Military Duty: A Way to Serve Your Country and Finance Your Education
It is a well known fact that becoming an active member of the military can make you eligible for a whole host of education benefits including tuition reimbursement, loan programs and more. For over sixty years, the U.S. military has provided educational opportunities to its many young men and women. Many young people enlist in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or National Guard in order to receive education benefits. Once a young person completes their tour of duty, they can then cash in on many educational programs designed for military veterans.
The following information outlines some of the more popular military service financial aid opportunities. However, there are many more out there, so be sure to do your research before making a commitment to any one program.
Montgomery G.I. Bill
This is where it all began. Named after congressman “Sonny” Montgomery, the Montgomery G.I. Bill or MGIB is a program that allows you to pay into your education while an active service member and to cash out the rewards later. During your first year of service, you will need to contribute $100 of your pay each month to the program. After two years in the military, you can begin to use your benefits. And if you’d like, you can contribute $600 each additional year of active service to “up” your total financial aid amount.
Once you are a veteran, you can enjoy 36 months of benefits for your college education. This means that you can receive around $37,000 for your education. If you are a reservist or in the National Guard, you will receive around $11,000 in aid. Still not too shabby!
ROTC Scholarships
ROTC stands for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and is a great way to receive benefits that will pay for your college education. You do have to abide by some terms, however, including taking military science courses while in school and service as an officer in either the active, reserve or guard areas of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force. What’s really great is you can be a member of ROTC for a year without any commitment to serve in the military. That way, if you discover it is not for you, you can move onto other things.
These scholarships often cover your entire tuition and college expenses including books for up to four years.
Tuition Assistance Programs
The Tuition Assistance program or TA varies between each branch of the military, however, one thing remains the same: you will receive benefits from the military. The yearly limit is typically $4,500, though this can change depending on the branch of the military you are a part of. Depending on where you go to college, up to 100% of your tuition may be covered by TA.
Likewise, if TA does not cover all of your tuition and expenses, it can be combined with the Montgomery G.I. Bill with what is called a “MGIB Top-up.” The “top-up” fills in the gap between your tuition assistance aid and could very well take care of all of your educational expenses. By using this top-up program, however, you are basically using the money you would have received in the future, though it can be worth it right now if you need it.
Student Loan Repayment Program
Some students start college and obtain federal loans before they decide to join the military. If this is the case with you, then the Student Loan Repayment Program or SLRP is perfect for you. If you agree to serve full-time duty, then you can qualify for this program, so long as you received a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualifications Test or AFQT. How much will be paid back each year on your behalf varies depending on the branch you enter. However, the Army and Navy will both pay back up to $65,000 in student loans. You must, however, indicate that you would like to join this program at the time you enlist.
Military Branch College Funds
Each branch of the military offers its own financial aid or tuition assistance programs, which are commonly referred to as a “kicker.” This assistance is competitive, however and along with agreeing to serve six years in the military, you must also have scored in the top half of ASVAB or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or have high academic achievement.
If you do meet the qualifications, the benefits are truly remarkable. After the Montgomery G.I. Bill, these college funds can increase your aid to up to $70,000 in the Army and $50,000 in the Navy. Again, if you have met the requirements and are prepared for the six-year commitment, this may very well be an excellent option for you.
Military Service Academies
Military Service Academies are very prestigious and quite difficult to get into, as you must be appointed to one. Each branch of the military has its own Service Academy, which are as follows:
Army – U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY)
Navy – U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
Air Force – U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
Marines – United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY)
Coast Guard – U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT)
If you should attend one of these academies, you will receive a full four-year scholarship and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, Marine Corps or Air Force or ensign in the Coast Guard or the Navy after graduation. A small stipend is also given to students at these academies.
Financial aid in the military is definitely not a rarity. So many young people enlist solely because of the fantastic educational benefits associated with a full-term of service. And even those that want to stay away from active duty can still benefit with many programs offering other rewards to reservists and members of the Guard.
In some cases, veterans and their dependents can qualify for financial assistance for their educational pursuits as well. Many scholarships, grants and loans are available to these people, which helps to show that military service provides a lifetime of benefits. For a few years of hard work and sacrifice, you very well could end up with your entire education paid for, and secure the education of your future children as well. It’s a great thing and well-worth considering, especially if you are having trouble securing financial aid from other sources or if you have been interested in pursuing a career in the military in the past but were unsure of the commitment.