Since its inception in 1942, the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) has been committed to helping Air Force members and their families realize their academic goals. The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant program, the centerpiece of the Society's education initiatives, has been overwhelmingly popular. The value and success of this program is demonstrated in the 96,882 grants disbursed since the first awards were made for the 1988-1989 academic year.
This grant program is competitive in its need-based selection criteria, uniquely tailored to recognize the proper weighing of family income and education cost factors. These $2,000 grants are awarded to selected sons and daughters of Active Duty, Title 10 AGR/Reserve, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reserve and deceased Air Force members; spouses of active duty members and Title 10 AGR/Reservists; and surviving spouses of deceased personnel for their full-time undergraduate studies.
To ensure unbiased selection, the program is administered by ACT Scholarship and Recognition Services. ACT, located in Iowa City IA, is an independent, not-for-profit organization with nearly 50 years of experience in providing support services to scholarship sponsors. Each award carries the name of an individual or organization exemplifying service to the Air Force, and biographical information is sent to each grant recipient. For example, General of the Air Force Henry (HAP) Arnold, Generals George S. Brown, Curtis E. Lemay, Carl A. Spaatz, Ira C. Eaker, Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr., and CMSGTs of the Air Force Richard D. Kisling, Arthur L. "Bud" Andrews, and Donald L. Harlow are just a few of the established awards.
Contact Information
Name/Company:
Air Force Aid Society Inc
Title/Attention:
National Headquarters
Name:
Address:
241 18th Street Suite 202
City:
Arlington
State:
VA
Zip:
22202
Toll Free:
1 (800) 769-8951
FAX:
(703) 607-3022
Eligibility
Gender:
NA
Min GPA:
2.00
Enrollment:
Full(12+ Credits)
Eligibility:
Applicants must be in one of the following categories (items 1-3) and meet all other eligibility criteria listed below (items 4-6):
1.Dependent sons and daughters of Air Force members in one of the following categories: Active Duty, Title 10 AGR/Reserve on extended active duty, and Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty. All members must be on active duty through December 1, 2013 (all other Guard and Reserve are not eligible).
Retired due to length of active duty service or disability, or retired AGR/Reserve with 20+ qualifying years creditable for retired pay (all others are not eligible).
Deceased while on active duty or in retired status.
For financial aid purposes, a "dependent" student is one who will not reach age 24 during the award year; will not be a graduate or professional student; will not be a veteran; will not be an orphan or ward of the court; will not be married or have legal dependents other than a spouse.
2.Spouses of Active Duty members and Title 10 AGR/Reservists on extended active duty. Member's active duty status must extend through December 1, 2013. Eligible spouses must be legally married to member (not separated or pending divorce) at time of application and disbursement of award.
3.Surviving spouses of Air Force members who died while on active duty or in retired status.
4.Will be a high school graduate enrolled or accepted as a full-time undergraduate student in the 2013-2014 academic year.
NOTE: Students enrolled exclusively in distance education courses should check with their school official to verify their enrollment as meeting school's full-time status requirements.
5.Will be enrolled or accepted in an accredited college, university or vocational/trade school approved by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in federal aid programs.
6.Maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 grading scale.
NOTE: Eligibility in future years requires previous grant recipients to demonstrate satisfactory progress by promotion in school grade level. Awards are not automatically renewed; students must reapply and recompete each year.
Special Criteria:
1.Student registers as a user on the Air Force Aid Society's Education Grant Portal.
2.Student and sponsoring member/legal guardian 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 [AFI 36-3026(I), Chapter 1, Table 1.8.1.1. permits cardholder to photocopy IDs to "administer military-related benefits to eligible beneficiaries"], and sponsoring member's qualifying documentation as follows:
Active Duty - attach copy of assignment orders to present duty station. Title 10 AGR/Reserve attach copy of extended active duty orders showing active status through December 1, 2013. (All Active Duty members sponsoring spouses for grants must be on active duty status through December 1, 2013).
Title 32 AGR - attach orders/contracts showing performance of full-time active duty through December 1, 2013. (AF Form 526 AGR/USAFR Point Credit Summary accepted with active duty status through December 2013.)
Retired - attach copy of military retirement orders. (DD Form 214 Statement of Service accepted with reason for separation listed as retirement.) Retired AGR/Reserve attach retirement orders (DD Form 214 Statement of Service accepted with reason for separation listed as retirement.) Retired AGR/Reserve attach front and back copies of ID card and retirement orders (DD Form 214); notice of eligibility for retired pay at age 60; or retired pay order showing retired with pay on 60th birthday or later.
Deceased - attach a copy of AF Form 1613 Statement of Service form; or State Death Certificate with copy of most current military orders.
4.Submit the application and attached documentation to Air Force Aid Society's Education Assistance Department.
ONLY CORRECTLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS WITH ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS THAT ARE RECEIVED BY MARCH 8, 2013 WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR A GRANT AWARD.
5.AFAS receives application, verifies applicant's eligibility and Air Force member's status, and forwards correctly completed forms to ACT for processing. Students whose forms need correction will be contacted by email. All applicants will be notified of their eligibility within 2 weeks of submitting the online application to AFAS HQ.
6.ACT will email to the student a User ID and password to access two forms on their website: 1) a Family Financial Data Form (FFDF), specifically for the AFAS grant selection process; and 2) a Grade Point Average (GPA) Verification Form. BOTH FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND RECEIVED BY ACT NO LATER THAN APRIL 15, 2013.
NOTE: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires a student’s written consent to release GPA information to third parties. Although the online submission of GPA information to ACT meets FERPA requirements, some schools will not electronically submit GPA data. Students need to verify if their schools will provide GPA data online or only by regular mail. In addition, students who are home schooled 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. Therefore, the GPA Verification Form will have to be printed, completed and mailed with supporting documents.
7.Once ACT acquires the data from your FFDF and your GPA Verification Form, your application will be processed and evaluated for grant selection.
8.If the applicant is selected for a grant, an award notice, identifying the school selection upon which eligibility was based, will be sent to the student in June 2013. CHANGING SCHOOLS CAN AFFECT ELIGIBILITY. Re-scoring of eligibility is automatic when notice of school change is received. Applicants not selected will also be notified in June 2013.
9.All grant award checks will be made payable to the school, and will be sent in two increments directly to the school's financial aid office. First increment will be disbursed in early August, and the second in early December of 2013. Grant awards for 2013-2014 are valid through July 1, 2014. However, funds may only be used for the academic year for which they were disbursed. Any check not cashed by July 1, 2014 will be canceled and funds will not be reissued.
NOTE: The AFAS Grant Program application deadlines for the 2013-2014 academic year are March 8, 2013 for the AFAS online application and April 15, 2013 for the FFDF and GPA forms. All forms should be submitted in time to meet deadlines.
Only applicants whose grant application materials (preliminary application, financial data, and GPA verification) have been received by AFAS/ACT by the stated deadlines will be considered for a grant. There will be no extensions to the grant program deadlines!
For questions regarding the AFAS online application or processing procedures call the Air Force Aid Society's Education Assistance Department at 1(800)429-9475, or (703)607-3072, or DSN 327-3072.
For questions regarding the FFDF and GPA forms call ACT Scholarship and Recognition Services at 1(800)205-6372. Overseas applicants call (319)341-2266.
