With postsecondary tuition rising, many qualified high school students can’t afford to pursue a college degree. We asked a representative from the U.S. Army to discuss its college aid efforts, which include its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program that offers thousands of scholarships each year.

How can school leaders make sure their students are aware of scholarships?

Army ROTC gives students an advantage, providing leadership classes throughout college and generous scholarships and other financial assistance. These scholarships are based solely on a student’s merit and grades—not financial need—and can defray the full cost of tuition, helping students and their families afford college.

The program provides more college scholarships than any other program in the U.S., with scholarships awarded to more than 14,000 students each year. The total amount of scholarship benefits paid for this year currently stands at more than $350 million.

Students and their families also may learn more about the scholarship application process at www.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.

The Army offers a free online test prep course. How can students access it?

To ensure America’s high school students are set for success, the U.S. Army provides March2Success.

March2Success is a free program that makes high-quality test preparation instruction available to any current or former student over the age 13 who wants to work toward building their future. March2Success provides cutting-edge assessment software and educational content in an easy-to-use, self-paced format, available 24/7 for state assessment and other testing.

Content for March2Success was developed by Peterson’s, a leading provider of solutions for the education community for more than 40 years. Students can choose to select part or all sections of the courses offered. Some of the courses offered include training in high school and college readiness and planning tips, STEM and nursing preparation, ACT and SAT preparation and practice tests, and preparation for the MCAT, DAT, and other professional tests.

For educators, parents, and mentors, March2Success includes features that allow them to track students’ progress. Visit www.march2success.com to enroll and view a demonstration.

The U.S. Army is the oldest sponsor of NSBA. Why does it place such a high value on public education?

The Army believes that collaborating with educators and school leaders is necessary to build a successful future and offers numerous programs before, during, and after enlistment or commissioning to make the goal of a college education a reality. Continuing education is a way of life in the Army for all enlisted soldiers and officers. The more skilled, trained, and educated our soldiers are, the stronger our Army will be. 

Surprisingly, many educators are not aware of the breadth of opportunities and benefits available in the U.S. Army. Our ongoing relationship with NSBA provides an avenue for Army ROTC to inform our educators. By collaborating and combining our efforts, we can ensure Army careers and education opportunities are included in the conversations educators and school counselors have with their students about their career choices, college attendance, and future goals. Working together, we share common values and a goal to ensure our youth complete a primary and secondary education and have the foundation and opportunity to succeed.