Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty

Scholarships are available to those Cadets who self-assess and know they want to commission into the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard. Cadets are encouraged to start seeking out internships and employers. The Career Center at each university can help with building and editing a resume, career fairs, internships, networking, etc. Please visit each Career Center for more information.

Illinois State University Bradley University Illinois Wesleyan University

*Active Duty is no longer an option upon acceptance of these scholarships.

*The Minuteman Scholarship offers the same benefits as the following scholarships and are awarded from either the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve. The Minuteman Scholarship can award up to four years of scholarship benefits. Please contact your unit, Recruiter, or our department at arotc@ilstu.edu for more information.

Scholarship Benefits

100% tuition/fees OR room/board
$1,200/year book allowance
E-5 drill pay
*Montgomery GI Bill if graduated from AIT and only for the GRFD scholarships
*SMP Kicker Bonus ($350/month) if graduated from AIT and only for the GRFD scholarships
ROTC monthly stipend of $420 for ten months. The stipend is awarded upon contracting regardless of a scholarship.

Scholarships Types

This program allows individuals to be on scholarship, provide guaranteed service in the ARNG or USAR and requires the student to participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). Please refer to the SMP Standard Operating Procedure for the Reserve Component for more information on the intent, purpose, benefits, etc..

GRFD Scholarship recipients may not request conversion of or revocation of their GRFD Scholarship contracts
Scholarship covers 100% tuition/fees OR room/board
If scholarship money is used towards room/board, then State Tuition Assistance (STA) (National Guard Grant) can be used in conjunction with scholarship money to pay for tuition. Room/board amounts are taxable monies paid directly to the Cadet
If scholarship money is used towards tuition/fees, then STA cannot be used for room/board
Applicants for this program must meet eligibility requirements
GRFD and Dedicated Scholarship recipients will serve all 8 years of their contract with the Army National Guard or Army Reserve

GRFD-Army National Guard (ARNG)

This program consists of 2-year undergraduate and 2-year graduate degree scholarships. Applicants must be members of the ARNG or be willing to join the ARNG as an SMP participant.

Individuals selected for the GRFD Dedicated ARNG Scholarship must serve their eight-year military service obligation in the ARNG in an active drilling capacity (one weekend a month and a two-week annual training period each year).
Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 MGIB may be used in addition to the GRFD-ARNG Scholarship
National Guard Grant may be used in conjunction with this scholarship

GRFD-Army Reserve (USAR)

This program consists of 2-year undergraduate and 2-year graduate degree scholarships. Applicants must be members of the USAR or be willing to join the USAR as an SMP participant.

Individuals selected for the GRFD-USAR Scholarship must serve their eight-year military service obligation in the USAR in an active drilling capacity (one weekend a month and a two-week annual training period each year).
Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 MGIB may be used in addition to the GRFD-USAR Scholarship

GRFD-Dedicated Army National Guard (ARNG)

This program consists of 2, 2.5, and 3 year undergraduate and 2 year graduate degree scholarships. Applicants must be members of the ARNG or be willing to join the ARNG as an SMP participant. The Minuteman Scholarship falls under this category.

Individuals selected for the GRFD Dedicated ARNG Scholarship must serve their eight- year military service obligation in the ARNG in an active drilling capacity (one weekend a month and a two-week annual training period each year)
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits may be used in addition to the Dedicated ARNG Scholarship
National Guard Grant may be used in conjunction with this scholarship
Chapter 1606 and Chapter 1607 MGIB cannot be used with this scholarship

GRFD-Dedicated Army Reserve (USAR)

This program consists of 2, 2.5, and 3 year undergraduate and 2 year graduate degree scholarships. Applicants must be members of the USAR or be willing to join the USAR as an SMP participant. The Minuteman Scholarship falls under this category.

Individuals selected for the GRFD-Dedicated USAR Scholarship must serve their eight- year military service obligation in the USAR in an active drilling capacity (one weekend a month and a two-week annual training period each year).
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits may be used in addition to the Dedicated USAR Scholarship
FTA may be used in conjunction with this scholarship
Chapter 1606 and Chapter 1607 MGIB cannot be used with this scholarship

Would you like to start an email conversation with one of our Cadets who is currently enlisted? Email us at arotc@ilstu.edu and let us know you are interested in hearing from a Cadet who is enlisted in either the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

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