The Georgia Military Service Scholarship (GMSS) pays for tuition, fees, room, meals, books, and uniforms for eight semesters; about $85,000 over four years. 

In addition to the $85,000 scholarship, recipients become Soldiers in the Georgia Army National Guard and earn pay and benefits that total at least $30,000 and up to $55,000 or more during their time in college, and many are paid even more for occupying leadership roles in the Corps of Cadets. This money can cover other expenses and eliminate the financial stress of college altogether: recipients can graduate with no college debt, get paid to go to college, and have money left in the bank.

We have a Guard unit on our Dahlonega campus for GMSS recipients and other Guard Soldiers who are cadets: so for the first two years, there is no need to commute to weekend drills. After two years, they enter the Simultaneous Membership Program and shadow Guard lieutenants in their Guard units.

GMSS recipients are not deployable while in college. After college, recipients incur a six-to-eight-year service obligation (same for all military officer commissions). The first four years of that commitment is to the Guard. After four years, they may request to transition to the regular Army, or serve their remaining two-year active commitment in the Guard. The Guard provides security for the citizens of Georgia, and provides a public good to the State of Georgia during disasters, pandemics, civil unrest, cyber attacks, and more.

It is not necessary to enlist in the Guard to apply for the scholarship. However, recipients who accept scholarship offers will enlist before receiving benefits. 

The scholarship application is open now for seniors. Detailed information and application instructions are at ung.edu/cadet/scholarships. 

GMSS Application

UNG Admissions Application

UNG Cadet Scholarships

If you have questions, please contact our office of Cadet Recruiting at cadetrecruiting@ung.edu or call 706-867-2918, or contact Jordan Mund at Jordan.Mund@ung.edu or 706-867-3279. Parents or students may also contact their local Army National Guard recruiter.