Scholarships for Military Children

Scholarship Sponsored by Fisher House Foundation

Introduction
The Scholarships for Military Children recognizes the sacrifices and service of military families and highlights the commissary’s role within the military community. Funded through private contributions, the program awards college scholarships each year at commissaries operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide.

Application timeline and notification
The online application window for the 2026–2027 academic year opens December 10, 2025, and closes February 11, 2026. Award recipients will be informed by U.S. mail on or about May 15, 2026. Because of the large number of submissions, applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

Award summary for 2026–2027
For the 2026–2027 school year, a total of 500 scholarships will be granted, each worth $2,000. At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location that receives qualified applications. Additional awards are distributed on a prorated basis, so commissaries with higher applicant volumes may have more than one recipient.

Who is eligible
- Applicants must be unmarried dependent children under age 23 who hold a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.
- The sponsor/parent must be one of the following: active duty, reserve/guard, retired, or deceased from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force.
- Candidates must be enrolled or intend to enroll full time in an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree, or in a community/junior college program that is intended to transfer directly into a four-year bachelor’s program.
- High school applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 (unweighted) scale.
- College applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 (unweighted) scale. College freshmen must provide their first-semester college transcript.
- Applicants and sponsors do not need to reside on a military installation with a commissary; simply choose the commissary where you shop or the nearest one to you.

How to apply (student must complete the application)
- The student applicant is required to complete the application personally and must attest to this at submission.
- Create an account so you can save progress and return later.
- Complete every tab of the online form (a green checkmark denotes a finished section).
- Prepare and upload a short essay of 500 words. The essay prompt will be posted when the application opens.
- Upload official transcripts:
- High school applicants: transcript showing a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale.
- College applicants: transcript showing a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale.
- College freshmen must include their first-semester college transcript.
- Verify military-dependent eligibility by entering the benefits number located on the back of the USID card. If you are eligible for an ID but do not yet have one, promptly schedule an appointment at your military personnel office and bring the required supporting documents.

Note
Follow all instructions carefully and submit complete, accurate materials by the February 11, 2026 deadline to be considered.