Now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year!

Please read the following information and find the application at the bottom of the page.

What is the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program?

The Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program was created by the Texas Legislature to encourage students to become members of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any branch of the armed services of the United States. Each year, the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor may each appoint two students, and each State Senator and each State Representative may appoint one student to receive an initial conditional scholarship award.

Who Is Eligible for Appointment?

Students must meet at least two of the following four academic criteria to be eligible for appointment:

1. Is on track to graduate or graduated high school with the Distinguished Level of Achievement Plan or the International Baccalaureate Program;

2. A high school GPA of 3.0 or higher;

3. Achieved a college readiness score on the SAT (1070) or ACT (23); or

4. Ranked in the top one-third of the prospective high school graduating class.

Non-freshman applicants must also meet the following criteria:

1. Maintain satisfactory academic progress at their institution;

2. Establish current membership in their institution’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) or another undergraduate officer commissioning program; and

3. Not have earned a baccalaureate degree or completed a cumulative total 150 hours at the time of applying.

Initial Eligibility Following Nomination

If a student meets the requirements to be appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a State Senator, or a State Representative, and is nominated, they will need to meet the following requirements in order to establish scholarship eligibility:

• Enroll in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) or another undergraduate officer commissioning program while enrolled in the institution, as certified by the institution;

• Complete school-initiated TASSP application by October 15, 2023;

• Agree to complete four years of ROTC training or the equivalent of four years of ROTC training if the institution awards ROTC credit for prior service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services or the Texas Armed National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine, or another undergraduate officer commissioning program;

• Graduate no later than six years after the date first enrolled;

• After graduation, enter into a four year commitment to be a member of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine; or contract to serve as a commissioned officer in any branch of the armed services of the United States;

• Repay the scholarship if the requirements are not met; and

• Meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements set by the institution.

Once selected, you will receive a Notice of Selection. Once you decide upon the higher education institution and corresponding ROTC program in which you will enroll, you will take your Notice of Selection to the institution's financial aid office.The financial aid office will certify your program eligibility to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Because program eligibility requirements include that you be enrolled in the institution and in the ROTC program at that institution, the financial aid office cannot provide their eligibility certification before those two criteria are met. Once the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board receives the institution's eligibility certification, you will receive an email requesting you to complete your Texas Armed Services Scholarship application at Loans Online.

Continued Eligibility Requirements for Selected Students

To maintain eligibility for future awards, the student must:

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress;

• Continue to be a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC); and

• Not have earned a baccalaureate degree or completed a cumulative total 150 hours.

How Much Can Be Awarded?

The amount of the award will be the lesser of $10,000 or an amount not to exceed the student’s cost of attendance less the total amount to be paid to a student for that academic year for being under contract with one of the branches of the armed services of the United States and other financial assistance. A student may receive a scholarship for four of the six years allowed for graduation.

Award Repayment

A scholarship will become a loan if the student fails to:

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress;

• Fulfill any of the terms of the scholarship;

• Fulfill a four-year commitment to be a member of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine; or

• Contract to serve as a commissioned officer in any branch of the armed services of the United States.

How Can I Apply?

Interested applicants seeking nomination from State Representative Brad Buckley should complete and send the following documents by 12 Noon on July 14, 2023:

• The 2023 Armed Services Application Form, which can be found at the bottom of this page;

• A current resume; and

• A cover letter or biography that includes the following information:

  • Which Texas public or private institution of higher education you currently attend or plan to attend;

  • Why you are interested in service as a commissioned officer following graduation;

  • Which branch of the U.S. armed forces you plan to serve in following graduation; and

  • Why you believe you should be selected for this scholarship.

Incomplete applications, or applications with missing documentation or information will not be considered.

All Texas residents who meet the above criteria are invited to apply for a nomination from State Representative Brad Buckley, but preference will be given to current or former residents of Texas House District 54. You can locate your district of residence by visiting Who Represents Me.