A $5,000 scholarship available to dependent children and spouses of active duty and retired Airmen and Guardians who demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA. Students who have already been vetted through the Arnold Education Grant application process will be evaluated based on cumulative GPA, high school transcripts and video essays on a specified topic.

Students chosen to receive a Merit Scholarship are announced in July each year. Funds will be disbursed directly to their college or university in August each year, and are limited to use for tuition, fees, books, and curriculum-required materials.

A minimum of 10 scholarships are awarded annually.

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) education support and tuition assistance is available to dependent children of Retired Reserve with 20+ satisfactory service years creditable for retired pay and placed on the Air Force or Space Force Reserve Retired List (no other retired classifications are considered eligible); deceased member who died while on active duty or in retired status; and surviving spouses of Air Force members who died while on active duty or in retired status that demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA.

Each year, Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) awards a minimum of 10 Merit Scholarships. These $5,000 scholarships are available to dependent children and spouses of active duty and retired airmen and guardians who demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA.

Incoming college and university freshmen students who have already successfully completed the Arnold Education Grant application may be considered for a Merit Scholarship.

A student can be awarded a Merit Scholarship without receiving the needs-based Arnold Education Grant.

Selection

Students who have already been vetted through the Arnold Education Grant application process will be evaluated based on cumulative GPA, high school transcripts and video essays on a specified topic.

Submitting an Application for the AFAS Merit Scholarship and Arnold Education Grant:

1. Student answers eligibility questions and registers as a user on the AFAS Education Grant Portal
2. Student and sponsoring member/other parent complete the online application for the Gen. Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program
3. ALL applicants must submit:
   • Front and back copies of the student’s military ID card
   • Copy of sponsoring member’s qualifying documentation, with all but the last four of SSN blacked out, as follows:
     • Active Duty – attach copy of assignment orders to present duty station. Title 10 Guard/Reserve attach copy of extended active duty orders showing active status through December 1 of the academic year. (All Active Duty members sponsoring spouses for grants must be on active duty status through December 1 of the academic year)
     • Title 32 Guard Performing Full-time Active Duty - attach orders showing performance of full-tune active duty through December of the academic year
     • Retired - attach DD214 or for Guard and Reserve members show notice of eligibility for retired pay at the age of 60
     • Deceased – attach a copy of DAF Form 1613 Statement of Service form; or State Death Certificate
   • Copy of the most recent transcript (unofficial acceptable). Must include any completed coursework, student’s name, school name, grades, credit hours for each course, and reflect the most recent cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. If student never attended college, submit high school transcript. Students who are homeschooled are required to provide standardized test results (SAT, ACT, GED) or state-issued documentation of high school completion as proof of meeting 2.0 GPA requirement
   • Copy of full FAFSA Submission Summary and Student Aid Index (SAI) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Note: Confirmation or acknowledgement pages for submitting the FAFSA are not acceptable
4. Students applying as a 5th year undergraduate must provide verification of enrollment in a 5-year degree program (5th year required for all students in degree program/major). Submit the application and all required documentation to AFAS Education Assistance Department.

In June, students being considered for a Merit Scholarship will be contacted by AFAS with details on submitting their end-of-year high school transcripts and given an essay topic. Students ultimately chosen to receive a Merit Scholarship are announced in July each year. In August, funds are disbursed directly to students college or university , and limited to use for tuition, fees, books, and curriculum-required materials.

For additional information or questions see the Application Instructions Handout or contact AFAS Education Department by email at Education@afas-hq.org, or call (703) 972-2647.

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
https://afas.org/how-we-help/afas-merit-scholarship/