AER offers college aid for dependent children, spouses

The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program for dependent children of Soldiers (active-duty, retired and deceased) is for full-time students at an undergraduate, technical or vocational institution accredited by the Department of Education and is awarded annually up to four academic years. Funds may be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies or school room and board. Students may reapply each year and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.

A student applying for 2010-2011 academic year must be under the age of 23 for the entire academic year. The applicant must be an unmarried dependent child of an active-duty or retired Soldier or a Soldier who died in either status. All Soldiers and students must be registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. You can verify the student’s DEERS status by calling 1-800-538-9552.
Applications for the 2010-2011 academic year scholarships will be available online from Dec. 1 to March 1, 2010, at www.aerhq.org.

Online applications must be submitted by March 1, 2010. Other deadlines are in the instructions. AER will notify applicants about their scholarship during the last week of May 2010.


The AER Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program is for spouses of active-duty and retired Soldiers, and widow(ers) of Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and are residing in the United States. All spouses must be registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, which can be verified by calling 1-800-538-9552. This program does not apply to second undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Scholarship awards are based on financial need and are awarded annually for up to four academic years to attend post secondary school full time as undergraduate level students. Funds are to assist with academic expenses at the attending university/school and are disbursed equally between the fall and spring semesters or quarters to assist with tuition, books, fees and supplies. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.

Applications for the 2010-2011 AY scholarships will be available online from Dec. 1 to March 1, 2010 at www.aerhq.org.  Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2010. Other deadlines are in the instructions. AER will notify applicants about their scholarship during the last week of May 2010.

The AER Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program is for spouses of active duty Soldiers assigned and living at Overseas Commands only (Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are considered for the Stateside Program not accepted for OSEAP). The spouse must physically reside with the Soldier at the assigned command.

Spouses must be enrolled, accepted, or pending acceptance as students for the entire term in post-secondary or vocational institutions under contract at the education office and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Spouses are not eligible if they are visiting outside the command and take correspondence courses online.

Attendance under OSEAP need not be full time but must be at institutions approved by the U.S. Department of Education and supported by a contract with the command.

Spouses may participate in additional programs as defined in the Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program description, located on the AER Web site: www.aerhq.org. Graduate schools and off post schools are not eligible.
Financial assistance is awarded up to half the cost of tuition per term based on financial need, as evidenced by income, assets, family size, special financial obligations and circumstances.

The academic year consists of five terms. Funding of additional programs is explained in Item 6 of the OSEAP Program Description.

Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year scholarships are now available at www.aerhq.org. Applications must be submitted online by the term deadline date, as listed in the OSEAP instructions.

(Courtesy of U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, Family and Moral, Welfare and Recreation)