MONEY FOR COLLEGE AND OTHER BENEFITS
WHAT KINDS OF BENEFITS DOES THE ARMY PROVIDE?
In the Army, your son or daughter can earn money for college, and college credits while learning job skills that will put them ahead of their civilian colleagues. Soldiers also receive top-notch medical coverage, 30-days paid vacation, and housing allowances.
“I just can’t emphasize the educational assistance enough, because that’s one of the staples of the Army — to give you an opportunity to get a career, get Army educational assistance, where you may not be able to afford it.”
— Phyllis, mother of Specialist Antoine Grimes
EDUCATION BENEFITS
If your son or daughter is planning to go to college, the Army offers several ways to help you afford it.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB)
Depending on how long your son or daughter enlists in the Army, he or she can earn over $60,000 to help pay for college.
CHOOSE ARMY RESERVE AND GIVE YOUR MGIB A “KICKER”
The Army Reserve always needs to fill positions at certain locations. If your son or daughter qualifies and takes one of these jobs, he or she can earn up to $24,732 for college.
RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) SCHOLARSHIP
Is your young adult college bound or already attending a university? Army ROTC teaches leadership skills for future Army Officers and offers competitive, merit-based scholarships to cover tuition and an allowance for books and fees.
“The Army provides stability, economic security, educational opportunity and a real chance that you might not have in a lot of other careers to see a lot of different things and be exposed to a lot of different ways of thinking and different cultures.”
— Cathy, Staff Sergeant John Martin’s Mom
MORE BENEFITS
There is a wide range of other benefits for a Soldier in the Army. These include medical coverage, recreation, travel, retirement benefits/savings plans and expert training in multiple disciplines that can translate into a rewarding career.
- Earn a salary while learning a skill
- High-quality medical and dental coverage
- Free or discounted meals and housing
- Earn college credits
- Specialized job training
- Vacation (30 days paid leave each year)
- Retirement benefits
- Thrift Savings Plan — the military version of a 401(k)
“The Army provides medical, dental, eye care and her paycheck. Those would be the benefits that I would know about other than the benefits that Jodie reaps from being a part of the Army and staying physically fit and learning an additional job.”
— Deb, mother of Specialist Jodie Wood
