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Field Problem – Military Spouse Scholarships Dear Tara & Star, I'm desperately writing hoping you MIGHT have a clue about what to do! My sister, whose husband is Active Guard Reserve (AGR), just finished her first semester of school Last semester she qualified for financial aid, and next semester she doesn't, even though there is no way they can afford it. I am wondering if there are scholarships or grants targeted towards military spouses. She gets a part scholarship from the school, and she's really smart, but there is no way she can return in the fall if she doesn't find help paying for it. Thanks! Kristi; Fort Bragg, NC; Active Army spouse; 8 years
Dear Kristi: Lucky sister you have there to have you helping her! Your sister is in a situation that is familiar to many military spouses. We are very proud of her for continuing her education. We know that going back to school for military spouses is a sizeable time commitment and an expensive financial obligation. The best place for her to begin her preparation is the local installation Education Center. As a military family member, she qualifies to apply for many scholarships given by military organizations. Each military community’s Education Center will have information on available grants or scholarships for which she may be eligible. She can find the center nearest to her by going to http://www.dantes.doded.mil/. We’re going to assume your sister has already filed her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Depending on her income, she may qualify for a low-interest student loan, payable after she finishes her degree. Loans are available through the federal government, privately through many banks, and through other lending institutions. There is a place to find college scholarships specifically for military spouses, and that is through the Military Scholarship Finder at http://aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do. We did a quick search on the web and found several resources too, for your sister to begin searching for financial assistance. Remember that most require an application and have deadlines so she’ll have to be resourceful, determined, and motivated to get everything together to meet the requirements. The Military Officers’ Association of America (www.moaa.org) offers several educational assistance programs, including interest-free loans, grants and the American Patriot Scholarship. Thanks USA is a non-profit tax exempt charitable organization focused on thanking American troops. ThanksUSA sponsors a large scholarship program for children and spouses of active duty US military personnel. As many as 1,000 scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 each are available for undergraduate study at accredited two and four year institutions of higher education. Recipients are selected based on financial need, academic performance, leadership and community service. For more information, call 1-877-THX-USAS (1-877-849-8727), or visit their website at www.thanksusa.org. Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (www.msccn.org) is a non-profit organization that specializes in employment placement solutions for military spouses, war wounded, and caregivers of war wounded via an Internet gateway and a team of geographically diverse military spouses and veterans. They have scholarships and grants available for spouses continuing their education. National Military Family Association (www.nmfa.org/scholarship) has a Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The scholarships range from $500 to $1,000, and are awarded to spouses of Uniformed Services members (active duty, retiree, Reserve, National Guard, or survivor) to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school. The scholarship funds may be used to assist with tuition, fees, and school room and board, and are paid directly to the accredited educational institution involved. NMFA has also released a second edition of its Military Spouse Education Resource Guide, Spring 2008. In this newest version, NMFA designed a comprehensive resource about higher education—military-spouse style. Updated scholarship information, tips for beginning your education career, and helpful education hints for those on the move are among the many resources gathered in this guide. The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (http://www.aerhq.org/) is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers, and widow(er)s of Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. Scholarship America (http://scholarshipamerica.org) is another resource dedicated to working with communities throughout the nation to help you pursue postsecondary education. Their website offers application tips, resources and opportunities to begin your scholarship search. We also suggest your sister ask her college if they have any benefits for military spouses, as some will offer discounted tuition or even assistance with purchasing books and supplies. She might also try researching her local area for scholarships or financial aid that might be available. Have other questions? For more information or to submit your Field Problem, visit www.FieldProblems.com or e-mail FromTheField@FieldProblems.com. Please include your first name, location, branch of service, and years in/associated with the military. Questions may be edited for length and clarity. Field Problems™ reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any other form, the emails and letters that we receive. By sending us a letter or email, you agree to these terms. © 2008, Crooks and Henderson. Field Problems TM is a self-syndicated column by authors and military spouses Tara Crooks & Starlett “Star” Henderson. Receive this and other Field Problems: SOLVED c/o Crooks and Henderson right in your inbox by signing up at www.FieldProblems.com. Field Problems™ is just one solution to the challenges encountered by military families in Crooks and Henderson's kitbag. Ask about workshops or Field Exercises™ customized to solve your or your organization's Field Problems™.
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