If you join the Army as an enlisted Soldier and later want to commission as an Officer, the Green to Gold program can help you get there.
Green to Gold is a program designed for current active-duty enlisted Soldiers to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree or a master's degree and make the switch to the Officership path of the Army.
Although Green to Gold is a separate program you’ll need to qualify for, you can use the Army’s standard education benefits to help fulfill the necessary requirements.
As part of the Green to Gold program, you’ll go through Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), a leadership program through your school that provides unique training, practical experience, mentorship, and a sense of camaraderie.
Once you’ve earned your degree, completed ROTC, and met all other requirements, you’ll graduate as a commissioned Officer and leader in the U.S. Army.
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Active-duty enlisted Soldiers have four options through the Green to Gold program to earn a degree while serving. Work with an ROTC recruiter to help determine which option is right for you.
Get full tuition or room and board, flat-rate book payment, and a monthly stipend if you want to leave active duty to attend college. This scholarship can be used towards your first bachelor’s degree or first graduate degree and is awarded for two to four years depending on how many years of college you’ve already completed.
Combine your GI Bill benefits with other Army education benefits to help pay for school if you want to stay in active duty and attend college for your first bachelor’s or graduate degree.
This selective program lets you complete your bachelor’s degree through the ROTC Scholarships program, where your chain of command can recommend you for outstanding service or exhibiting potential for the program.
If you want to leave active duty to attend college, you’ll receive a monthly stipend during school and commission as an Army Officer when you earn your degree. You can work with your local leadership to see if this option is available to you.
Each Green to Gold program option has specific requirements, but all Active Duty enlisted Soldier applicants must:
Be a U.S. Citizen
Serve a minimum of two years active duty
Pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) within the last six months
Have a cumulative High School or College GPA of 2.5
Obtain a letter of acceptance to their school of choice offering Army ROTC
Obtain a letter of acceptance from that school’s Army ROTC Battalion
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You must serve a minimum of two years active duty before applying for Green to Gold.
Yes. A high school diploma is the minimum education requirement but there are Green to Gold scholarship options that allow any previous college credits to be evaluated and accepted by your college of choice.
Enlisted Soldiers can pursue Warrant Officer jobs, developing skilled expertise and providing guidance about their specialties to commissioned Officers, who have a higher rank and different requirements and responsibilities. The Green to Gold program is a way for enlisted Soldiers to become commissioned Officers.
Like all paths to commission as an Officer in the Army, Green to Gold is competitive and the standards are high. Some Green to Gold options select more enlisted Soldiers than others each year. Talk to an ROTC recruiter about which option matches your goals and experience.
If you’re an active-duty enlisted Soldier interested in applying for a Green to Gold program, talk to your commanding Officer and visit the Cadet Command Green to Gold site(Opens in new window) to start your application.
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