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Department of Military Science

Green to Gold Program

The Green to Gold Program identifies enlisted Soldiers with officer potential and assists them in transitioning from active duty to attend college and compete for an officer commission through ROTC.

Scholarship Options

There are four different options to choose from when considering the Green to Gold Program. Please view the Green to Gold Scholarship Option Program and the Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program Handbooksto better help you decide which path is right for you.

  1. Active Duty Option (ADO) - Allows Soldiers to receive their first baccalaureate or advanced degree. Soldiers must have no more than 2 years remaining to receive their degree. However, these Soldiers remain on active duty and receive full pay and allowances. Soldiers can use GI Bill but are not authorized tuition assistance. If awarded, Soldiers are assigned to the Student Detachment at FT Jackson, SC.
  2. Scholarship - Allows Soldiers to be discharged early to pursue their bachelor's degree or graduate Degree through 2-, 3-, or 4-year scholarship option. Students can use GI Bill, grants and/or other scholarships.
  3. Commander's Hip Pocket Scholarship - Allows Division and Corps Commanders to award 2-year scholarships to deserving and qualified Soldiers so that they may be discharged early to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree.
  4. Non Scholarship. Allows Soldiers to be discharged early to pursue their first baccalaureate or advanced degree. Soldiers must have no more than two years remaining to receive their degree. Students can be members of the Simultaneous Membership Program with either the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

For additional information please see the Cadet Command Regulation 145-6 Reserve Officers' Training Corps Green to Gold Program.

Eligibility

  • Age: If awarded a scholarship, the Cadet must be under the age of 31 by 31 December in the year that they commission. This is law and waivers are not available. For ADO and Non-Scholarship options the Cadet must be under the age of 30 at the projected time of commissioning. Waivers are available.
  • GT Score: minimum GT score is 110. Waivers are not available but the Soldier is allowed to retest.
  • Cumulative GPA: The minimum cumulative GPA is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Waivers are available.
  • Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT):The ACFT must be less than six months old at the time of applying. Waivers are not available.
  • Height and Weight standards:Height and weight waivers are not available.
  • Chain of Command Recommendations:Waivers are not available.
  • Citizenship:Must be a U.S. Citizen. Waivers are not available.
  • Conscientious Objector status:Cannot be a conscientious objector. Waivers are not available.
  • Re-enlistment Code:Soldiers must be eligible to re-enlist. Waivers are not available.
  • Letters of Acceptance (LOA):The LOA from the college or university is required after the board. The LOA from the Professor of Military Science (PMS) is needed prior to the board. Waivers are not available for either LOA.
  • Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT):Favorable Clearance Investigation approved or initiated:No waivers are available.
  • Domestic Violence Crime:Cannot have been convicted of a domestic violent crime (Lautenberg Amendment). No waivers are available.
  • Arrests, indictments or convictions (civil or military):Cannot have been arrested, indicted or convicted by a civil or military court for other than minor traffic violations. Waivers are available.
  • Time in Service:Must have a minimum of two years Time in Service on Active Duty. Waivers are available.
  • Training Service Obligation:Must meet the Training Service Obligation. Waivers are available.
  • DoDMERB (Medical Exam):Must pass the DoDMERB IAW AR 40-501. Waivers are available.
  • Dependents:Soldiers cannot have no more than three dependents to include spouse, be the sole parent with custody, have a spouse in the military or be responsible for child support. Waivers are available.

Timeline
You can start here by creating your application to Illinois State University. Please begin by reading the military-connected student information listed, then follow the prompts at the bottom for creating an account and starting a new application. Please note that if you have ever attended a college or university after graduating high school, you will be considered a Transfer Student.

The application will open on 01 September each year. Please email any questions regarding your Illinois State University application to VetAdmissions@illinoisstate.edu. ISU Admissions and the Registrar's Office have provided additional tools to help our Military-Connected Students with Veterans and Military Services.

The Green to Gold and Green to Gold ADO Facebooks pages are very active and provide a wealth of information.

You can also contact the following individuals at Cadet Command for specific questions about the Green2Gold Program and application.

For more information about what Army ROTC has to offer please visit Cadet Command's website

Explore Green to Gold Program

    1. Scholarship
    2. Active Duty Option
    3. Commanders Hip Pocket Scholarship Program