The purpose of this post and others are to :

1. increase awareness among university prospects about the Army options and opportunities available regarding education, leadership development, and high tech training via the GI Bill and ROTC scholarships.
2. Also it is to show how Army ROTC and Army training have helped me financially, intellectually, physically and helped me develop mentally as a scholar-athlete-leader and as a citizen.
3. It provides an unfiltered perspective on daily life in the Army through blog entries, photos, and videos
4. To support the USAAC commanding general's Education Awareness Blitz and promote army funded college education opportunities

.The first part of this blog will address how i personally am able to pay for a college education. When a sophomore in college, i had accumulated debt and was forced to pay everything out of pocket until i couldnt afford it. This led to me having to work multiple part time jobs to afford not only school, but also living expenses. Soon my grades began to fall and i was forced to seek alternatives, which is when i found my University Army ROTC program. They explained that i had several options, to include the following:

1. ROTC scholarships that are competitive and you must qualify for and excel above the others
2. FREE TUITION - Joining the Nevada Army National Guard first would qualfy me for 100% free tuition PLUS 100% textbook reimbursement
3. $500/month - Two days a month as a guardsman would provide ~$500 at the rank of SGT
4. $7500 BONUS/ SAVE MONEY / PAY OFF DEBT - They would send me to do army training that would lead me through Basic Combat Training (BCT), all expense paid, then Army Individual Training (AIT), all expense paid, and upon my return i would receive a Bonus, and College First program that would help me to pay off any remaining debt, get ahead, and keep me from deploying for at least two years so i could focus on finishing on my schooling.
5. $600 month - After completion of BCT & AIT i automatically qualify for the Montgomery GI BIll Select-Reserve chapter 1606 - whcih is different because i havent done active duty time so its a little less, but is still ~$600 when enrolled as a full time student
6. $350 month - After my return i could join the ROTC program as a SMP (simultaneous member program) so i could receive a monthly stippend from the ROTC of$350 a month as a sophomore, $450 a month as a Junior, and $550 a month as a Senior.

add that all up to around $1200 a month without the schoalrships plus free tuition!

The second part of my blog is to show how Army ROTC and Army training have helped me not only financially, but intellectually, physically and how it has helped me develop mentally as a scholar-athlete-leader and as a citizen. Going through BCT and AIT helped me realize what i wanted to do and major in. The trainging ireceived at AIT as a satellite maintainer was highly technical and valuable in the civilian world. Upon return to my home town, the training i received was the training required to get a job position i couldnt have receied before. The training helped me develop not only my body but also my mind. I am in the most fit shape of my life due to it and have received discipline and leadership skills necessary to be a leader some day. I have learned about army values and military customs and courtesies, history of my country, which helps me develop as a citizen.

I have changed my life, it has helped me to reach my goals i thought were impossible or far far away, and continues to help me get closer every single day by taking away the stress of work to help me focus on school and myself.

Thats all for now hope you liked it!