Not all Army scholarships are offered to active duty personnel or veterans. Dependent children of soldiers who served their country can also get access to financial assistance to pay for the cost of their post-secondary education.
Each scholarship plan sets its own criteria, and young people who are interested in applying for funding should make sure that they qualify before taking the time to fill out the necessary forms. Some programs are offered to children of active duty personnel, while others are available to children of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Scholarships for Military Children Program
The Scholarships for Military Children Program is funded by companies which manufacture and supply items sold in commissaries worldwide. One or more scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each will be awarded at each commissary location. These funds may be used toward the cost of tuition, lab fees, books or other expenses.
Children of active duty or retired Army personnel also qualify for this scholarship plan. Funding is available to children of soldiers who were killed on active duty or veterans who died while receiving retirement pay from the Army.
Unmarried dependent child under the age of 23 who are planning enroll in an undergraduate degree program can apply for funding. Young people who are interested in a community college which allows students to transfer to a Bachelor’s degree program can also apply for this scholarship. All applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program
An eligible child or spouse of a servicemember who died or became permanently disabled in a service-related event can receive funding for up to 45 months while participating in one of the following types of programs:
- Apprenticeship
- Certificate
- Degree
- On the job Training
Children of Army personnel must be between the ages of 18-26 to receive funding under the DEA program. A child who is on active duty status is not eligible under this program, but may be able to qualify for an extension to the period of eligibility equal to the number of months he or she was on active duty.
American Legion Legacy Scholarship
American Legion Legacy Scholarships are available to children of servicemen and women who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. High school seniors or graduates who are planning to study toward an undergraduate degree at an accredited education institution are welcome to apply.
The amount of financial assistance will vary from year to year, depending on available funds. Previous scholarship recipients are welcome to apply scholarship funding for other school years.
Children of Army active duty personnel, veterans and those who gave their lives for their country can apply for scholarship funding to help pay for the cost of obtaining a post-secondary degree. Since there are no fees associated with applying for funding, anyone who qualifies should consider filling out a form to request this free money to pay for school.
For more information about scholarships available to members of the US Army, click here.