Is the Green to Gold scholarship option enough to sustain a family without a part-time job?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 14:22:34 -0400

I am going to apply for the green to gold scholarship option for the fall semester of 2018. I was just wanting some feedback from anyone that has taken this route or know of someone who has on what the pay will be like during my schooling. Is it enough to sustain a family without a part time job? Right now its just my wife and I, with no plans for children, but I want to know what to prepare for.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 2:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 14:54:55 -0400

Are you referring to the specific Active Duty Green to Gold program where you are retained at your current rank (or possibly E5) on full pay and allowances?
If you get accepted into that program you'll be fine, if it is the traditional ROTC program (without active duty salary) you'll have to budget appropriately. I went straight ROTC no pay and was fine with just my wife and myself. It would be tight with kids.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 5:02 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:02:32 -0400

With the scholarship option it would depend. How big is your family and are you willing to take out student loans? I was a 4 year GTG scholarship recipient and I still ended up taking out loans. It's a great program, no doubt, but even though school and housing is covered you still have the cost of living every month. Sure you get E5 BAH but gas, food, insurance, vehicles and so on will eat that up. If you get other grants that will help out a lot as well.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2017 8:39 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:39:24 -0400

Some schools have housing available for married couples and families. A friend of mine stayed in them at Ole Miss. They weren't great but they weren't slums either. If you're familiar with military barracks they'd work just fine. You might want to look into that.

Now about this Texas A&M thing...

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2018 11:58 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 11:58:33 -0500

Not really. Back when I did it I ETSed out as an E5. I never worked during school. I did get some unemployment and some grants but it was just enough. My wife had a full time job as a 1LT so that kept us afloat. We had no kids until my sr year in college. I took out a very small subsidized loan. It can be done but it’s hard. We lived in San Antonio so cost of living was cheap. I wanted A&M but she said no. So I ended up at St Mary’s in SA. Good luck.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2019 7:32 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 19:32:52 -0400

I don't know what you ended up doing about GTG or going to school. However, since you are/were apparently interested in Texas A&M, I'm guessing that you may have enlisted in Texas. If so, there is also the Hazlewood Act Exemption and the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program that may help you.