ROTC Minuteman Scholarships Guarantee Cadets Duty in the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard

Minuteman Scholarships

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.

 

Eastern Washington University ROTC Cadet Awarded Minuteman Scholarship Worth $46,200

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion is pleased to announce that one of its Cadets, Patrick Coleman has been awarded a Minuteman Scholarship worth $46,200.

EWU ROTC Cadet, Patrick Coleman


Cadet Coleman who is originally from Spokane, is a sophomore studying Finance at EWU.  He has excelled in the classroom by maintaining over a 3.5 Grade Point Average and shown strong leadership potential as a Cadet in the ROTC program.  Besides being a Cadet, Patrick also serves in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 659 Engineer Company located at Fairchild Air Force Base.  After graduating from EWU, Cadet Coleman will commission as a Second Lieutenant into the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Minuteman Scholarship program is one of many scholarship programs offered through the EWU ROTC program.  The Minuteman Scholarship is for college students interested in Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD).  The Minuteman Scholarship pays for full tuition and fees or $10,000 for room and board per year.  Minuteman Scholarship recipients also receive a monthly stipend of $420, and a yearly book allowance of $1,200.  All students that accept a Minuteman Scholarship will commission as an officer into the U.S. Army Reserves.  Anyone interested in pursuing any of our ROTC scholarship programs should contact the EWU ROTC office for more information.

Congratulations to Cadet Coleman on being awarded the Minuteman Scholarship!

Go ROTC!  Go Fighting Eags!