Army ROTC Scholarship Chances and Requirements

The Army is the largest military branch in the United States. Its job is to protect the country and its citizens. The Army is made up of many groups and organizations. The military occupational specialty you choose determines your branch. For example, if you are interested in becoming a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, you will end up in the aviation branch. If you are interested in nursing, you will join the Nursing Corps.

If you become a member of the Army and make certain achievements in the army, you have a chance to get army challenge coins, which not only represent honor but also carry a commemorative significance. There will be a number of challenge coins that can be encountered and earned throughout a soldier’s career. For example, this year, the U.S. Air Force Academy held a ceremony to award a commemorative challenge coin to its cadets at graduation, and all graduates received a specially crafted challenge coin. Additionally, DEA challenge coins are awarded to outstanding individuals for their exceptional service and dedication to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s mission.

The United States Army has a component called the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC, AROTC, or SROTC). It is the largest ROTC program, with 20,000 ROTC cadets in 273 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States. These schools are categorized as Military Colleges (MC), Military Junior Colleges (MJC), and Civilian Colleges (CC).

The modern Army ROTC was created by the National Defense Act of 1916. This program commissioned its first class of lieutenants in 1920. However, the concept behind ROTC had its roots in military training which began taking place in civilian colleges and universities as early as 1819 with the founding of the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy at Norwich, Vermont, followed by various state-chartered military schools, and finally civilian land grant colleges after the Civil War, which required military training.

The Army ROTC is a way for young men and women to start strong in life. The college elective for undergraduate and graduate students provides unrivaled leadership training for success in any career field. If you have a passion for it, you can find a place to fit in the Army as an officer and get the training you need to turn that passion into a career.

The United States Army offers Army ROTC scholarships that assist students with financing their education. Army ROTC scholarships are available to both college-bound high school students and those already attending college or university. The scholarships are awarded based on a student’s merit and grades, not financial need. Merit is exhibited in academic achievement and extracurricular activities, such as sports, student government, or part-time work.

There are three different types of scholarships available to high school students. These scholarships are won through the national ROTC scholarship selection board which convenes on three different dates that vary slightly each school year.

• Four-year scholarships are offered to candidates who pay for full tuition for all four years of their undergraduate degree.
• Three-year advanced designee scholarships require students to enroll in a college ROTC program and be full-time college students. The student’s freshman year will not be paid for by the Army. If the student displays academic competencies and receives a recommendation from the program’s Professor of Military Science, the remaining three years will be paid for in full.
• Two-year scholarships, known as Early Commissioning Program scholarships or Ike Skelton scholarships, These scholarships enable a student to be commissioned into the Army Reserves or the Army National Guard in two years instead of the usual four. Students must attend a military junior college for two years and will be commissioned after. As students will have an associate’s rather than the required bachelor’s for the Basic Officer Leaders Course, they will have up to three years to earn their bachelor’s and are eligible for the Educational Assistance Program, which can pay for up to two years of tuition. If students wish to go on active duty on the ECP route, they will have to do so through their respective MJC.

ROTC scholarships for those already attending college or university will cover the remaining years of their study.

• Three-year scholarship for students who have three academic years of college remaining.
• Two-year scholarship for students who have two academic years of college remaining.

If you are an enlisted Soldier in the Army and interested in becoming an officer, you can try for the Army ROTC scholarships for enlisted soldiers. This scholarship program is called the Army ROTC Green to Gold Division Commander’s Hip Pocket Scholarship Program. The program provides selected Soldiers the opportunity to complete their baccalaureate degree requirements and obtain a commission through participation in the ROTC Scholarship program. Each year, division commanders may nominate deserving soldiers for two-, three-, and four-year Green to Gold scholarships. Units are encouraged to nominate soldiers who have exhibited the potential for further outstanding service to the United States and the Army as commission officers. Interested soldiers are encouraged to follow up with their chain of command.

Army ROTC Scholarship Requirements

Army ROTC cadets are scholars, athletes, and leaders. Typically, those who volunteer to serve their nation through Amy ROTC are well-rounded students with good grades and strong potential to serve in leadership positions. More than half of them have held office in their cohort class or in the student body. Most are National Honor Society members. Many are members of the school, church, or private clubs and other organizations, and others are varsity letter winners and varsity team captains.

The U.S. Army is looking for achievers with broad interests, leadership abilities, and a demonstrated willingness to take on and overcome challenges.

In order to be eligible for an Army ROTC scholarship, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be between the ages of 17 and 26
• Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Score a minimum of 1000 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores)
• Meet physical standards
• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)

As a recipient, your commitment is to complete an eight-year period of service with the Army. This includes serving full-time in the Army for four years, with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Non-scholarship Cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve for three years. Selected Cadets may serve part-time in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

It’s an experience that you can’t get anywhere else, and your leadership skills will be challenged every day. Contact your campus Military Science department for more specific details on your Army ROTC service commitment.

Enrolling in the Army ROTC Basic Course does not involve a commitment of service to the Army unless you have received an Army ROTC scholarship.

Army ROTC Scholarship Timeline 

National High School Scholarships are awarded once a year. High School Seniors apply by June and selections are made continuously thru April. Four-year scholarship applications must be requested between March 1 and November 1. Also, once cadets are on campus, two-year and three-year scholarships become available and are allocated throughout the year.

Below are the Army ROTC Scholarship timeline and criteria.

The Army ROTC scholarship board dates are as the following.

The Army ROTC scholarship board results should be announced two to four weeks after the completion of each board.

Benefits and Training Obligations

Generally, Army ROTC scholarships consist of:

• Two, three, and four-year scholarship options based on the time remaining to complete your degree
• Full-tuition scholarships
• The option for room and board in place of tuition, if you qualify
• Additional allowances for books and fees

The scholarships also provide a $420 per month living allowance for each school year. Non-scholarship Cadets in ROTC Advanced Courses (3^rd and 4^th year) also receive this allowance.

Army ROTC Scholarship Contacts

Go to https://my.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.m.html to apply for an Army ROTC scholarship.

Inquiries regarding admission and scholarships may be sent to https://m.goarmy.com/info.html or by email, or by calling 1-888-944-2769.

For more information, visit the Army ROTC website.