The five branches of the United States Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) provide unique and often generous financial aid programs for students interested in the military and for the thousands of on-duty officers and enlisted personnel.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC): ROTC trains men and women in college to become officers in the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force. ROTC is available at more than 1,000 colleges and universities. ROTC members take a full course load during college along with military science courses for officer training. Once a week, ROTC members also undergo military drills, labs and other trainings. In addition, ROTC offers four-year scholarships for qualified members. Upon graduation, ROTC members enter their specific service as officers and serve a designated tour of duty.

Service Academies: The U.S. Military Academy (www.usafa.af.mil), U.S. Naval Academy (www.nadn.navy.mil), U.S. Air Force Academy (www.usafa.af.mil), U.S. Coast Guard Academy (www.cga.edu) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (www.usmma.edu) provide an Ivy League-type education to a select number of qualified students. Admissions are highly competitive and based on: academic performance, SAT or ACT scores, extracurricular activities, leadership and community involvement, and work experience. Acceptance to the Military, Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine Academies also requires a political nomination. Nominations are not required for the Coast Guard Academy.

Military Credit Programs: The military trains service members for hundreds of occupations. Some of that training can also be used for college credit. Credit programs are excellent opportunities for interested service members to apply military course work to college credit.

Montgomery G.I. Bill: This programs offers tuition at colleges, certificate programs, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, flight training or correspondence courses after three years of full-time military service. National Guard members and reservists are also eligible for the G.I. Bill but at reduced rates. For more information, visit www.gibill.va.gov or call 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Tuition assistance: This program pays up to 100 percent tuition or a maximum of $3,500 per year for full-time service members.

College Fund Programs: Competitive, merit-based awards based on academic performance for service members in all branches except the Air Force (the Air Force has is own community college). By combining a College Fund award with the G.I. Bill, a former service member could earn awards up to $50,000 toward college tuition. An honorable discharge is required.

College Loan Repayment: The Army, Navy and Air Force offer help with paying student loans to honorably discharged service members who qualify.

More resources:
Army: www.army.mil
Air Force: www.af.mil
Coast Guard: www.uscg.mil/USCG.shtm
Marine Corps: www.uscg.mil/USCG.shtm
Navy: www.navy.mil
Today's Military: www.todaysmilitary.com
My Future:www.myfuture.com