Congratulations to Cadets Kristen Buckingham and Maximiliano Ruiz who both earned Army scholarships starting this quarter! Each scholarship includes $34,000 to pay full tuition for their degree as well as $1,200 per year for books and a $420 monthly stipend. These scholarships will enable Kristen and Max to complete their degrees at EWU and commission as U.S. Army Officers. Kristen is studying Exercise Science and Max, Biology. We are excited to have them join the team!
EWU Army ROTC is please to announce that incoming transfer student Mykenzie Belliotti has been awarded a scholarship to Eastern worth over $90,000. Welcome to our Fighting Eagles 🦅 team! Read more about MyKenzie at the Instagram post below.
The 2021 Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) National Scholarship season began on June 12, 2020. Army ROTC National Scholarships are for qualified high school seniors planning to attend a four-year university and are interested in training to become a future officer in the U.S. Army. If you have already graduated high school please contact the Eastern Washington University (EWU) ROTC office because we have other scholarship options available.
Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)
If you meet the basic requirements, below are the instructions on how to apply for a ROTC National Scholarship. You can get about 75% of the application completed in under an hour.
ROTC National Scholarship Process:
Step #1: You need to complete an on-line application that you can access through this link. Applicants must initiate the on-line application by 4 February 2020. Remember your login and password for your cadet portal. Your login is the email you use to establish your account.
Step #2: Submit high school transcripts (at least through junior year) and SAT or ACT scores. You can upload PDFs through your account in the Cadet portal.
Step #3: Take the ROTC Basic Fitness Test. A coach or PE teacher can administer this for you.
Step #4: Conduct an interview at one of the university ROTC programs (ideally where your first choice of college is). We can do this any time here at Eastern after you start the on-line application. We are more than willing to conduct a Skype interview if you live several hours away. Please reach us through our Contact page or call 509-359-6110 to setup an interview.
Make sure to read the below articles to help you with the ROTC scholarship process:
The Army understands high school students could still be in the process of taking SATs and ACTs during their senior year. Because of this the Army has three different boards that meet throughout the year to select ROTC scholarship winners. Below is the board timeline.
1st Board
09 October 2020: All four steps listed above must be completed on the GoArmy site before this date to be considered by the first board. The application will not be considered if any of the steps are not completed. A benefit of completing the ROTC packet in time for the first board is that even if your packet is not selected it will be looked at again by the second and third boards thus increasing your chances of receiving a scholarship.
19 October 2020: This is the date that the first board convenes and reviews every packet that was submitted by the 09 October 2020 deadline.
2nd Board
15 January 2021: All four steps listed above must be completed on the GoArmy site before this date to be considered by the second board. The application will not be considered if any of the steps are not completed. A benefit of completing the ROTC packet in time for the second board is that even if your packet is not selected it will be looked at again by the third board thus increasing your chances of receiving a scholarship.
25 January 2021: This is the date that the second board convenes and reviews every packet that was submitted by the 15 January 2021 deadline.
4 February 2021: This is the deadline to initiate new 2019-2020 ROTC scholarship applications. If an application is not initiated by1159pm EST it will not be considered by the final board. Those who already have an application open can continue to modify it passed this deadline.
3rd Board
05 March 2021: All four steps listed above must be completed on the GoArmy site before this date to be considered by the third board. The application will not be considered if any of the steps are not completed.
15 March 2021: Board convenes and runs until every packet that was board ready by the start of the board, has been reviewed.
Please view the below video for more information about submitting an ROTC scholarship application.
ROTC Scholarship Selection
Selection for ROTC scholarships are highly competitive and at EWU ROTC we recommend getting your application complete and seen in time for the second board. The majority of scholarships are issued from the second and third boards and getting the application complete by the second board will increase your chances of receiving a scholarship. Decisions on the scholarships awarded are usually released two to four weeks after each board. Periodically check the Selection Status tab on your GoArmy application to see if you were selected.
An ROTC National Scholarship recipient to Eastern Washington University received scholarship benefits worth $77,000.
