Military/Veteran Child Eligibility
The deadline for accepting applications from high school seniors (class of 2026) is 9/15/2025.

Apply For Educational Programs

Thank you for your interest in the GI College Success Academy Program.  The application process is quick and easy and usually takes less than 10 minutes.

This page contains information about the application process, eligibility, and required documentation. The application includes three (3) sections, parent information, student information, and a section where you will upload the required documentation.  Either the student or their parent may complete the application on behalf of their family.

Before you begin, please review the information below to confirm your eligibility and to help you gather the required documentation. We encourage you to complete your application in one sitting however you do have the ability to save your work and complete it later.

We look forward to receiving your completed application!

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Soldier deployed to war zone
Military/Veteran Child Eligibility
The deadline for accepting applications from high school seniors (class of 2026) is 9/15/2025.

Apply For Educational Programs

Thank you for your interest in the GI College Success Academy Program.  The application process is quick and easy and usually takes less than 15 minutes.

This page contains information about the application process, eligibility, and required documentation. The application includes three (3) sections, parent information, student information, and a section where you will upload the required documentation.  Either the student or their parent may complete the application on behalf of their family.

Before you begin, please review the information below to confirm your eligibility and to help you gather the required documentation. We encourage you to complete your application in one sitting however you do have the ability to save your work and complete it later.

We look forward to receiving your completed application!

START OR COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATIONSTART OR COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

WHO QUALIFIES

CHILDREN IN GRADES 8 -12 WHO HAVE A PARENT THAT MEETS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA…

A military member who was killed in the line of duty.

A wounded, injured, or disabled veteran who was injured in the line of duty.

An active duty member of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

A Reserve or National Guard member activated for active duty.

A veteran who was honorably discharged from active duty on or after 9/11/2001.

Parents or their students applying acknowledge that submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into Gratitude Initiative’s (GI) education programs. Qualified candidates are selected based on multiple factors including, but not limited to family situation, strength and thoroughness of the application, and the ability of a student to benefit from the program. The number of students selected for the program each year is based on the number of applications received and availability of program funding allocated for new enrollees. Application packets that are not complete or missing the required documentation will not be reviewed. Applicants who do not meet the qualification criteria based on their parent’s military service will not be considered for the programs. GI reserves the right to request additional information regarding a student’s eligibility for its programs. GI’s application review committee has sole discretion to determine eligibility based on the information submitted and to accept or deny any application.

Required Documents

(Proof of Service, Proof of Dependency, and Grade Report)

Proof of Military Service

You must submit proof of your parent’s military service. Submit each document listed in one of the following sections that correlate to the nature of your parent’s military service.

Active Duty Service

  • Legible photocopy of Driver’s License and one of the following:
    • Active Duty Status Report – Use the Department of Defense – Manpower Data Center website to obtain this report, or
    • Statement of Service – must be on official letterhead and signed by the Adjutant, Personnel Officer, Executive Officer, or Commanding Officer of the unit and dated within the last 90 days, or
    • Copy of most recent PCS orders dated within the last six months

Current Reservist or National Guard Member

  • Legible photocopy of Driver’s License, and
  • Proof of deployment to a combat zone since September 11, 2001. (DD214)

Veteran

  • Legible photocopy of Driver’s License, and
  • DD214 (Member-4 version)

Disabled Veteran

  • Legible photocopy of Driver’s License, and
  • DD214 (Member-4 version), and
  • Letter outlining VA disability rating

Killed While on Active Duty

  • DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty), or Certificate of death (Service Connected)

Proof of Dependency

Please submit one of the following documents.

  • Birth Certificate showing parents’ names, or
  • Casualty Report (DD1300) listing dependent’s name if applicable, or
  • Copy of the first two pages of your latest filed tax return showing your child as a dependent.

Student Grade Report

  • Submit a copy of a recent school grade report for your student – to be used by our Advisors during their guidance process.
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