The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society's (NMCRS) education programs help eligible Navy and Marine Corps families pursue their academic goals by providing a source of education financing. Awards are provided solely on the basis of the applicant's financial need and availability of funds, in accordance with policies established by the Society's Board of Directors.
All applicants must have at least a 2.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
Education Programs Administered by
NMCRS Headquarters
The NMCRS education programs – Vice Admiral E. P. Travers Loan, USS Tennessee Scholarship, Dependents of Deceased Scholarship, and the Admiral Mike Boorda Scholarship – are administered by Headquarters, with contract support from American College Testing (ACT) Recognition Program Services.
All applicants for these programs must be enrolled or planning to enroll as full-time undergraduate students in a traditional classroom setting at a post-secondary, technical, or vocational institution that participates in the U. S. Department of Education Title IV financial aid programs.
[Information on programs not administered
by NMCRS is available here .]
A new application for NMCRS education programs is required for each academic year. Receipt of funds in one year does not guarantee funding in future years. Each student may receive funds for up to four years of undergraduate study. All funds are sent directly to the school, and can only be used for direct educational expenses.
To obtain an application, click on the title of the programs listed below, and then click on "Application." Complete the form(s) on screen and print the completed application. Ensure the application has been completely filled in, that all required signatures are in place, and then mail the completed form(s), along with proof of eligibility, to: NMCRS Education Division, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO APPLICANTS
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has had a very busy year in 2007, with an increase in emergency loan and grant activity, both in the number of clients and dollars disbursed. Society program costs have increased with implementation of the Combat Casualty Visiting Nurse Program, the evacuation debit card initiative and the new Quick Assist Loan (QAL) Program. Combat Casualty Assistance is up for the third year in a row.
As a cost saving effort, the Society has temporarily restricted the Travers Program to a loan-only program. Although the scholarships will not be available for the 2008-2009 academic year, we encourage you to apply for a Travers Loan. Once the QAL Program is up and running, the Society hopes to be able to restore the scholarship portion of the Travers Program.
We regret any inconvenience this has caused you and encourage you to pursue other avenues and resources for scholarships. Some of those opportunities are available on the page listing those Education Programs not administered by the Society.
Named after the Society's eleventh President, the Vice Admiral E. P. Travers Loan Program provides interest-free loans to the dependent children of active duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps personnel, as well as spouses of active duty Navy and Marine Corps service members.
The Travers loan offers interest-free loans from $500 up to $3,000 (for an academic year) to students' service member sponsors.
The Travers application package is posted on the program
page in mid-October of each year for the following academic year. Applications must be received at Headquarters no later than March 1st (about six months before the start of the fall semester).
The Society administers the USS Tennessee Scholarship Fund, which was established upon the commissioning of USS Tennessee (SSBN 734). The scholarship provides grants of up to $2,000 for an academic year to dependent children of service members who are serving or have served aboard USS Tennessee. Eligible candidates:
- Dependent children of active duty service members, and
- Dependent children of retired service members.
The Tennessee application package is posted on the program
page in mid-November. Applications must be received at Headquarters no later than March 1st each school year (about six months before the start of the fall semester).
The Dependents of Deceased Service Members Scholarship Program provides grants for an academic year to children and unremarried spouses who are military dependents of deceased service members. Awards are determined by NMCRS Headquarters Education Division:
For Children (use the application entitled Children of Deceased Service Member Scholarship Program). Eligible candidates:
- Dependent children of retired deceased service members.
- Dependent children of service members who died while on active duty not in a hostile fire zone.
- The USS Stark Memorial Fund includes dependent children of crewmembers who died as a result of the missile attack on the USS Stark in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, as well as those disabled due to the attack.
- The USS Cole Memorial Fund is limited to children of crewmembers who perished as a result of the terrorist attack of October 12, 2000.
- The Pentagon Assistance Fund (PAF) includes dependent children of deceased military personnel who perished as a result of the terrorist attack September 11, 2001.
- Dependent children of active duty service members who died under hostile fire in a theater of combat operations during the global war on terrorism (GWOT).
Applications for dependent children are posted on the program page in mid-November of each year. Application forms must be received at Headquarters no later than March 1st each school year.
For Unremarried Spouses (use the application entitled Education Assistance for Unremarried Spouses):
- The USS Stark Memorial Fund includes unremarried spouses of crewmembers who died as a result of the missile attack on USS Stark in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, as well as unremarried spouses of service members disabled due to the attack.
- The Pentagon Assistance Fund (PAF) includes unremarried spouses of deceased military personnel who perished as a result of the terrorist attack September 11, 2001.
- Unremarried spouses of active duty service members who died under hostile fire in a theater of combat operations during the global war on terrorism (GWOT).
Applications for unremarried spouses are posted on the program page in mid-November. Application forms must be received at Headquarters no later than two months prior to the start of school.
The Admiral Mike Boorda Scholarship Program (Boorda Program) provides grants ranging from $500 up to $2,500 for an academic year to students in the following military commissioning programs:
- Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP)
- Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP)
- Meritorious Commissioning Program (MCP).
Applications must be reviewed and endorsed by the student's commanding officer.
Boorda application forms are posted on the
program page in mid-November.
Forms must be received by Headquarters no later than May 1st each school year.
Note: In August 2002, the Navy's Seaman to Admiral 21 Commissioning Program (STA-21) replaced the ECP and fleet accession NROTC Programs. This Program provides full pay and allowances and up to $10,000 in assistance for tuition, fees, and books. Consequently, STA-21 selectees are not eligible for the need-based Boorda Program.
Education Programs Administered by
Local NMCRS Offices
The following NMCRS education programs are administered at local
NMCRS offices :
The Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) is need based and open to spouses residing with their active duty service member sponsor who is stationed outside the fifty United States. Unlike our other programs, full-time attendance is not required, and graduate studies are supported. STAP provides a grant of up to 50% of tuition for on-base education programs, up to a maximum of $350 per undergraduate term ($1,750 per academic year) or $400 per graduate term ($2,000 per academic year). To apply for this locally (overseas) administered program, contact the nearest
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Office.
The Society offers bridge loans through its local offices, to cover all or a portion of the service member's share of the cost under the Navy Department's Tuition Assistance Program ("TAP"). Bridge loans are also offered to allow enrollment under the GI Bill if education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs are not received in time to permit enrollment.
To apply for these locally administered bridge loans, contact the nearest
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Office.
Please feel free to contact us. The Headquarters e-mail
is education@hq.nmcrs.org,
or call directly to NMCRS HQ at (703) 696-4960 DSN 426-4960.
This page last updated on 12 December 2007
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