Tips on Getting College Paid for by the Military

Hey y'all! I've been looking into different ways to finance my college education and I heard serving in the military could be one option. Does anyone know how I could use military service to pay for college? What options are available and what's the process like?

Hello there! It's terrific that you're considering military service as an avenue to pay for college. There are several ways you can get your college education funded by the U.S. military. Here are a few notable ones:

1. The ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Scholarship: The U.S. military offers ROTC scholarships to students who commit to serving in the military after graduation. These scholarships can cover full tuition, room and board, and include a stipend for living expenses. In return, you commit to attending a certain number of college credits per semester and spend your summer in training programs.

2. The Post-9/11 GI Bill: After serving at least 90 days of active duty service post - Sept.10, 2001, or after a discharge with a disability related to your service after 30 days of continuous service, you can qualify for this benefit. It covers full tuition and fees at public in-state institutions, a monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies.

3. The Montgomery GI Bill: From the Montgomery GI Bill, there are two main programs: the "Active Duty" program and the "Selected Reserve" program. Both can help fund your education if you've served a sufficient amount of time in the military.

Now, for the process, you typically apply for these benefits while you're in service or after you've been discharged. For the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, you can apply online through the Department of Veterans Affairs website. For the ROTC scholarship, you can apply online through the ROTC program's website for the branch of the military that you're interested in.

But remember, military service is a serious commitment and has its own set of risks. It's important to think it through and discuss with family, trusted mentors, or a guidance counselor before making the decision.

Even if you decide to join the military primarily for the educational benefits, you will still be expected to fulfill all the requirements of your service, so it's vital that you're willing to commit to that.