There are several avenues to take in paying for a college education, and the Army Reserves is one route that more than 100 students at Winston-Salem State have taken to pay for their expenses. During the fall semester, 136 students were certified to receive financial benefits from the military, said Cynthia Joel, the Veteran Affairs coordinator for WSSU. To attract future and present students, the reserve component of the Army offers incentives that may include:
? Sign-on bonus (up to $20,000)? Montgomery G I Bill? Tuition assistance? Loan repayment program (up to $20,000)
“Joining the Reserves is more than receiving money for college, the Reserves allow individuals to develop leadership skills and self discipline,” said LaToyia Carter.
“It’s a commitment and you have to be dedicated and willing to make sacrifices.”
Carter knows this firsthand. During the second semester of her junior year, Carter had to sacrifice graduating on her expected date because she was called to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Not everyone has to put education on hold because of deployment, however. Christina Worth, a current WSSU student, said that being in Army ROTC has kept her from being deployed,” she said.
“Being in ROTC along with the Reserves also gives me the opportunity to receive extra money for school, training and it has helped me develop my time management skills.” It also gives you a chance to pursue a military career as well as a civilian career, she said.
Some people may shy away from joining the Reserves because of the thought of having to put their education on hold and go fight in a war, said SFC Eddison Cyrus, an Army Recruiter. Now the Reserves are offering a program that may ease the minds of those who wish to join but are worried about being deployed. This program is called the ArmyReserve Education Career Stabilization Program. ECS allows qualified candidates to complete up to four years of post-secondary education without interruptions. Cyrus said that In order to stay exempt from mobilization through this program the soldier must stayenrolled in school and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. Another option for being in non-deployable status is to be in ROTC, he said.
An enlistment in the Reserves does not guarantee a student will receive all the incentives that are offered. “All students are qualified to receive the Montgomery G.I. BILL and Tuition Assistance, but other benefits like sign-up bonuses and Student LoanRepayment is offered on job by job bases,” said SFC Cyrus. Job qualification is determined by a candidates ASVAB score which helps applicants identify what they are good at, what their interest are, and the perks the military can offer them.
Although an enlistment does not come with all the incentives offered, it does, however, obligate soldiers to fulfill their enlistment after graduation Cyrus said. “If a students enlist for six years and graduates within three of the six, they still have to complete theremaining years of the contract.”
IncentivesSelected ReserveMontgomery GI Bill (up to $309 per month for 36 months for full time students)
Army Reserve MGIB“Kicker” (add up to $100 per month to GI Bill for 36 months)*amounts vary with job and rank*
ROTC Scholarships(up to $17,000 per year for college)
College Loan RepaymentProgram(up to $20, 000 for selected specialties to repay college loans)
Tuition Assistance(up to $4,500 per academic year)
These incentives who are available only to students that are enrolled in school, either full-time or part-time. In return for the incentives, students must attend scheduled Battle Assembly dates which is once a month, maintain a satisfactory status in the Reserves and school, and for tuition assistance, students must pass classes with a C or better.