If you were not selected after the third board do not give up hope of receiving a scholarship. There is a secondary process for applicants to earn a scholarship. Any ROTC program can make an alternate offer to applicants that were not offered a national award. We get most of our new, incoming freshman on scholarships using this alternate process. Applying for the national scholarship is simply the first step. It is very simple and easy for us to make an alternate offer, but you first have to put together the ROTC application.
Please contact the EWU ROTC office for any additional details about how the scholarship selection process works.
Follow EWU ROTC
Keep up-to-date on all the latest news and notes from the EWU ROTC program and Cadet Command in general by subscribing to our website using the sign up widget in the right sidebar. You can also follow EWU ROTC at the below social media channels:
Remember if you have any questions about the ROTC National Scholarship process, please leave a comment, contact our office, or reach out to us through our social media sites. We are here to help and want you to be as successful as possible to receive an Army ROTC scholarship.
This week the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army ROTC battalion conducted a contracting ceremony for Cadet (CDT) Olivia Roble. CDT Roble is a second year Cadet at EWU who is originally from Auburn, Washington. In high school CDT Roble applied for an Army ROTC National Scholarship to help her achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. CDT Roble was selected for a National Scholarship that will pay for four of the five years required for a nursing degree. After finishing her first year at EWU, she became eligible this year to contract into the U.S. Army and activate her scholarship benefits.
EWU Army ROTC Cadet Olivia Roble, (right) prepares to take the Oath of Enlistment administered by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford (left).
During the ceremony Cadet Roble was given the Oath of Enlistment by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Stafford, the Professor of Military Science for the EWU Army ROTC program.
EWU Army ROTC Cadet, Olivia Roble takes the Oath of Enlistment.
The contracting ceremony was a special moment for CDT Roble since her dad, a retired Coast Guard veteran was on hand for the event. After taking the Oath of Enlistment, her father placed the EWU patch on her right shoulder sleeve signifying her as being a contracted Cadet.
EWU Army ROTC Cadet, Olivia Roble receives a hug from her father after contracting into the U.S. Army to become a nurse.
Contracting into Army ROTC activated CDT Roble’s scholarship benefits which include:
Full tuition and mandatory fees (or $10,000 annually for room & board)
$1,200 annually for books and supplies
A monthly stipend of $420
Ability to apply for Army sponsored internships
Opportunity to attend advanced military training
EWU Army ROTC Cadet, Oliva Roble (center) is contracted for contracting into the Army by fellow Cadets, Cierra Neumann (left) and Isabell Pannell (right).
Cadet Roble is part of the largest Army ROTC nursing program in Washington State and the Inland Northwest. If you want to become a future Army nurse like Cadet Roble, EWU ROTC can help get you there. We have scholarships available to qualified applicants. You can read more about how to become an Army nurse by clicking the below tab or contacting the Army ROTC office at rotc@ewu.edu .
Something that many people do not realize is that joining ROTC does not mean that you are locked into Active Duty after graduating from college. In fact Cadets can take a scholarship that locks them into the Army Reserves or National Guard after graduation. The scholarship is called a Minuteman Scholarship. Anyone qualified to receive an ROTC scholarship can apply for a Minuteman Scholarship. 2, 3, and 4 year Minuteman Scholarships are available to qualified Cadets.
