Military Services

We enjoy a relaxed, peaceful and terror free life only because of the rigorous and extra ordinary services of the members of our armed forces with Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard or Military Reserves. Military services ensure that education and other basic facilities are made available to family members of these veterans, service members and military professionals who serve the nation. Financial aid provided to these enlisted students is called Military services Grant. These benefits become very crucial for family members when military personnel are permanently disabled or die during war.
Few of the benefits available at most of the Military colleges and universities are listed here for your ready reference.

1. GI Bill:

It is an initiation to help military professionals and their family members to get financial aid in order to advance their education. However, parameters such as military professional’s completion of 10 years of active duty or completion of six years with commitment to continue for four more years are required to obtain GI Bill benefits. GI Bill transfer enables spouses and children of qualified military professional to take benefits of GI Bill initiatives.

2. Major General James Ursine Scholarship Program:

To financially aid an undergraduate of dependants of military professionals, a program was introduced with Scholarship amounts ranging from $900 to $1900 with a program of full time enrolment named Major General James Ursine Scholarship Program.

3. High school Scholarship under ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps):

Scholarships awarded to military dependents on the basis of their eligibility in academic and physical excellence is known as High school Scholarship under ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps). Applicants are supposed to pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) before accomplishing the first semester exams. Obtaining higher grades in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) is mandatory as Scholarship is awarded on the basis of scores.

4. Scholarship for military children:

Financial aid to children of active or retired military officers to attain undergraduate degree is known as scholarship of Military children. Academic excellence of getting cumulative GPA of 3.00 to 4.00 every year is mandatory to stay eligible for this grant.

5. Survivors and Dependant Assistance (DEA):

Survivors and Dependant Assistance widely known as DEA program is designed to provide Scholarships to the spouse and dependants to pursue post secondary education, in case the military personnel have either passed away or is permanently disabled for a time period of 20 years from the death of the personnel. One of the extra ordinary rules that makes this financial aid exceptional is; in case the military officer is declared missing from war field, or has been captured as a war prisoner or detained by enemies, the spouse becomes eligible for this aid from the 91st day of the day of declaration and lasts for 10 years or as soon as the military officer is found/released whichever occurs first.

6. State-Side Education Assistance Program (SSEAP):

State-Side Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is the program designed specifically to enable the spouse of active duty, retired military personnel’ and widowers as well to attain undergraduate education. Scholarships are awarded annually irrespective of the full time or part time nature of the course.

7. Financial aid:

There are 2 main forms of financial aid for children of Military parents:
1. Stafford loans :

• Lower fixed interest rates.
• Eligibility is open for both; graduate and undergraduate.
• Loan subject to enrolment in school for at least half time.
• Loan limits vary from $20,500 on the basis of degree status and semester in school.
• Repayment of these loans is mandatory.

2. Pell Grants:

• Unlike loans, Pell Grants are not supposed to be paid back.
• They are awarded to a maximum amount of $5550.
• Available to those students where; either the parents or guardians would have died; serving military during war with Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.
• Pell Grant benefits are available to students below 24 years.