GRFD and Dedicated ARNG Scholarships
Need help financing your college education?
Apply for a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Army ROTC Scholarship!
The Army ROTC program provides college trained officers for the Army National Guard (ARNG) and the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR). The Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship is one of two programs directed by law that must have scholarships awarded yearly.
The program provides scholarship opportunities to college students who will be juniors in the fall of the year the scholarship is awarded. The two-year scholarships available in the GRFD program require recipients to be in either a National Guard or Reserve Unit. Individuals in the Reserves who win a GRFD scholarship have the option to request active duty during the accession process, but those in the National Guard cannot.
Army Reserve and dedicated Army National Guard scholarship cadets, in addition to their normal college degree requirements, take military science courses, participate in scheduled leadership laboratories, attend the 5-week ROTC Leadership Development and Assessment Course, and are members of an ARNG or USAR unit.
Applications are sent by the school to the appropriate State Adjutant General (AG) for Army National Guard applicants and to the Regional Support Commander (RSC) for United States Army Reserve applicants.
The U.S. Army ROTC GRFD and Dedicated Army National Guard scholarships provide financial assistance toward college tuition and education fees of up to $20,000 annually. Additionally, a flat rate of $450 per semester is provided to purchase textbooks, classroom supplies and equipment. Army ROTC Scholarship winners also receive $450 per month in their junior year, ($500 for seniors) for up to ten months of each school year. You will also earn drill pay for participating in National Guard or Army Reserve training activities. Upon graduation and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard or the Army Reserves, scholarship recipients incur an eight-year military service obligation.
Individuals who receive an ARNG scholarship cannot request active duty, and those who are awarded a dedicated ARNG scholarship are not eligible to receive the Montgomery GI Bill benefits or kicker.
Obligations: If you are selected and accept an Army ROTC GRFD or Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarship, you are obligated to:
- Enter into an appropriate contract with the Army, which will spell out your scholarship, benefits and obligations.
- Agree to serve in the ARNG/USAR for a period of 8 years.
- Join the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) and participate regularly with a National Guard or Army Reserve unit.
- Pursue the academic discipline (if applicable) identified in the letter that notifies you of your selection as a scholarship recipient.
- Attend ROTC National Advanced Leadership Camp, normally between your junior and senior years of college.
- Accept a commission to serve on active duty or reserve duty (Army National Guard or Army Reserve) upon completion of the required academic and ROTC Courses.
- Scholarships are awarded on the basis of character, U.S. citizenship, age, motivation, officer potential, academic excellence, physical fitness and medical fitness.
The deadline is June 1.
Two-year GRFD or Dedicated ARNG Scholarship Eligibility:
- Be members of the Army National Guard or Army Reserves or be willing to join the ARNG or the reserves and participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). Individuals desiring a GRFD/Dedicated scholarship who do not yet belong to the Army National Guard must submit a letter of acceptance from an Army National Guard unit stating that they will accept the individual in a SMP status.
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Be of good moral character.
- Under 31 years old on Dec. 31 of the year you expect to graduate college and be commissioned.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to apply and contract.
- Minimum ROTC GPA of 2.7 if currently enrolled in ROTC classes.
- Have a minimum of 920 SAT or ACT composite of 19.
- Participate in leadership, extracurricular and athletic activities (part-time jobs earn substitute credit).
- Pursue an army-approved academic major.
- Meet physical standards (must pass APFT before receiving benefits).
- Be interviewed by the professor of military science.
- Be enrolled as a full time student at Northern Michigan University.
- Have at least 4 semesters of school remaining before graduation.
Benefits of these scholarships:
- Paid tuition and fees
- Textbook allowance ($900/year)
- Monthly Tax Free stipend ($300 -$500/month)
- E-5 Drill Pay
- GRFD Kicker ($350/month)
Obligation: 8 years in the Army Reserves or National Guard (1 weekend per month and two weeks in the summer).
To learn more about GRFD/ARNG scholarships, call the Enrollment Officer at (906) 227-2236.
