Green to Gold

The Army Green to Gold program provides options for Soldiers interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree and earning a commission as an Army Officer.

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The Army ROTC Green to Gold Programs seeks talented young enlisted soldiers who have decided to:

• Leave, or are considering leaving, active duty to attend college to earn baccalaureate degrees and commission as second lieutenants (this is the Green to Gold Scholarship Option Program).
• Remain on active duty to attend college to earn baccalaureate degrees and commission as second lieutenants (this is the Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program).
• Quality enlisted soldiers with officer potential who have served at least two years on active duty are allowed to voluntarily participate and enroll in Army ROTC. 

Early Discharge

If you are selected for Green to Gold, you may obtain early release from active duty. Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 16-2, provides for the honorable, early discharge of soldiers so they can enroll in an Army Senior ROTC program.

• To Qualify for Early Discharge:
• You must meet the requirements of the Green to Gold program.
• The separation authority must ensure that you meet the criteria, have served honorably and possess officer attributes.
• You must agree to the stipulations of the terms of the USAR enlistment contract or ROTC student contract. Otherwise, you will be in breach of your contract and subject to involuntary order to active duty to complete the prior service remaining and/or the scholarship contractual obligation. If you are a scholarship cadet, you may be required to repay the scholarship benefits received in lieu of active duty service.

Green-to-Gold Scholarship Option Program

This program allows a soldier to compete for four, three or two year Army ROTC scholarships to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. Those soldiers with a Bachelor’s Degree can also compete for a two-year scholarship to earn a Master's Degree. The type of scholarship competed for depends upon the amount of college credit hours the soldier may have already achieved. Scholarship is competitive at the university the soldier plans to attend.

• Scholarships are awarded for two, three, or four years.
• Soldiers with two years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for two-year scholarships.
• Soldiers with three years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for three-year scholarships.
• Soldiers without college credit who require four years to complete their degree are considered for four-year scholarships. 

Benefits for Green to Gold Scholarship Option winners

Green to Gold Scholarship Option winners receive:

• Tuition or room and board support.
• Additional money for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.
• A monthly stipend for up to 10 months each school year that increases each year based on your Military Science Class.
• Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill® / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• Additionally, many colleges and universities offer incentives to scholarship winners. The Professor of Military Science (PMS) at your college of choice can provide further information on what is available at the school. 

Green to Gold Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)
• Age - Be less than 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you complete all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree. This is a statutory requirement and there are no waivers authorized.
• Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence Crime
• Have a minimum of 2 years Active Duty as well as 3 months of active duty for every one month of specialized training (waiver can be requested)
• GT score of 110 or greater
• Pass the APFT within the last 6 months with score of 180 or higher, minimum of 60 points in each event
• Be a High School Graduate or equivalent
• Cumulative High School or College GPA of 2.5
• Letter of Acceptance to School of Choice offering Army ROTC
• Letter of Acceptance from the PMS of that Army ROTC Battalion
• Favorable National Agency Check (or have initiated the action)
• DODMERB Medical Qualification
• Be eligible to Reenlist
• Not be a conscientious objector
• No more than 3 dependents including spouse (waiverable) 

Military Obligation 

All scholarship students will be required to serve in the military for a period of eight years. This obligation may be fulfilled by serving four years on active duty, followed by four years service in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).

Green-to-Gold Non-Scholarship Option Program

Soldiers that qualify for this option must have completed two years of undergraduate credit or be accepted into a Master's Degree program. No selection limit exists.  Soldiers that meet the qualifications and are accepted are discharged and contracted as a cadet into the Army ROTC Program.

Benefits for Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option Cadets

• A monthly stipend of up to 10 months each school year that increases each year based on your Military Science Class.
• Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill® / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• School / State / Reserve Forces Duty Benefits. 

Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option members can also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). As SMPs, soldiers are members of either a drilling Reserve or Guard unit and ROTC. SMPs are entitled to Reserve Component pay of E-5 under this program. Also, many states offer tuition assistance to Reserve and National Guard soldiers.

Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Eligibility Requirements 

• Age - Under 30 years old on 30 Jun of the year you commission (waivers can be granted); PMS can grant waiver up to 32 years. For those over 32, waiver requests are forwarded to HQs, Cadet Command.
• Have a favorable recommendation from Chain of Command
• Have Completed 2 years of College and be accepted as an Academic Junior.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Military Obligation

Non-Scholarship graduates may serve three years on active duty and five years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).

Green-to-Gold Active Duty Option Program

The Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program is a two-year program which provides eligible, active duty enlisted soldiers an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree and be commissioned as an Army officer upon receiving the appropriate degree.

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Benefits for Green to Gold Active Duty Option Cadets 

• Soldiers selected to participate in this program will continue to receive their current pay and allowances while in the program (up to a maximum of 24 consecutive months).
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill® / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• Normal PCS entitlements
• Leadership training
• Responsibility and Practical Experience
• Mentorship of the PMS/APMS
• Camaraderie

Frequently Asked Questions about the Army Green-to-Gold Program 

1. Where do I enroll, and when?
   A. You enroll in Army ROTC the same time you enroll in college. Army ROTC courses may be taken at more than 800 colleges and universities. Army ROTC is offered at 272 schools. The remaining schools are those with partnership agreements. At a partnership school, you take your academic course work at the college at which you earn your degree. You take your ROTC work at a "host" institution nearby.
2. Can I enroll in ROTC while on active duty?
   A. There is a new Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program. If you meet the qualifications for this program, you may apply.

1. Can I apply for a 4-Year Green to Gold Scholarship if I already have some college credit?
   A. Yes, as long as the college accepts you as an academic freshman and you have four years remaining in your course of study.
2. If I reenlist, how much time must I complete on my second enlistment?
   A. There is no minimum requirement. If you are selected for the Green to Gold program, you may be released from active duty regardless of the amount of time remaining on your second enlistment.

1. Can I apply for a 2- or 3-Year Scholarship if I do not have the proper number of credit hours but expect to have them prior to Fall enrollment?
   A. Yes. You must have a letter from the school that you wish to attend stating that you are conditionally accepted as an academic junior or sophomore contingent upon completing the required number of credit hours. If you win a scholarship, you are a conditional winner pending acceptance at the school. You must provide proof of the required number of credit hours and unconditional acceptance by the university prior to your discharge.
2. Can a soldier who previously won an ROTC scholarship, and who was dis-enrolled from it, apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
   A. No. Cadet Command Regulation 145-1 paragraph 9a clearly states that scholarship winners who dis-enroll for any reason are ineligible to re-compete in any ROTC scholarship program.

1. Can I take terminal leave with my early discharge?
   A. No. Terminal leave cannot be taken in conjunction with early discharge IAW AR 600-200.
2. Where can I ship my household goods?
   A. Your entitlement for the shipment of household goods is back to your home of record. If the cost to ship your goods to your school of choice is more than to ship it to your home of record than you will be responsible for the difference.

1. I understand that veterans are not required to take the freshman and sophomore level ROTC classes. Will I have to take these courses if I get a 3- or 4-Year Scholarship?
   A. Yes, you will have to take these courses. As a scholarship winner you are a contracted cadet and must enroll in and successfully complete the basic course IAW the contract. As a 2-Year Scholarship winner or non-scholarship cadet your prior experience satisfies the basic course requirements.
2. I am in the Marines (or Navy or Air Force). Can I apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
   A. No, the Army does not have authorization to discharge members of sister services therefore, members of sister services are not eligible for Green to Gold scholarships.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.