Green to Gold Scholarship

The Green to Gold program seeks talented young enlisted soldiers who have decided to leave, or are considering leaving, active duty to attend college.

Quality enlisted soldiers with officer potential who have served at least two years on active duty are allowed to voluntarily request discharge from active duty, and enroll in Army ROTC to earn baccalaureate degrees and commissions as Second Lieutenants.

A monthly stipend of $350 or up to 10 months each school year

Pay for attending the ROTC Advanced Camp between the junior and senior years of college

If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits

School / State / Reserve Forces Duty Benefits

Non scholarship Green to Gold members can also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). As SMPs, soldiers are members of either a drilling Reserve or Guard unit and ROTC simultaneously. SMPs are entitled to Reserve Component pay of E-5 under this program

Also, many states offer tuition assistance to Reserve and National Guard soldiers.

a. Meet the scholarship eligibility requirements listed in AR 145-1, Chapter 3. The Green to Gold Scholarship selection board will verify eligibility prior to awarding a scholarship.

b. To be eligible for separation to participate in the Army ROTC through the Green to Gold Program, the soldier's scholarship application packet must contain documentation verifying that the soldier¯

(2) Has completed at least two years of active duty on his or her initial enlistment, as well as three months of active duty for every one month of specialized training received as of the date of discharge for enrollment in ROTC, or has a time-in-service waiver approved by DA. Soldiers on their second and subsequent enlistment must have completed three months of active duty for every month of the most recent specialized training received. Soldiers may submit a request for waiver of service obligation for training through HQCC to HQDA (see sample a Appendix L). Get your application for Green to Gold click here

Soldiers must submit this time-in-service waiver request with the scholarship application. Montgomery GI Bill/Army College Fund requires 20 months for two-year enlistment and 30 months for three-year or greater enlistment to keep benefits.

(3) Will not reach age 27 prior to 30 June of the year in which the degree and commissioning requirements are met. If age is more than maximum allowable age, the soldier may request a waiver if he/she will be under 31 on 31 December of commissioning year. The following age extensions are applicable:

(a) With two years of active service, must be under 29 on 30 June of the year of commissioning.

(b) With three years of active service, must be under 30 on 30 June of the year of commissioning.

(4) Has the required amount of college work or academic placement credit from the institution the soldier desires to attend. The soldier must have a letter of acceptance from the institution stating the soldier's academic standing and the start date for the term the soldier will attend. Four-year scholarship applicants must have freshman academic standing; three-year scholarship applicants must have sophomore academic standing (minimum 27 semester hours); two-year scholarship applicants must have junior academic standing (minimum 54 semester hours).

(5) Has a favorable recommendation from the soldier's immediate commander that addresses the soldier's qualifications (e.g. leadership potential, appearance, personality, military record, and aptitude for further military training and service as an officer). This will be recorded on ROTC CC Form 173-R, U.S. Army ROTC Green to Gold Active-Duty Scholarship Application. A favorable endorsement of the recommendation by the field grade commander is also required. This will be recorded on ROTC CC Form 173-R below the commander's recommendation.

(6) Has a minimum General/Technical (GT) score of 110. Three- and four-year scholarship applicants must have an ACT score of 19 or greater or SAT score of 920 or greater.

(8) Has a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5, on a scale of 4.0, on all completed college work. For a four-year scholarship, a CGPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required on high school work. Use of weighted GPA is not authorized.

(9) Has a letter of acceptance from the ROTC battalion commander at the institution where the soldier is seeking enrollment. The letter must state that the soldier is accepted into the ROTC program, and the start date of the school term.

(10) Does not have any Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or civil conviction actions pending.

(11) Has passed a physical examination in accordance with AR 40-501 and determined to be medically qualified by DODMERB. The soldier must also meet the height and weight standards listed in AR 600-9. The physical must also be annotated to show the date of the last drug and alcohol test. Any positive test precludes entry into the ROTC Program. Soldiers with permanent profiles are ineligible.

(12) Does not have more than three dependents, including spouse (waivable); is not a sole parent (non-waivable) unless the child or children of such applicant have been placed in the custody of the other parent, or adult relative or legal guardian by court order; is not married to a service member with 1 or more dependents under age 18 (waivable).

(14) Has an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) score of at least 180 points with scores of at least 60 points in each area of the APFT (no alternate events).

(16) Have no moral or personal conviction that will prevent the applicant from supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and conscientiously bearing arms.

(17) Have a favorable or have initiated a National Agency Check (NAC) or Entrance National Agency Check (ENTNAC). The Green to Gold Non-scholarship Option is available to active-duty soldiers who have earned sufficient academic credit to be accepted by their college of choice as an academically aligned junior. Requirements for separation and immediate enrollment as a non-scholarship cadet are as follows (sample discharge packet at Appendix I): Get your application for Green to Gold click here

a. Meet the basic ROTC eligibility requirements listed in AR 145-1, Chapter 3, Section I, paragraphs 3-5 through 3-12 and any other prerequisites for ROTC enrollment prescribed by AR 145-1 or established by U.S. Army Cadet Command. The gaining battalion must verify the applicant meets all eligibility for enrollment ( IAW AR 145-1 and CC Pam 145-4) and discharge ( IAW AR 635-200, Chapter 16-2) prior to issuing a letter of acceptance. To be eligible for separation to participate in Army ROTC through the Green to Gold program as a non-scholarship cadet, the soldier must¯

(2) Have completed at least 2 years of active-duty on his initial enlistment, as well as three months of active duty for every month of specialized training received as of the date of discharge for enrollment in ROTC or has a time-in-service waiver approved by DA. Soldiers on their second and subsequent enlistment must have completed three months of active duty for every month of the most recent specialized training received. Soldiers may submit a request for waiver of service obligation for training to HQDA (see Appendix L). Get your application for Green to Gold click here

Montgomery GI Bill/Army College Fund requires 20 months for two-year enlistment and 30 months for three-year or greater enlistment to keep benefits.