Requirements for a Minuteman Scholarship
Be a U.S. citizen
Between ages of 17-30*
Valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical
Currently in the Army Reserve or eligible for enlistment
Ability to pass Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT)
Meet Army Physical standards (AR600-9)
Receive Mission Subordinate Command (MSC) Commander, Army Reserve Ambassador (ARA),or Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) nomination
Acceptance letter to a college or university with a ROTC program
Professor of Military Science (PMS) interview
Proof of academic major
1000 SAT or 19 ACT scores, 2.5 GPA
Participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) in which they participate in an Army Reserve unit's monthly and annual drills
Once commissioned... 8-year service obligation
Must not have turned age 31 by Dec. 31st of commissioning year
That may seem like a lot, but we will help you through the entire process! Recipients of a Minuteman Scholarship have the option of using the scholarship to pay for tuition or receive $10,000 annually for room and board expenses. At Eastern Washington University the majority of our Cadets take the $10,000 room and board option since tuition each year is roughly $8,200. Cadets that choose the Minuteman Scholarship and join the Washington Army National Guard receive access to additional grants and federal tuition assistance up to $4,600, allowing them to pay for tuition and use the full $10,000 and other SMP benefits listed above. With tuition paid for through grants and tuition assistance, here's an example chart of Minuteman Scholarship benefits:
After graduation from Eastern Cadets will commission into the officer rank of Second Lieutenant in the Washington Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserves. Call 509-359-6110 our Enrollment Officer for more information.
Cadet Patrick Coleman (far left in uniform) is contracted into ROTC as a Minuteman Scholarship recipient by the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Brigadier General (Retired) Neal Sealock at halftime of a Nov. 3, 2019 EWU football game. Patrick Coleman successfully graduated from EWU in 2022 and is serving part-time as an officer in the Adjutant General Corps.
Each year between October through March is the ROTC National Scholarship season where high school seniors apply for ROTC scholarships through the GoArmy website. The Eastern Washington University Army ROTC office helps dozens of applicants each year navigate the ROTC scholarship process. Based on this experience we have some tips we recommend to all ROTC National Scholarship applicants to maximize their opportunity to be awarded an ROTC scholarship.
1. Submit Your Application Early: The first scholarship board usually meets in October, the second board in January, and the third board in March. Getting your application completed before the first board will increase your chances of receiving a scholarship because the application will be seen three times. Additionally the first board is where a lot of four year scholarships are awarded from as well. If you really want a four year scholarship get your application complete prior to the first board. Key things that need to be done to have the scholarship ready for the first board is to upload your high school transcripts, upload your SAT or ACT scores, complete the physical fitness test, and conduct an interview. Here at Eastern we can complete both the fitness test and interview for you. Contact us at rotc@ewu.edu to schedule.
The Go Army website
2. List 5 or More Schools on Your Application: Applicants need to be realistic when putting down universities on their application. Putting down only Harvard and MIT on the ROTC application, but only having an 1150 on the SAT means you are probably not getting a scholarship for those universities. However, if you list Harvard & MIT plus three or more other schools you could likely get admitted to with an 1150 SAT score will increase your chance of receiving a scholarship to a school other than Harvard or MIT. A scholarship to your third of fourth school is better than no scholarship at all. Each university’s ROTC office has a Recruiting Officer called a “ROO” that can assist with learning what the admissions requirements are for each university.
3. Find Out What Type of ROTC Program You Are Applying to: Something to keep in mind is that not all ROTC programs are created equal. If you are planning to attend a university that has a host ROTC program you are likely going to have more military cadre and resources to better prepare you for the challenges ahead in ROTC. Other universities have ROTC programs that are extension or satellite campuses. Extension programs may require their students to drive to the host program to take courses. If going to an extension program find out how far you have to drive to do physical training and ROTC classes. The amount of driving to do ROTC may influence your decision to attend that school. Satellite campuses may have very limited cadre, as little as two full time ROTC instructors. If going to a satellite campus find out how many instructors they have assigned. At EWU Army ROTC we are a fully staffed host program with a proven track record of getting Cadets ready to succeed in both ROTC and the Army.
4. Visit Multiple ROTC Programs: The best way to figure out if an ROTC program is right for you is to visit it. If possible try to visit multiple ROTC programs to compare and contrast them. This will also help you determine if you are attending a host, extension, or satellite program. If attending a host program make an appointment with the ROO and ask to meet with the Professor of Military Science (PMS) who is usually a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the ROTC battalion. Ask about how well the program scores at Advanced Camp? How many first branch choices did the MS-IV class receive? Ask about where they train at? How many Cadets are on scholarship? How does the program perform at Ranger Challenge competitions? This should give you an idea of how well the ROTC program is performing. Also bring your parents to the ROTC program to meet the ROO and PMS. At EWU Army ROTC, our ROO and PMS always makes time to visit with parents. We want you and your parents to be as comfortable as possible with your decision to dedicate four years of your life being part of our ROTC program.
