The Minuteman Scholarship is an Army ROTC scholarship for cadets who serve in the Army National Guard while in school. The most detailed description from the National Guard Bureau is a December 2019 article, so treat its dollar amounts and process as dated and confirm current terms with your ROTC program. Federal requirements for Guard and Reserve dedicated ROTC assistance are in 10 U.S.C. 2107a; this guide uses the 2023 edition of the U.S. Code, retrieved October 21, 2026.
What did the National Guard Bureau say the scholarship covers?
In December 2019 the National Guard Bureau said the Minuteman Scholarship included full tuition and fees, $1,200 a year for books, and a $420 monthly stipend for 10 months a year, for up to four years. Applicants had to be Army Guard members as officer trainees and enrolled in Army ROTC.
Source: National Guard Bureau, December 2019. These figures are from 2019. Ask your ROTC program for the current amounts.
What does the law require of Guard-dedicated ROTC cadets?
Under 10 U.S.C. 2107a, cadets must be specially selected, be U.S. citizens or nationals, be under 31 on December 31 of their commissioning year, enlist in a reserve component, sign a contract, and agree to accept a commission and serve at least eight years in a troop program unit.
Source: 10 U.S.C. 2107a. A minor needs a parent's consent to sign. The 2019 article does not name the law behind the Minuteman Scholarship, so ask your ROTC program which rules apply. Green card holders do not meet the citizen or national requirement; confirm your citizenship timing with a recruiter and USCIS.
How did the nomination process work?
According to the 2019 article, the first step was contacting the recruiting operations officer at your ROTC program, who helped build the application. Applicants needed a nomination from the state adjutant general or a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, and Cadet Command made the final selection.
- Contact the recruiting operations officer in your ROTC program (National Guard Bureau, December 2019).
- Prepare the application package with that officer's help (National Guard Bureau, December 2019).
- Get a nomination from the state adjutant general or a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army (National Guard Bureau, December 2019).
- Cadet Command reviews packets and makes the final selection. A nomination does not guarantee a scholarship (National Guard Bureau, December 2019).
These steps are as described in 2019. Confirm the current steps with your ROTC program.
Could it be combined with other tuition aid?
In 2019 the program's operations officer said Minuteman cadets could combine the scholarship with other tuition assistance programs, such as state tuition assistance, and often used that aid for room and board. Rules can change, so confirm with your ROTC program and your state's education office before you count on combining them.
Source: National Guard Bureau, December 2019.
What does drilling as a cadet mean for pay and benefits?
The 2019 article said Minuteman cadets have already enlisted, so they get standard pay and allowances and can use TRICARE Reserve Select and the Thrift Savings Plan. TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members who are not on active duty orders for more than 30 days.
Sources: National Guard Bureau, December 2019 and TRICARE Reserve Select. Drill pay rates are in the current DFAS tables (DFAS: Military pay tables).
Does scholarship time count toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
No. VA treats any service counted toward an ROTC scholarship as non-qualifying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. A Guard cadet may still qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve through a 6-year Selected Reserve obligation and VA's other requirements for that program.
Sources: VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill and VA: Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve.
Related TakeOath guides
- Army ROTC scholarship: National Guard obligation
- Army ROTC scholarship commitment rules
- Army National Guard eligibility: what to have ready
Sources
- Army ROTC scholarship available for Army Guard members (December 27, 2019), National Guard Bureau, retrieved October 21, 2026
- 10 U.S.C. 2107a, ROTC financial assistance for Army Reserve and Army National Guard (2023 edition), GovInfo, U.S. Government Publishing Office, retrieved October 21, 2026
- TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE, Defense Health Agency, retrieved October 21, 2026
- Military pay tables, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, retrieved October 21, 2026
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, retrieved October 21, 2026
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, retrieved October 21, 2026