It’s a well known fact that America’s military members make tremendous sacrifices in order to serve our country.  Especially since 9/11, our forces have been asked to do more than ever.  With the added stress of multiple, long deployments, single mothers grants may be the furthest thought from an active military member’s mind.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

In fact, there are more opportunities for a military member to get educational assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, and other types of financial aid than there ever have been.  Best of all, even the families of military members have the chance to further their education because it is widely recognized that the families of military members also deserve educational assistance for the sacrifices they make.  This financial aid comes in many forms; from the New GI Bill to service-specific grants, and scholarships of many kinds ranging from a few hundred dollars to awards in the thousands of dollars.

There are hundreds of scholarships and grants that military members and their families can use to their advantage.  Having such a wide choice means that each prospective government grants must be thoughtfully considered so that the grants or scholarship that most suits the need of each particular family can be applied for.  One benefit that military members may not be aware of is the assistance that is offered by the service aid organization of their branch of the military.  Each military branch has its own organization, and all of them offer financial aid of one kind or another for education.

Knowing what course of study is paramount in deciding what school to go to.  Many colleges and universities are “military friendly” because they may offer credits for military experience or have online programs that a military member can access from overseas. An online degree may be the perfect solution for a military member who is deployed or for a spouse who is taking care of the home front and doesn’t have time during the busy day to pursue a degree; online classes at night may just fit the bill.  Of course, any grants, scholarships or other forms of financial aid can be used for an online degree at an accredited university, as well as in a traditional classroom setting.

One of the most important benefits a military service member has is access to a Veterans Affairs office.  This Veterans Affairs Office can help service members figure out what benefits they are eligible for.  Often, colleges and universities have their own Veterans Affairs office right on campus.  Just because a person may be a military member doesn’t mean that they are only able to apply for military related financial aid.  In fact, a military member shouldn’t limit themselves at all in that regard; they are just as eligible to apply for other grants and scholarships that have nothing to do with the military.  There are many types of grants and scholarships available that can be combined with other benefits like the FSEO grants or academic scholarships.

In order to begin qualifying for any of these opportunities, an applicant must first fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Completing this online worksheet makes applying for financial aid much easier.  Many scholarships and grants also require that a FAFSA be filled out, even if they are funded by a private organization. This is because many of the grants and scholarships that are available may be need-based, and the FAFSA provides an opportunity for the applicant to prove financial need.  It takes a bit of time to fill this form out, but in the end the effort is worth the benefit.

When submitting multiple applications for different financial aid packages, it’s important to remember that having a system that keeps your paperwork in order will be very helpful.  Having deadlines for different applications on the calendar is a great way to keep track of what needs to be completed by a certain date.  Once a deadline passes, there usually isn’t another opportunity to apply until the next application date.  These application dates might be once a year or once a semester; it varies from program to program, so keeping track is important.  Sometimes scholarships are awarded based on a written essay.  If that’s the case, it’s important to get started long before the due date.

When it comes to your scholarships there are millions of dollars of military financial aid each year that goes unclaimed because people aren’t aware of the benefits that may be available to them.  In addition to federal aid, many states offer scholarship and grant programs to their military members and families.  These may be applied for in addition to the aid for help with military degrees.  Check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs to see what forms of financial aid they may offer and don’t forget the Pell grant.  With all of the benefits available to military service members and their families, a college degree is no longer out of reach for some of nation’s most important citizens: our veterans.

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