Imagine a hot, dusty outpost in Afghanistan that is being guarded by some of America’s most valued citizens: our military men and women. We all know that with threat levels being monitored every day and situations occurring all over the world that require U.S. military assistance, our troops are being asked of more duty and hardship than they have in decades. They deserve to be able to come home from a long deployment and have choices available to them regarding one of the reasons they may have joined in the first place: their online grant.
In fact, there are more opportunities for a military member to get educational assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, and other types of financial aid than there ever have been. Best of all, even the families of military members have the chance to further their education because it is widely recognized that the families of military members also deserve educational assistance for the sacrifices they make. This financial aid comes in many forms; from the New GI Bill to service-specific grants, and scholarships of many kinds ranging from a few hundred dollars to awards in the thousands of dollars.
In fact, there are literally thousands of types of online education that veterans and their families can apply for; there are so many that it may be difficult to decide what to do. Knowledge is power, and it may be best to start at home base. For example, if a military member is in the Air Force, they can find out from their service aid organization what scholarships or grants apply specifically to Air Force members. Each branch of the service has their own service aid organization, and they are happy to help their members navigate the financial aid process. Depending on the type of financial aid awarded, the recipient may be paid directly, or the funds may be paid to the school itself with any overage being paid out to the student.
Knowing what course of study is paramount in deciding what school to go to. Many colleges and universities are “military friendly” because they may offer credits for military experience or have online programs that a military member can access from overseas. An online degree may be the perfect solution for a military member who is deployed or for a spouse who is taking care of the home front and doesn’t have time during the busy day to pursue a degree; online classes at night may just fit the bill. Of course, any grants, scholarships or other forms of financial aid can be used for an online degree at an accredited university, as well as in a traditional classroom setting.
Most universities have a Veteran’s Affairs office that will help service members figure out what benefits they may be entitled to. It’s especially important for military members to keep in mind that they do not have to limit themselves to a military-backed form of financial aid. There are many non-military types of scholarships that a military member may qualify for, such as an academic or athletic scholarship. In addition, there are also many grants that are available to military members and their families like the FSEO Grants, which may pay benefits up to $4,000 per year.
In order to begin qualifying for any of these opportunities, an applicant must first fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Completing this online worksheet makes applying for financial aid much easier. Many scholarships and grants also require that a FAFSA be filled out, even if they are funded by a private organization. This is because many of the grants and scholarships that are available may be need-based, and the FAFSA provides an opportunity for the applicant to prove financial need. It takes a bit of time to fill this form out, but in the end the effort is worth the benefit.
When submitting multiple applications for different financial aid packages, it’s important to remember that having a system that keeps your paperwork in order will be very helpful. Having deadlines for different applications on the calendar is a great way to keep track of what needs to be completed by a certain date. Once a deadline passes, there usually isn’t another opportunity to apply until the next application date. These application dates might be once a year or once a semester; it varies from program to program, so keeping track is important. Sometimes scholarships are awarded based on a written essay. If that’s the case, it’s important to get started long before the due date.
One thing is certain about college grants and scholarships: millions of dollars of student grants goes unclaimed each and every year, largely because military service members and their families may not realize what financial benefits they are entitled to. Another source of financial aid that is available for military members is financial aid from the state in which they have their permanent residence. These grants and scholarships are readily available; just check with the Department of Veterans Affairs in your state. Our military men and women are some of the hardest working and dedicated people our nation has to offer. Knowing that educational benefits are available to them and their families may make the sacrifices they make worth it.