Salute & save: use this chart for a quick look at how the military can help you pay for college

Careers and Colleges, Nov-Dec, 2004

SALUTE & SAVE
Use this chart for a quick
look at how the military can
help you pay for college.

             WHAT YOU GET                    WHATE YOU GIVE

ARMY

ROTC         Full scholarship (tuition,      4 years active duty;
             books, fees); stipend up to     4 years reserve duty;
             $400/month while in school      1 ROTC class per
                                             semester; weekly drills

ACTIVE       GI Bill (more than $36,000      At least 2 years active
             for college after discharge);   duty; $1,200 contribution
             with Army College Fund up to    over course of one year
             $50,000 in some military job    toward benefit
             areas; student loan repayment
             up to $65,000

RESERVE      GI Bill ($10,368 for college    1 weekend/month and
             after discharge); loan          2 weeks/year for 6 years
             repayment up to $22,000

GUARD        GI Bill ($10,368 for college    At least 3 years
             after discharge); 100%          enlistment; 1 weekend/
             tuition assistance; all         month and 2 weeks/year
             states offer additional         for 6 years
             tuition assistance programs

NAVY

ROTC         Full scholarship (tuition,      3 years active duty;
             books, fees); stipend LIP       5 years reserve duty
             to $400/month while in school

ACTIVE       GI Bill (more than $36,000);    At least 2 years active
             with Navy College Fund up to    duty; $1,200 contribution
             $15,000 in some jobs; 100%
             tuition assistance for courses
             taken by sailors on their own
             time

RESERVE      GI Bill ($10,368 for college    1 weekend/month and
             after discharge); loan          2 weeks/year; at least
             repayment up to $20,000         6 years reserve duty

MARINES

ROTC         Full scholarship (tuition,      4 years active duty;
             books, fees); stipend of        4 years reserve duty
             $400/month while in school

ACTIVE       GI Bill (more than $36,000      3-5 years active duty;
             after discharge); 100%          $1,200 contribution
             tuition assistance

RESERVE      GI Bill ($10,368 for college    1 weekend/month and
             after discharge)                2 weeks/year for 6 years

AIR FORCE

ROTC         Full scholarship; books up      4 years active duty
             to $600/year; stipend up
             to $400/month

ACTIVE       GI Bill (more than $36,000      4-6 years active duty;
             after discharge); college       $1,200 contribution
             credit for training; 100%
             tuition assistance; loan
             repayment up to $10,000

RESERVE      GI Bill ($10,368); more for     1 weekend/month and
             some jobs; 100% 1 tuition       2 weeks/year for 6 years
             assistance

GUARD        GI Bill ($10,368); state        6 years enlistment;
             National Guard units offer      1 weekend/month and
             additional tuition assistance;  2 weeks/year for 6 years
             loan repayment up to $20,000

COAST GUARD

ROTC         No ROTC; College Student Pre-   3 years active duty
             Commissioning Program for
             qualifying minority students;
             $2,000/month during last two
             years

ACTIVE       GI Bill (more than $36,000)     4-6 years active duty;
                                             $1,200 contribution

RESERVE      GI Bill ($10,368 for college    1 weekend/month and
             after discharge); loan          2 weeks/year for 6 years
             repayment up to $20,000         $1,200 contribution

             TO QUALIFY                      INFO

ARMY

ROTC         SAT score: 920                  800-USA-ROTC
             ACT score: 19                   goarmy.com
             GPA: 2.5

ACTIVE       H.S. diploma or                 800-USA-ARMY
             equivalent Age 17-35            goarmy.com

RESERVE      H.S. diploma or                 800-USA-ARMY
             equivalent; age 17-34           goarmy.com

GUARD        H.S. diploma or                 800-GO-GUARD
             equivalent                      1800goguard.com
             Age 17-35

NAVY

ROTC         SAT: 1050                       800 NAV-ROTC
             ACT: 22                         nrotc.navy.mil

ACTIVE       H.S. diploma or                 800-USA-NAVY
             equivalent                      navy.com
             Age 18-34

RESERVE      H.S. diploma or                 866-NAVRES1
             equivalent Age 21-38            naval reserve.com

MARINES

ROTC         SAT: 1000                       800-USA-NAVY
             ACT: 45 (composite)             nrotc.navy.mil

ACTIVE       H.S. diploma or                 800-MARINES
             equivalent                      marines.com

RESERVE      H.S. diploma or                 800-MARINES
             equivalent                      marines.com

AIR FORCE

ROTC         SAT: 1100                       866-4AFROTC
             ACT: 24                         afrotc.com

ACTIVE       H.S. diploma or                 800-423-USAF
             equivalent                      airforce.com

RESERVE      H.S. diploma or                 800-257-121 2
             equivalent                      afreserve.com

GUARD        H.S. diploma or                 800-TO-GO-ANG
             equivalent                      ang.af.mil

COAST GUARD

ROTC         SAT: 1000                       877-NOW-USCG
             SAT 1: 1100                     gocoastguard.com
             ACT: 23; GPA 2.5

ACTIVE       H.S. diploma or                 877-NOW-USCG
             equivalent                      gocoastguard.com

RESERVE      H.S. diploma or                 800-424-8883
             equivalent                      uscg.mil