Salute and SAVE

Careers and Colleges, Jan, 2000 by Melissa Maupin

The military offers an affordable education for those willing to serve their country

Military service may not be for everyone, but for many students the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines (as well as the National Guard for the Army and Air Force) have long provided opportunities to earn college credits and even receive a four-year degree. Today, as the military struggles to fill its ranks with young people, the amount of college money for new recruits has grown. However, in exchange for a college education, students must commit to serving a set amount of time. Here are two common routes to gaining educational benefits.

ROTC--Reserve Officer Training Corps

For Army ROTC cadet Nathan Warren, deciding to take the military route through college was easy. "I've been playing army since I was a little kid," says 18-year-old Warren. "It was a dream of mine to join." Warren, a freshman and biochemical engineering major at Oklahoma University, in Norman, received a three-year ROTC scholarship on top of another $10,000 academic scholarship from the university. The $10,000 will pay for his first year in school; then beginning his sophomore year, the Army will pick up the tab for the remainder of his education.

As an ROTC cadet, Warren is enrolled in standard classes and takes ROTC classes each week as electives. He has one two-hour military science class his first semester in addition to a physical training class that meets three mornings a week. Many ROTC students also participate in extracurricular activities--Warren fires the cannon at football games and takes part in extra physical training, including intensive weekly workouts and 10-mile road hikes while carrying a 25-pound pack. He estimates that he spends a total of 10 to 15 hours a week on ROTC activities.

REWARDS Each division of the military offers a slightly different scholarship program, but most cover the cost of tuition and books and include a monthly stipend. According to Paul Kotakis, U.S. Army Cadet Command Officer, the total money awarded for a full scholarship can be substantial: "If awarded, you could receive a four-year package with a total value that exceeds $60,000 plus a monthly stipend of $150 for living expenses for up to 10 months a year." He says that although the scholarships don't cover room and board, many universities will provide special grants to pay for these expenses.

Kotakis points out that ROTC benefits go beyond monetary awards. "Cadets enjoy high-speed leadership training and are able to put to use their classroom instruction in real world applications," says Kotakis. "And as they progress, cadets with experience become peer trainers. It's a chance to exercise their leadership skills while they're still in college."

ROTC scholarship students have a year to try out the program before they commit, and they don't have to pay back the military for their freshman year if they decide to quit. Except for rare cases, cadets who drop out after their freshman year must reimburse the military for their tuition. Students who stay in the program sign a contract before their sophomore year that obligates them to serve in the military.

Cadets who do not qualify for scholarships have until the end of their sophomore year to contract with the military. Once they do, they will also receive a $150 a month allowance. All ROTC graduates leave college as commissioned officers and enter military service. Since Warren is in Army ROTC, he has the option to serve either in active duty or the reserves. The Navy, Air Force, and Marines require graduates to serve in active duty.

HOW TO QUALIFY Through ROTC, students can apply for two-to four-year merit-based college scholarships. The awards are given to students with above-average grades and test scores, school leadership experience, and a record of participation in sports and extracurricular activities. "It was pretty competitive," says Warren. "The ACT and SAT counted, but they really wanted to know how well-rounded you were." Scholarship recipients must also pass military health and fitness tests.

Like other students, ROTC cadets must apply and be accepted at the college of their choice. However, they need to select a school with a resident (on-campus) ROTC program in the branch of military they wish to enter. According to Kotakis, some schools that don't have a resident program will allow students to cross-enroll in a nearby school that does in order to take ROTC classes.

Enlisted Service

When Yette Martell graduated high school, she originally intended to go to college full-time. She enrolled in Western Nevada Community College in Carson City, Nevada, and even won a small scholarship. After a year, however, Martell was struggling financially--her scholarship only covered a fraction of her tuition and expenses, and she was having trouble with the self-discipline needed to succeed in college. "I wasn't really focused on school," Martell admits.

After talking to recruiters at her college, she signed up for a four-year enlistment with the Air Force in 1997, thinking it would provide the funding and the focus she was looking for. "In the Air Force, you're around professionals, and you're not under peer pressure to go out and party," Martell says.