The Green to Gold program allows enlisted soldiers in the Army to transition into becoming an officer. This program enables soldiers to obtain a college degree and become a commissioned officer. A common question that arises is whether the Army pays for a soldier’s education while they are enrolled in the Green to Gold program.
Quick Answers
The Army does provide financial assistance for soldiers in the Green to Gold program, but the exact amount depends on the specific Green to Gold option the soldier pursues. The main ways the Army financially supports Green to Gold participants are:
- Active Duty Option – Full tuition and fees paid, plus monthly stipend and book allowance
- Reserve Component Option – Up to $10,000 per year for tuition assistance
- Scholarship Option – Full tuition, fees, books, and stipend covered
So in summary, the Army does pay for a significant portion, if not all, of a soldier’s college education when they participate in Green to Gold. The amount of financial assistance depends on whether the soldier remains on active duty, joins the Reserves, or obtains a scholarship.
The Green to Gold program provides an outstanding opportunity for motivated Army enlisted soldiers to advance their military careers by earning a college degree and becoming Army officers. This program enables outstanding enlisted men and women to obtain educational credentials required to become commissioned officers.
One major benefit of Green to Gold is that the Army provides financial assistance for participants to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. However, the exact amount the Army pays for a soldier’s education depends on the specific Green to Gold options they pursue.
This article will provide an overview of the different Green to Gold paths soldiers can take and explain how much financial assistance the Army provides for each route. Understanding the educational benefits included in Green to Gold is key for enlisted soldiers evaluating if they want to apply for this excellent program.
Available Green to Gold Options
The Army offers three main paths for enlisted soldiers to transition to officer status through the Green to Gold program:
- Active Duty Option – Soldier remains on active duty while completing their degree
- Reserve Component Option – Soldier joins Army Reserve while obtaining their degree
- Scholarship Option – Soldier competes for a Green to Gold scholarship to complete their degree
Each of these options includes different levels of financial assistance from the Army to help the enlisted Green to Gold participants pay for their education. Let’s look at each path in more detail.
Active Duty Option
Enlisted soldiers who pursue the Active Duty Option (ADO) remain on full-time active duty status while completing their bachelor’s or master’s degree through Green to Gold. The Army pays for the full cost of tuition and fees at an accredited college or university.
In addition, Active Duty Option participants continue to receive their current pay grade salary, tax-free housing and subsistence allowances, and other active duty benefits while attending school full-time.
Other financial assistance provided for the Active Duty option includes:
- Annual book allowance of $1,200 for textbooks and supplies
- Access to Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, including the monthly housing allowance
- Possibility of tuition assistance (TA) to supplement GI Bill benefits
In summary, soldiers pursuing a degree full-time under the Active Duty Option have their tuition and fees fully paid by the Army. Plus they continue receiving their military salary, allowances, and education benefits during their time at college.
Reserve Component Option
The Reserve Component Option (RCO) allows enlisted soldiers to join the Army Reserves while earning their degree through Green to Gold. Under this route, participants receive up to $10,000 per year in Army Reserve tuition assistance.
However, the tuition cap of $10,000 per year may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees at all schools. So soldiers may need to pay any education expenses beyond that $10,000 per year limit out of pocket.
Other education benefits available for Reserve Component participants include:
- Access to GI Bill programs like the Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bills
- Eligibility for Federal Tuition Assistance programs
- Chance to compete for Army Green to Gold scholarships
In addition to the tuition assistance, Reserve Green to Gold members receive a monthly salary based on their military rank and years of service while pursuing their degree. But the Reserve salary is generally lower than active duty pay.
Overall, the Reserve Component Option provides up to $10,000 per year in tuition assistance. Participants may need to pay for additional education costs beyond that amount if the school’s tuition and fees exceed $10,000 annually.
Scholarship Option
Each year, the Army offers competitive Green to Gold scholarships for outstanding enlisted soldiers. These scholarships fully fund tuition and fees for a recipient’s bachelor’s or master’s degree.
In addition to full tuition coverage, the Green to Gold scholarship option provides:
- $1200 annual book allowance
- Monthly stipend during the school year equal to the salary of an E-5 Army sergeant
- Yearly stipend during summer training of about 1/3 of an active duty 2nd lieutenant’s salary
Green to Gold scholarship recipients essentially attend college full-time at the Army’s expense. The tuition, fees, books, and living stipend expenses are all covered by the scholarship while the soldier focuses on their studies.