EWU Army ROTC’s Cadet Hall
5. Ask What Other Scholarships Are Available: Even if you do not receive an ROTC National Scholarship talk to the ROTC program you are interested in about other scholarship options. They should be able to inform you about ROTC campus based scholarships, Minuteman Scholarships, and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarships. Some schools also have various academic and alumni scholarships that Cadets can apply for as well. For example at EWU we have four Cadets on a fraternity sponsored Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship and another on the Chertok Memorial Scholarship which is an academic scholarship awarded through the College of Social Sciences.
6. Train to Take Your Fitness Test: Applicants that are not in the best of shape should spend a month training to improve their fitness prior to taking the fitness test. ROTC scholarships are highly competitive and running a seven minute mile could be the difference between receiving a 4 year or 3 year scholarship. If possible try and take the scholarship fitness test while visiting the ROTC program you are most interested in. Fitness is a very important attribute of being an Army officer and preparing for the test and doing well on it will make a good first impression with the ROTC Cadre.
7. Prepare for Your Interview: The interview for the ROTC National Scholarship is very important since it is worth 200 points. Additionally the interviewer who is usually a Professor of Military Science, will write an assessment of you that will be read by the scholarship board. Making a good first impression is critical, show up on time and come dressed for success. Don’t wear torn up jeans and t-shirts to an ROTC interview. Business dress for both males and females is very appropriate for a scholarship interview. Don’t be taking calls or answering texts on your phone during the interview. Yes I have seen this happen! Be prepared to answer simple questions like, “Tell me a little about yourself”. Remember you are selling yourself to the PMS to write the best assessment possible of you to the scholarship board. Be well prepared to answer questions and think on your feet. Finally be prepared to ask the interviewer some questions at the end of the interview. This further demonstrates how prepared you were for the interview.
8. Spend Time Writing a Quality Essay: On the ROTC application you will have the opportunity to write a little bit about yourself. Make sure to spend the time to write a quality essay, personal statement, and achievements. You especially should highlight why you want to be an Army officer. Make sure you use proper grammar and don’t have misspellings. Writing is an important skill for Army officers to have, so show the board you can write a quality narrative. In the narrative make sure to highlight aspects about you that will make you stand out from the crowd. Mentions things like if you ranked nationally in some event, how many hours you were per week at your job, any awards you have received, volunteer service, etc.
9. Play a Sport: Points are awarded on the ROTC scholarship application for sports played. Remember that Cadets in ROTC are scholar athletes, just like members of the university’s sports teams. The Army wants its officers to be athletic. If you know you plan to apply in the future for an ROTC Scholarship than find a sport to play in high school, preferably two of them. Having all-conference and all-state sports honors on an ROTC application will really help the application stand apart from the crowd.
10. Get Involved in Organizations: On the scholarship interview there are points that can be awarded for being involved in school and community activities. For example being elected to student government and being a member of the National Honor Society are worth points. Being involved in Scouting or Civil Air Patrol are examples on community organizations that points can be awarded for. Volunteering for local organizations are other great things to include on the application and mention during interviews.
2019 ROTC National Scholarship recipient to Eastern Washington University received a 4-year scholarship worth $77,000.
Following these tips will help you be competitive for an ROTC scholarship. However, these tips cannot overcome poor performance in the classroom. Keeping a high GPA and scoring well on the SAT or ACT are very important for being competitive for an ROTC scholarship. The Army is looking for Scholar, Athlete, Leaders so try to work towards meeting all three of these criteria in your application. Good luck to everyone pursuing an ROTC scholarship and feel free to leave a comment or email us at rotc@ewu.edu with any questions.
