@fury301 What type of college degree and what commission path (reserves, active duty?) are you seeking in the Army? Are you attending a 2 year associates or 4 year program?
Key questions you need to answer:
Do you want active duty or reserves?
Do you want an associates then bachelors degree or a 4 year program?
Do you want to join the reserves/ guard while in college?
Do the math and confirm if you want a scholarship for 3/ 4 years, and are OK to cover first year costs yourself?
Does this school cover room and board or with a 3 year would you cover costs yourself?
After additional aid - merit, financial aid what is the best option for you - what exactly will each path cost?
Is this a traditional 3 year AROTC scholarship from the unit? if so,
A three year scholarship will cover years 2-3-4 for tuition or a set amount for room and board, but does not give you full scholarship benefits in your first year. This is toward a 4 year degree - this is a path that is not designed for reserves/ national guard like the ike. this would allow you to commission into active duty, and while in school this is not a path to simultaneously joining the guard/ reserves in years 3-4, like the ike is.
Just confirm what's being offered, and what you want. These are different paths for different ways to serve in the Army. Good luck to you and thank you for your willingness to serve.
The IKE: This two-year scholarship is available to students who want to attend a
junior military college and receive a commission in the Army. Following graduation from the junior military college with an associate’s degree, students will continue on to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor’s degree. Students must join an ROTC program and join the Reserves or National Guard while simultaneously working on their bachelor’s degree. Students must also be able to finish and receive their bachelor’s degree within 36 months of completing their education at a junior military college.
- IKE Award amount: While attending the junior military college, all tuition and fees or room and board will be covered, the choice of which is up to the student. There will be an additional $1,200 annual stipend to be used toward books. Cadets will also receive a monthly living allowance of $420.
- After graduating from the junior military college, students have the option of enrolling in the Educational Assistance Program while completing their bachelor’s degree. This will cover full tuition and fees or room and board up to $10,000 annually for two years. For each year that the student participates in the Educational Assistance Program, they will incur a one-year service commitment.