The Green to Gold scholarship is an extremely attractive financial package for enlisted soldiers interested in earning their commission. However, scholarships are limited in number and highly competitive to obtain.
How Does the Army Pay for Green to Gold?
Now that we’ve reviewed the education benefits and financial assistance provided for each Green to Gold program option, how exactly does the Army pay for these benefits?
The Army utilizes the following primary funding sources to pay for Green to Gold participants’ college education:
- Federal Tuition Assistance – Available for Reserve and National Guard members
- GI Bill – Veterans education benefits like Post 9/11 GI Bill
- Army Tuition Assistance – Available for active duty and Reserves
- ROTC Scholarships – ROTC programs at universities fund Green to Gold scholarships
In essence, the Army leverages federal and internal education funding programs to financially support soldiers completing their degree via Green to Gold. This enables enlisted personnel to obtain their education at little to no cost through these education assistance initiatives.
The Army also utilizes its ROTC programs at universities across the country to fund full tuition Green to Gold scholarships. Cadets in these ROTC programs compete for the Green to Gold scholarships to award to enlisted soldiers seeking their commission.
Pros and Cons of Army-Paid Green to Gold
Having the Army pay for your education through Green to Gold certainly provides outstanding financial benefits. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider with Army-funded schooling. Let’s weigh the pros and cons:
Pros
- Saves on tuition costs
- Avoids student loan debt
- Earn a salary and benefits while in school for Active Duty Option
- Strong transition assistance into the officer career field
Cons
- Multi-year service obligation after graduation
- Limited selection of majors and schools
- Army dictates career path after commissioning
- Typically no “traditional” college experience
As with most choices, there are trade-offs to the Army paying for your schooling. The obvious advantage is saving on the high cost of college tuition and avoiding student loans. However, participants need to fulfill a service commitment of several years, have less flexibility in degree choice, and embark on an Army-directed career path.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key points on Army financial assistance for Green to Gold:
- The Army does pay for a significant portion or all tuition costs depending on the Green to Gold option
- Full tuition and fees are covered for the Active Duty Option
- Up to $10K per year tuition assistance for Reserve Component Option
- Green to Gold scholarships fully fund tuition, fees, and books
- Participants receive military salary, allowances, GI Bill, and other education benefits
- Multi-year service obligation required after degree completion
While the Army provides substantial financial help for schooling, soldiers need to remember that Green to Gold is first and foremost a military officer commissioning program, not just a scholarship. There will be trade-offs and requirements to serve in the Army after earning your degree.
More Questions Related to Green to Gold
Here are answers to some additional frequently asked questions about the financial aspects of the Green to Gold program:
Does the Army pay for family members schooling in Green to Gold?
No, the Army tuition assistance for Green to Gold only applies to the enlisted soldier pursuing their commission through the program. Family members cannot utilize a participant’s Green to Gold funding for their own education.
Can I use the GI Bill with Green to Gold simultaneously?
Typically, Army tuition assistance and GI Bill benefits like the Post 9/11 GI Bill cannot be used at the same time. Soldiers should talk to an education counselor to understand all options.
What happens if I get dropped from Green to Gold?
If you get dropped from the program for any reason, you will lose eligibility for Army-funded tuition assistance. You may need to pay the Army back for any educational expenses already covered.
How competitive are the Green to Gold scholarships?
The scholarships are extremely competitive, with selection rates often less than 10% of applicants. Having outstanding military credentials and academic grades are key to winning a Green to Gold scholarship.
What are the service obligations after Green to Gold?
Active Duty participants owe 5 years of commissioned service. Reservists owe 6 years in Reserves after commissioning. Scholarship recipients incur a 4-year active duty service obligation.
Conclusion
The Green to Gold program provides excellent funding opportunities for enlisted Army personnel to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Participants can have some or potentially all their tuition costs covered.
However, soldiers need to understand the multi-year service obligations and more rigid career management that accompanies Army-funded education. While the financial support is extremely helpful, the primary purpose of Green to Gold is producing dedicated Army officers.
Soldiers interested in Green to Gold should thoroughly research which option best matches their academic goals and career timeline. Understanding the Army’s motivation and ROI for funding schooling is also important context. Overall, Green to Gold can be a win-win for highly motivated soldiers seeking career progression and education advancement simultaneously.