Education Funding for Members of the Military and Their Families

Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

(Sponsored by the State of Vermont)

This program was established by the Vermont Legislature as an interest-free and forgivable loan program in 1999 and updated in 2018. Loan forgiveness means that you no longer have to pay part, or all, of the loan. The goal is to recruit and retain high-quality VTNG members.

Eligibility—To receive this award, the applicant must:

• attend a Vermont university, college, or eligible training institution offering certificate training or continuing education programs
• demonstrate satisfactory academic progress; and
• be an active member in good standing of the Vermont National Guard
• If the applicant already has their bachelor’s degree and is pursuing another bachelor’s degree, the applicant’s prior bachelor’s degree must not have been funded by this program.

AND

• have successfully completed basic training or commissioning
• have exhausted any post 9/11/2011 tuition benefits and other federally funded military tuition assistance, not including Montgomery GI Bill benefits, post-September 11, 2001 educational program housing allowances, federal educational entitlements, National Guard scholarship grants, loans under the National Guard Educational Assistance Program, and other non-tuition benefits; and
• not be in default on a federal education loan
   

Required documents:

• Unified Scholarship Application
• Certification—VNGTBP form 
• VNGTBP Promissory Note

Selection: Applicants are reviewed by VSAC. Selection is based on eligibility and available funds.

Amount:

• The amount of money available for this award varies depending on the applicant’s enrollment and the college the applicant is attending.
• The award is a loan that covers tuition only. If the applicant receives other grants or scholarships that cover all or part of their tuition, the award amount will be reduced and the school will be required to return the funds to VSAC.

Loan cancellation: To be eligible for partial or complete forgiveness of this interest-free loan, the applicant must:

• Complete 2 years of service in the VTNG for each full-time (12 credits or more) academic year paid for through this program.  
  • If the applicant is enrolled in a graduate degree program in addition to the above service commitment, the applicant must also work full time in Vermont until Vermont National Guard service commitment is satisfied.
  • Service commitment is pro-rated below 12 credit hours. 
  • Certificate programs require a 6-month service commitment per certificate (up to two certificates per year).

Deadline: Completed applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information: Contact the Education Liaison at the Vermont National Guard.

Armed Services Scholarship

(Sponsored by the State of Vermont)

This program was created by the Vermont Legislature to provide free tuition for the families of Vermont National Guard (VTNG), or U.S. active reserve or active armed services members who have died while on active or inactive duty.

Eligibility —To receive this award, you must be:

A child, stepchild, or spouse of:

• A member in good standing of the VTNG who since 1955 has been killed or who since January 1, 2001, has died while on active or inactive duty per the terms in Vermont statute, Title 16, Chapter 79, Sections 2537-2541

OR

• A member in good standing of the U.S. active reserve forces who, since January 1, 2001, has died while on active or inactive duty and who was a Vermont resident at the time of death

OR

• A member of the U.S. active armed forces who, since January 1, 2001, has died while on active duty and who, at the time of death, was either:
  • A Vermont resident
  • A nonresident member of the VTNG who was mobilized to active duty
  • Or a nonresident active reserve force member of a Vermont-based reserve unit who was mobilized to active duty

AND

• Determined eligible by the VTNG or the U.S. armed forces
  
  AND
• Enrolled in an approved program at a Vermont university, college, post-secondary institution, or technical institute leading to a certificate or degree (other than a postgraduate degree)

Required documents:

• Unified Scholarship Application (USA) 
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
• The following documents may also be required:
   
  • Your birth certificate
  • Your marriage certificate
  • A letter from the Adjutant General

Selection: Applicants are reviewed by VSAC. Selection is based on eligibility and available funds.

Amount: The maximum Armed Services Scholarship will not exceed:

• Full-time (up to 18 credits per semester) tuition at a public Vermont university, college, or technical institution, including:
   
  • University of Vermont
  • Vermont State University
  • Community College of Vermont

OR

• Full-time (up to 18 credits per semester) tuition up to an amount equal to the in-state tuition for that year at a Vermont state college

An Armed Services Scholarship may be used for the number of academic credits needed to graduate, up to a maximum of 130 credits. If you receive a federal Pell Grant, the amount of the grant will be deducted from the amount you can receive under the Armed Services Scholarship.

Deadline: Completed applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information on federal aid for military families >

Additional Pell Grant Eligibility

If your parent died while serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or as a public safety officer, you may be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds. To learn more, visit the Pell Grant Eligibility for Dependents of Deceased Service Members and Safety Officers page on the Student Aid website.

ROTC Programs

Find out more about the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC): , a college program offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. military.

Delayed Entry Program

Accordion content.Most people who enlist in the military join through the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), also called the Delayed Enlistment Program (or the Future Soldiers Program in the Army). This allows you to sign up before you are shipped out to basic training. If you plan to join the military right after high school, you'll likely enlist through DEP.

