. This bill continues to provide vital financial assistance to veterans seeking a college degree despite several changes since it was initially presented.

In addition to the G.I. Bill, to encourage and support veterans who want to pursue a college degree, a variety of other scholarships are available. These scholarships, funded by both public and private sources, are offered to deserving veterans who have been discharged from service with honor. Program-specific conditions and prize amounts may vary.

Other noteworthy mentions would be the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)³ which offers a range of scholarships based on merit rather than need, from full tuition to supplementary support for housing and board to allowances for books and fees. Similar scholarships are provided by the U.S. Air Force ROTC⁴ to assist students in lessening the cost of their college education. Scholarships for the Air Force ROTC pay for the bulk of lab costs as well as college tuition. A maximum of $500 in monthly spending money and a textbook allowance is also given to students.

Additionally, the Army and Navy also have ROTC programs that work with several institutions around the nation. Further, one can be qualified for the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant, given each year to undergraduate and graduate students, if they are members of the Illinois National Guard.

Examples of military scholarships and awards worth applying for are provided below. Read on to learn more about them.

The set of academic subjects, “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” is referred to as (STEM). Usually, this phrase refers to a school’s curriculum choice or educational policy. Concerns about national security, immigration policy, and workforce development are all impacted in this critical field of study. The scholarships available for this significant field are:

Over 2 million women veterans are living in the United States today, according to studies. Women veterans make up 10% of the total number, and they can apply for scholarships specifically based on their time spent serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, or Coast Guard. For these female veterans who have served our country, an education scholarship provides the promise of an education, especially to those starting post-life in the military afresh and struggling in a civilian lifestyle. Some of the scholarships that help these female soldiers give the life that they deserve are:

With tens of scholarships available, it can get very confusing to decipher information about them and get to know what scholarship would pay the most, what the eligibility criteria would be, what documents would be required for applying, and the deadline for applying. Hence, it is best to use scholarship counseling and online search providers like Scholarship America or Cappex.

But in case someone has already done their research and is aware of the scholarship to avail, then they can very easily visit the legitimate site and apply online, and if any further documentation is needed, they might mail them to the required address as advised on the site. For example, if someone is applying for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship, they might as well visit the site, which will guide them on how to go about the application process.

As already mentioned, applying for military scholarships can be a very tricky affair. Listed below are a few points which might make the application process a bit less problematic and hassle-free:

1. Know the subject of study

Scholarships can be categorized by the subject for which they are offered. Hence, if students know which subject they want to pursue, the search narrows exponentially. This is the single most important tip to follow, which will save time and minimize headaches.

2. Start researching early

Browsing through all one’s required scholarships and not rushing through them is advisable. The more one researches, the less one goes wrong with the right scholarship.

3. Apply for both public and private scholarships

Find scholarships offered by preferred schools. Once found, move on to looking for private scholarships. These are often provided by businesses, organizations, service providers, and community leaders. Private scholarships may typically be in scholarship directories updated annually and may have unique requirements.

4. Community help

It’s always a good idea to look to one’s neighborhood for financial aid. Through tiny local groups, several national military organizations provide scholarships. Consult with veterans who have already applied and enrolled. Those consultations are pure wisdom.

5. Make sure to be organized

In addition to selecting the appropriate scholarships, it is critical to maintain organization and meet deadlines. One must organize one’s scholarship applications in folders, marking each one as “not complete,” “applied,” or “awaiting an answer.”

6. Avoid scholarship scammers

There are numerous genuine scholarship possibilities accessible, but because many of them may demand a fee for processing applications, it may be simple to confuse one for the other. To prevent falling for one of these scams, do extensive research on scholarships and attempt to get in touch with someone directly from the organization.

A lot of student help is available for active-duty personnel, veterans, and their dependents. Grants or fellowships are one option for service members and their dependents to pay for education. These are unpaid financial help; they are typically given out based on financial necessity. Some schools and institutions also have their military student scholarships and aid programs. Most award programs for students in the armed forces are financed by the federal or state governments, with strict eligibility criteria.

Military grants or fellowships are frequently need-based awards that pay for tuition and fees, and recipients must fulfill several criteria to qualify. Depending on the amount of grant money available, the amount of financing might change from one year to the next. Here are two examples of military grants:

Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant

Children of Air Force members on active duty, in the reserves, retired, or who have passed away have access to this stipend for more than 20 years. Each year, hundreds of $2,000 awards are given out.

The Illinois Veteran Grant/Fellowship Program

For veterans, who were on active duty for at least a year, the Illinois Veteran Grant Program covers qualified tuition and fees at two- and four-year universities.

The Imagine America Military Award Program (MAP)

This program was created to assist military service people in obtaining career education and transitioning from military to civilian life. For attendance at participating career institutions, the Imagine America Foundation gives a $1,000 career education award to any qualified active-duty, reserve, honorably discharged, or retired veteran of a U.S. military service branch.