College Benefits for Children of Military Personnel

Hey, I'm a high school junior and my parents are in the military. I heard that there might be some college benefits for me because of this. Could anyone provide some details on what those might be?

Absolutely, you're correct that there are a number of benefits available to the children of military personnel to help fund their higher education. Here's an overview of some of the main programs you might want to look into:

1. Post-9/11 GI Bill:

This bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or to individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after completing 30 continuous days of service following this date. Your parents can actually transfer all or some of their entitlement under this bill to you, their dependent, to help cover your tuition, housing, and books.

2. Army Emergency Relief (AER) Scholarship:

If one of your parents is in the Army, the AER offers both the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program for dependent children and the Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP).

3. Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program:

This is a need-based grant program for the children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended active duty, Title 32 Guard on extended active duty, retired, retired Reserve and deceased Air Force members.

4. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation:

If one of your parents is a Marine, you might be eligible for a scholarship from this foundation. They provide scholarships for post-high school, undergraduate, and career technical education programs.

5. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) Supplemental Education Grant (SEG):

This grant provides financial assistance for books, fees, and other education-related expenses. It's available to the family members of Coast Guard personnel.

6. ThanksUSA Scholarship Program:

ThanksUSA offers need-based scholarships for the children and spouses of active-duty personnel across all military branches.

These programs can all be great ways to make college more affordable. I would suggest you begin researching these opportunities and reach out to the respective organizations to learn about their application processes. You may also want to check with your high school guidance counselor, as they may have additional resources and can guide you through the process.