• Member of any branch of the armed forces, active, guard, or reserves who has been wounded or injured in a combat or training related event post 9/11.
• Received a VA disability rating of 60% or higher as listed on their VA Rating Statement.
• Have received or will be receiving an honorable discharge.
• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll in full-time postsecondary education or vocational school. Must be a VA-approved school (SOF can be flexible on the full-time requirement in certain circumstances, depending on the level of injury and ability to maintain full-time education).
• Highly motivated individuals with the drive to reach personal, educational, and career goals.
• Must be willing to actively engage with mentor and networking opportunities provided by SOF.

We have two application windows:

Window #1 (for fall semester): Applications accepted until June 1.
The accepted applicants will be notified in late July for August school start.

Window #2 (for spring semester): Applications accepted until November 1.
The accepted applicants will be notified in late December for January school start.

Applications may be submitted at any time but will only be reviewed after the two primary review deadlines.

If you are just starting your educational journey, we recommend you apply for the window that aligns with the semester you will begin school. I.E. If you start in Fall, complete the Fall Application by the June 1st deadline.

No, you can apply and be accepted before, but you must be honorably discharged in order to remain in the program and receive financial support.

No, except in rare circumstances. Most financial awards are for monthly housing. However, in some cases where there may be a tuition gap between VA coverage and actual costs, we may consider directing monies directly to a school for tuition credit in those cases.

Please be as specific as possible in your application personal statements if you are requesting tuition support. Include the total estimated costs and timeline of support required.

The average application package takes one to two weeks to assemble due to the gathering of documents and letters of recommendation. No part of the application is difficult or particularly time-consuming. You may begin a file at any point during our two annual application windows, so advance planning will allow you plenty of time to complete the necessary items.

Our application windows close June 1 and November 1. Those accepted will be notified in late July and December, respectively. Once you’ve completed your part, we will communicate with you to arrange one or more personal phone interviews before finalizing your submission. Your application will then be sent to our review committee and then to the Board of Directors for final determination. The selection shall be made without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The award determination will be made on the selection committee’s opinion of the overall quality of the application and essay, pending the Board of Directors’ final approval. The decision of the committee and Board of Directors is final and not subject to a review policy.

SOF Background Check Policy

If an applicant has pending or previous legal charges, they will be reviewed by our review committee and considered on a case-by-case basis. In an effort to maintain a safe and professional community, SOF has an accredited third party to perform a criminal record and background check on each applicant. Applicants are expected to comply with the background check and respond truthfully to our Request for Additional Information.

In general, Sentinels of Freedom does not accept applicants who have drug, weapons, or violent felony charges or convictions. All results are confidential and are not shared outside.