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship Program

The Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship Program scholarship program is designed for Cadets who are interested in obtaining a commission as an officer in the Army National Guard (ARNG) or US Army Reserve (USAR) with a guarantee for a Reserve Component (RC) assignment. In addition to these scholarship benefits, GRFD Cadets that are military occupational skill-qualified (MOSQ) can collect Selected Reserve-Montgomery GI Bill (SR-MGIB) and SMP Kicker benefits in conjunction with this scholarship. Since GRFD Cadets also participate in the SMP, Cadets serving in the ARNG may use available State Tuition Assistance (STA), if offered by their State, to cover tuition and fees and combine this with the GRFD scholarship for room and board expenses.

Dedicated GRFD (DED-GRFD) Scholarship Program

The Dedicated GRFD (DED-GRFD) Scholarship Program scholarship program guarantees that Cadets who commission as Army officers will serve in their specified Reserve Component at the time they accept the scholarship; either ARNG or USAR. Cadets receiving DED-GRFD scholarships CANNOT combine SR-MGIB (Chapter 1606 or 1607) benefits with their scholarship, including the SMP Kicker. DED-GRFD scholarship Cadets CAN combine an Active Duty GI Bill (Chapter 30) or Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) with their scholarship because these are benefits earned while in an Active Duty status.

Minuteman Scholarship Program

With the Minuteman Scholarship Program Minuteman Scholarship Cadets can be nominated from any State Adjutant General (TAG), any Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), a Mission Support Command (MSC), or an Army Reserve Ambassador in lengths of 2YRs up to 4YRs for a scholarship. These scholarships are limited each year and need a nomination memo with a handwritten signature from the nomination source.

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) gives eligible enlisted members of the ARNG an opportunity to maintain status in their Reserve Component while simultaneously attending college and participating as a contracted Cadet in the ROTC Program working towards a Commission as an Officer. The SMP offers on-the-job training, reinforces the role of the Commissioned Officer in the Army, and gives ROTC Cadets the experience of working with Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers in a Reserve Component Unit.

Early Commissioning Program (EAP)

Acceptance of Early Commissioning Program (EAP) will add one Additional Military Service Obligation (ADSO) for each year or partial year EAP is used. Upon commission the lieutenants will be required to select and join a drilling unit in one of the Reserve components and attend battle assemblies and annual training while working on their 4-year baccalaureate degree.

Vermont Air National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 1606

(Administered and paid by the Veterans Administration)

Eligibility- To receive this award you must:

• Check with your Education Officer

Required Documents: N/A

Renewability: May be renewable for up to four years.

Amount: Contact your Vermont National Guard recruiter for information regarding amount of payments.

Selection:  Six-year service commitment and completion of basic and technical training.

Application: Obtain additional information and details from:

• Vermont Air National Guard recruiter 800-242-4055
• Vermont Air National Guard retention office manager 802-660-5211

Vermont Army National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Kicker Program

(Administered and paid by the Veterans Administration)

Eligibility- To receive this award you must:

• Have a kicker contract from enlistment/re-enlistment
• Have a 6-year contract, high school diploma, and complete AIDT/BOLC

Required Documents: Kicker contract from enlistment into National
Guard

Renewability: May be used for 36 months of benefits (equal to a 4-year degree)

Amount: Up to $350—verify amount with Education Office

Selection: Must have contract from enlistment/re-enlistment and used
with Montgomery GI Bills Chapter 30 AD or 1606 SR

Application: Obtain additional information and details from:

• Vermont Army National Guard Education Office (802-338-3378)
• Application submitted through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Vermont Air National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Kicker Program

(Administered and paid by the Veterans Administration)

Eligibility- To receive this award you must:

• Check with your Education Officer

Required Documents: N/A

Renewability: May be renewable for up to four years.

Amount: Contact your Vermont National Guard recruiter for information regarding amount of payments.

Selection:  Six-year service commitment and completion of basic and technical training.

Application: Obtain additional information and details from:

• Vermont Air National Guard recruiter 800-242-4055
• Vermont Air National Guard retention office manager 802-660-5211

Vermont Army National Guard Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 1606 Select Reserve

(Administered and paid by the Veterans Administration)

Eligibility- To receive this award you must:

• Member of the National Guard or Reserves
• Have a 6-year contract, high school diploma, and complete AIDT/BOLC

Required Documents: Contact VTARNG Education Office

Renewability: May be used for 36 months of benefits (equal to a 4-year degree)

Amount: Contact the VTARNG Education Office for current payment.

Selection:  Six-year service commitment and completion of basic and technical training.

Application: Obtain additional information and details from:

• Vermont Army National Guard Education Office (802-338-3378)
• Application submitted through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs