Minuteman Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by US Army Reserve

Overview
The Minuteman Campaign, run by U.S. Army Cadet Command, offers Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarships to applicants who choose to serve in a Reserve component. The GRFD program develops well-trained officers for the Reserve Components while strengthening the total Army.

What the GRFD Minuteman Scholarship Covers
- Full tuition and fees or room and board (up to $12,000 per year) for up to four years at colleges that host an Army ROTC program (public or private, depending on scholarship type).
- Additional financial benefits and training that support commissioning into the Army Reserve.

Benefits for a GRFD-Contracted Cadet
- Full tuition and fees (in-state or out-of-state) or room and board ($12,000/year)
- $1,200 annual book stipend
- $420 per month ROTC cadet stipend
- Eligibility for E-5 drill pay once contracted
- Chapter 1606 (Drill Status Guardsmen) benefits if MOSQ (available with select scholarships)
- SMP Kicker if MOSQ (available with select scholarships)
- Participation in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), providing hands-on experience with an Army Reserve unit and additional pay

Scholarship Types (Academic Year 2025–2026)
- 4-year: Awarded only to incoming college freshmen who will attend a host ROTC program. Recipients of this scholarship must enroll at a state or public university.
- 3-year Advanced Designee (3AD): Awarded to students who will attend a host ROTC program and begin receiving scholarship benefits after contracting at the start of their sophomore year, assuming they meet eligibility. Recipients may attend state, public, or private universities.

Eligibility Requirements
- Be currently serving in the Army Reserve or eligible to enlist (test and physically qualified but not yet sworn in)
- U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- Age between 17 and 28 at application; candidate must not turn 31 on or before 31 December of the commissioning year
- Able to complete a valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment (Qualified Not Enlisted, QNE, status required)
- Able to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) — required to sign the contract and receive scholarship benefits
- Compliant with AR 600-9 body composition standards
- Have an official college/university acceptance letter
- Minimum 2.5 GPA required; 4-year scholarship applicants must provide ACT/SAT scores
- Able to participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
- Upon commissioning, commit to an 8-year service obligation while actively drilling at a unit

Important Conditions
- Applicants must be QNE (test and physically qualified) at MEPS; enlistment swearing-in is not required until a ROTC scholarship offer is received.
- Nominees will be informed that the GRFD scholarship is a designated Reserve-only award and cannot be rescinded to permit competing for an active-duty commission.
- All scholarship offers depend on available funding.

How to Apply
Army Reserve soldiers and other applicants interested in the GRFD Minuteman Scholarship should complete the form below to be connected with an Army Reserve Ambassador who will initiate the nomination and application process. Nominations are required for every scholarship type. Army recruiters can also help applicants obtain a nominating resource.