Minuteman Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by US Army Reserve

Overview
The Minuteman Campaign is an Army Cadet Command program that offers Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarships to students who choose to serve in a Reserve component. If you’re a high school senior thinking about Army ROTC and commissioning into the Army Reserve, the Minuteman GRFD scholarship is a strong option that covers major college costs while developing leaders for the Reserve Components.

What the scholarship pays for
- Full tuition and fees (in-state or out-of-state) or room and board (up to $12,000 per year) at a college that hosts an Army ROTC program
- $1,200 per year book stipend
- $420 monthly ROTC cadet stipend
- Opportunity to earn E-5 drill pay upon contracting
- Eligibility for Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve) if MOSQ (with select scholarships)
- SMP “kicker” if MOSQ (with select scholarships)

Scholarship types (Academic year 2025–2026)
- 4‑year: Awarded only to incoming college freshmen attending a host ROTC program. Recipients must attend a state or public university.
- 3‑year Advanced Designee (3AD): Begins in the sophomore year after contracting, provided eligibility requirements are met. Recipients may attend state, public, or private universities that host ROTC.

Practical experience and pay
Minuteman recipients participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). SMP places you with an Army Reserve unit while you’re an ROTC cadet, giving hands-on experience and additional pay.

Key qualifications (summary)
- Currently in the Army Reserve or eligible to enlist (test and physically qualified but not sworn in)
- U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- Age 17–28; cannot turn 31 by 31 December of the year you commission
- Able to complete a Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment (must be QNE: Qualified Not Enlisted)
- Able to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (required to sign contract and receive benefits)
- Meet AR 600‑9 body composition standards
- Official college/university acceptance letter to a host ROTC program
- Minimum 2.5 GPA; 4‑year applicants must have ACT/SAT scores
- Must be able to participate in SMP
- After commissioning, complete an 8‑year service obligation while actively drilling at a unit

Important notes
- You will not be required to swear in until you receive a ROTC scholarship offer letter.
- GRFD scholarships are dedicated to Reserve service — accepting one means you cannot have it revoked later to compete for an active‑duty commission.
- All scholarship offers are subject to available funding.

How to apply
- Complete the Minuteman nomination form to be connected with an Army Reserve Ambassador who will help start your nomination and application. Nominations are required for all scholarship types.
- Army recruiters can also help you obtain a nominating resource and guide you through the process.

If you want, I can help you draft questions to ask an Army Reserve Ambassador, list the documents you’ll need for a nomination, or walk through a sample timeline from application to contracting. Which would be most useful?