The U.S. Army is always on the lookout for ‘a few good men’ and Army scholarships are one way they get the job done. In short, the U.S. Armed Forces, all of them, are willing to provide free college scholarships to students willing to commit to serving their country in uniform upon graduation. Free scholarship money is nothing to sneeze and the programs are attracting students who might otherwise not be able to pursue higher education otherwise.
ROTC programs (Reserve Officer Training Corps) are in place at many colleges and universities for the purpose of developing candidates for future service as commissioned officers in the military. Two-, Three- and four-year scholarship programs are available, depending on the length of time before your planned graduation.
These programs are meant to help with both tuition and living expenses while attending school. In return for these benefits the graduating student will be expected to spend a predetermined amount of time in uniform, either as an active service member, a reservist or as a member of the National Guard. All the service branches have their own individual ROTC programs. This includes Air Force, Army and Navy (which includes the Marine Corps). Since the Army has the largest number of service members, Army scholarships are the most plentiful.
WEST POINT
The U.S. Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, offers free educational scholarships to a select few who qualify and make the cut. This college, as is the case with its counterparts for the Navy (Annapolis) and the Air Force (Air Force Academy), maintain extremely high entrance standards and rigorous curricula. To make it into a military academy is quite an achievement. Academic history of the prospective candidate must be exemplary and test scores on college boards at the very top of the scale. In addition, eligible entrants must have a recommendation from one of their home state Congressmen or women.
Very few are accepted into this elite program and a good number of those who gain entry don’t make it through the entire four-year course. The training is very demanding physically, mentally and emotionally. Those graduating from West Point have a right to be proud of their accomplishment. They are, perhaps, the best of the best.
Army scholarships are a good route to pursue for those wishing a military education along with their regular studies. In exchange for the free education, of course, the graduating student will have to repay the kindness by serving a certain number of years in their chosen branch of the Armed Forces. For many, this is a perfect trade.