Washington Army National Guard

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Minuteman Campaign (Academic Year 2024-2025)


WHAT IS THE MINUTEMAN CAMPAIGN?

The Minuteman Campaign is a U.S. Army Cadet Command initiative to offer Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarships to candidates that self-select for service in a Reserve component.

The GRFD scholarship provides full tuition and fees or room and board ($12,000 per year) for up to four years at a public or private school. This program provides well-trained officers to the Reserve Components and improves the total Army force.

If you are a high school senior interested in receiving an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship and commissioning into the Washington Army National Guard, the GRFD Minuteman Scholarship provides you an excellent opportunity.

BENEFITS

GRFD contracted Scholarship Cadet can earn:

  • Full Tuition Fees - In / Out of State or Room/Board ($12K per year)
  • $1,200 a year book stipend
  • $420 ROTC Cadet stipend each month
  • Earn E-5 drill pay upon contracting
  • GI Bill: CH 1606 if MOSQ (*available with select scholarships)
  • GI Bill: SMP Kicker if MOSQ (*available with select scholarships)

Types of Scholarships

  • 4-year: Only awarded to incoming college freshmen attending a host ROTC program. Recipients must attend a State or public university.
  • 3-year: Typically awarded to an incoming college sophomore. This scholarship pays up to 3 years of benefits provided the applicant successfully meets the requirements to contract. Awardees may attend any public, State or private university while enrolled in ROTC. ​​
  • 2-year: This scholarship is awarded to incoming college juniors or Graduate students. This benefit will pay up to the last 2 years at a private, public or State university if awardee has successfully met the requirements to contract.

Minuteman recipients also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program, which gives them experience within a Washington Army National Guard unit while earning additional income.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Currently in the Washington Army National Guard or eligible to enlist (meaning test [with minimum 31 AFQT] and physically qualified but not sworn in)
  • U.S. Citizen or U.S. National
  • Between the ages of 17-28; cannot turn 31 by 31 December of the year of commissioning
  • Must be able to complete a valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment (or DoDMERB Physical)
  • Must be able to pass a Cadet Command Physical Fitness Assessment (required to sign contract and receive scholarship benefits)
  • Must be in compliance with AR 600-9 body composition standards
  • Official University/College acceptance letter
  • Applicants require: 2.5 GPA, 4-year applicants must have an ACT or SAT score
  • Must be able to participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
  • Once commissioned applicants must complete an 8-year service obligation while actively drilling at a Unit

The applicant must be test/physically qualified – Qualified Not Enlisted (QNE) with MEPS. The applicant will not be required to swear-in until they have received a ROTC scholarship offer letter.

All nominees will be made aware that the scholarship they are accepting is a dedicated GRFD and CANNOT BE REVOKED to allow the applicant to compete for an active-duty commission.

All scholarship offers are subject to available funding.

HOW TO APPLY

Washington Army National Guard Soldiers and those interested in joining the Washington Army National Guard with a Minuteman Scholarship should download the following documents linked below that explain the nomination packet requirements. Personnel should then contact the Basic Branch of the Officer Strength Management team via one of the POCs below to help support you through the process. Nominations are required for all scholarship types.

Application Guide (file download)

Application Memo Example (file download)

Officer Strength Management Office

Bldg 6224 2nd Division Drive, JBLM, WA 98433
Office: (253) 512-1400
Mobile Gov: (253) 468-3712
Mobile Gov: (253) 339-1501
Distro: ng.wa.waarng.mbx.rrb-osm-basic@army.mil 

***Washington Army National Guard Recruiters can assist in connecting applicants to the OSM to secure a nominating resource.


Find an eligible ROTC program that fits your career goals by visiting,

ROTC Schools and Military Colleges | goarmy.com.

The deadline for all Minuteman Nominations is August. 2, 2024

  • Aug. 2, 2024 - The Minuteman Scholarship Nominations Due (latest processing date if nominations are still available)
  • Sep. 1, 2024 - Nominated Individuals' Completed Scholarship Packets for Fall 2024 Due
  • Dec. 1, 2024 - Nominated Individuals' Completed Scholarship Packets for Spring 2025 Due

 *By accepting the Minuteman Scholarship, a cadet is not eligible to compete for active duty.

*Requests for scholarship nominations will be processed as received and once all nomination allocations are issued, no more applications will be processed.

For questions concerning the Minuteman Campaign, please email the
Basic Branch of the Washington Army National Guard at ng.wa.waarng.mbx.rrb-osm-basic or call 253-512-1400.