Minuteman Scholarship

The Minuteman Campaign is a U.S. Army Cadet Command initiative to offer Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarships to candidates that self-select for service in a Reserve component.

The GRFD scholarship provides full tuition and fees or room and board ($12,000 per year) for up to four years at a public or private school. This program provides well-trained officers to the Reserve Components and improves the total Army force.

If you are a high school senior interested in receiving an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship and commissioning into the Army Reserve, the GRFD Minuteman Scholarship provides you an excellent opportunity.

GRFD contracted Scholarship Cadet can earn:

• Full Tuition Fees - In / Out of State or Room/Board ($12K per year)
• $1,200 a year book stipend
• $420 ROTC Cadet stipend each month
• Earn E-5 drill pay upon contracting
• CH 1606 if MOSQ  (*available with select scholarships)
• SMP Kicker if MOSQ  (*available with select scholarships)

Types of Scholarships

• 4-year: Only awarded to incoming college freshmen attending a host ROTC program. Recipients must attend a State or public university.
• 3-year: Typically awarded to an incoming college sophomore. This scholarship pays up to 3 years of benefits provided the applicant successfully meets the requirements to contract. Awardees may attend any public, State or private university while enrolled in ROTC. ​​
• 2-year: This scholarship is awarded to incoming college juniors or Graduate students. This benefit will pay up to the last 2 years at a private, public or State university if the awardee has successfully met the requirements to contract.

Minuteman recipients also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program, which gives them experience with an Army Reserve unit while earning additional income.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently in the Army Reserve or eligible to enlist (meaning test and physically qualified but not sworn in)
• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National
• Between the ages of 17-28; cannot turn 31 by 31 December of the year of commissioning
• Must be able to complete a valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment
• Must be able to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (required to sign contract and receive scholarship benefits)
• Must be in compliance with AR 600-9 body composition standards
• Official University/College acceptance letter
• Applicants require: 2.5 GPA, 4-year applicants must have an ACT/SAT
• Must be able to participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
• Once commissioned applicants must complete an 8-year service obligation while actively drilling at a Unit
• The applicant must be test/physically qualified – Qualified Not Enlisted (QNE) with MEPS. The applicant will not be required to swear-in until they have received a ROTC scholarship offer letter.

All nominees will be made aware that the scholarship they are accepting is a dedicated GRFD and CANNOT BE REVOKED to allow the applicant to compete for an active-duty commission.

All scholarship offers are subject to available funding.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Future Cadets:

• Currently in ARNG/USAR or eligible to enlist 
• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National
• Cannot turn 31 by DEC 31st of Commissioning year
• Valid MEPS Chapter 2 physical for enlistment
• Pass an ACFT
• Be in compliance with AR 600-9 Body Composition standards

Current Soldiers:

• Official College/University acceptance letter
• 2.5 CGPA
• On-record SAT/ACT
• Once contracted maintain 2.0 College GPA
• Participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
• Once commissioned, 8-year service obligation actively drilling at a Unit
• Enroll in Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS).

BENEFITS

A GRFD contracted Scholarship Cadet can earn:

• Full Tuition/Fees or Room/Board ($12K per year)
• $1200 a year book stipend
• ROTC Cadet stipend each month $420
• Earn E-5 drill pay upon contracting
• CH 1606 if MOSQ *select scholarships
• SMP Kicker if MOSQ*select scholarships
• CH 30/33 if qualified

TIMELINES

• Aug. 2, 2024: Deadline for Minuteman nominations
• Sept. 1, 2024: Minuteman Campaign will close for Fall 2024 Scholarships
• Dec. 1, 2024: Minuteman Campaign will close for the Spring 2025 scholarship and close the Minuteman campaign for the year