(3) Will not reach age 31 prior to 31 December of the year in which the degree and commissioning requirements are met. Professors of Military Science are authorized to approve waivers for applicants who will be no older than 32 years old at the projected time of commissioning. Waivers for soldiers who will be 33 or older must be submitted to the CG, U.S. Army Cadet Command for approval. Applicants who are to be commissioned after their 33rd birthday, should be advised that they may not be able to qualify for retirement pay under 10 USC 1331 although they may be able to qualify for retired pay under 10 USC 3911 if they have served on active-duty for 20 years when at least 10 years has been served as a commissioned officer.

(4) Have completed two years of college work (minimum 54 semester hours) and is accepted by the institution as an academic junior. The soldier must receive a letter of acceptance from the institution's admissions office stating the soldier's academic standing as an academic junior and the start date of the school term the soldier will attend.

(5) Have a favorable recommendation from the immediate commander commenting on the soldier's qualifications, e.g., leadership potential, appearance, personality, military record, and aptitude for further military training and service as an officer. A favorable endorsement of the recommendation by the field grade commander is also required.

(7) Have a cumulate college GPA of 2.0, on a scale of 4.0, on all college work completed.

(8) Have obtained a letter of acceptance from the ROTC battalion commander at the institution where the soldier is seeking enrollment. The letter must state that the soldier meets all eligibility criteria IAW AR 145-1, is accepted into the ROTC program as an MSIII cadet, is academically aligned as a junior, and the start date of the school term.

(10) Has passed a physical examination in accordance with AR 40-501 and determined to be medically qualified by the DODMERB. The soldier must also meet the height and weight standards listed in AR 600-9. The physical must also be annotated to show the date of the last drug and alcohol test. Any positive test precludes entry into the ROTC Program. Soldiers with permanent profiles are ineligible.

(11) Does not have more than three dependents, including spouse (waivable); is not a sole parent (non-waivable) unless the child or children of such applicant have been placed in the custody of the other parent, or adult relative or legal guardian by court order; is not married to a service member with 1 or more dependents under age 18 (waivable). (12) Have an APFT score of at least 180 points with scores of at least 60 points in each area of the APFT (no alternate events).

Military Service Obligation Following graduation
ROTC cadets are required to serve in the Active Army, Army National Guard or the Army Reserve. All scholarship students will be required to serve in the military for a period of eight years. This obligation may be fulfilled by serving two to four years on active duty, followed by four to six years service as citizen soldiers in the Reserve Components; Army National Guard (ARNG) or U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), or by serving eight years in the ARNG or USAR preceded by a period necessary to complete the active component resident officer basic course (OBC).

To qualify for early discharge
You must meet the requirements of the Green to Gold program. The separation authority must ensure that you meet the criteria, have served honorably and possess officer attributes. You must agree to the stipulations that breaching the terms of the USAR enlistment contract or ROTC student contract will subject you to involuntary order to active duty to complete the prior service remaining and/or the scholarship contractual obligation. If you are a scholarship cadet, you may be required to repay the scholarship benefits received, be ordered to active duty or both.

Where do I enroll, and when?
You enroll in Army ROTC the same time you enroll in college. Army ROTC courses may be taken at more than 800 colleges and universities. Army ROTC is offered at 270 schools. The remaining schools are those with partnership agreements. At a partnership school, you take your academic course work at the college at which you earn your degree. You take your ROTC work at a "host" institution nearby.

Can I enroll in ROTC while on active duty?
No. You must be enrolled in college full time to be a member of Army ROTC. There is no way to carry a full load of college work while on active duty.

Can I apply for a 4-Year Green to Gold Scholarship if I already have some college credit?
Yes, as long as the college accepts you as an academic freshman and you have four years remaining in your course of study.

If I reenlist, how much time must I complete on my second enlistment?
There is no minimum requirement. If you are selected for the Green to Gold program, you may be released from active duty regardless of the amount of time remaining on your second enlistment.

Can I apply for a 2- or 3-Year Scholarship if I do not have the proper number of credit hours but expect to have them prior to Fall enrollment?
Yes. You must have a letter from the school that you wish to attend stating that you are conditionally accepted as an academic junior or sophomore contingent upon completing the required number of credit hours. If you win a scholarship, you are a conditional winner pending acceptance at the school. You must provide proof of the required number of credit hours and unconditional acceptance by the university prior to your discharge.

Can a soldier who previously won an ROTC scholarship, and who was disenrolled from it, apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
No. Cadet Command Regulation 145-1 paragraph 9a clearly states that scholarship winners who disenroll for any reason are ineligible to compete in any ROTC scholarship program.

Can I take terminal leave with my early discharge?
No. Terminal leave cannot be taken in conjunction with early discharge IAW AR 600-200.

Where can I ship my household goods?
Your entitlement for the shipment of household goods is back to your home of record. If the cost to ship your goods to your school of choice is more than to ship it to your home of record than you will be responsible for the difference.

I understand that veterans are not required to take the freshman and sophomore level ROTC classes. Will I have to take these courses if I get a 3- or 4-Year Scholarship?
Yes, you will have to take these courses. As a scholarship winner you are a contracted cadet and must enroll in and successfully complete the basic course IAW the contract. As a 2-Year Scholarship winner or nonscholarship cadet your prior experience satisfies the basic course requirements.

I am in the Marines (or Navy or Air Force). Can I apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
Members of sister services are not eligible for Green to Gold scholarships but may participate in the nonscholarship program.

For more information contact Colonel Handley, Master Sergeant Jones or Captain Ron Cohen: