These are challenging times. Every day, young men and women risk their lives to protect and defend our Nation. But all too often, they leave the military with skills not needed in the public sector workforce, or have sustained injuries to prevent them from pursuing the career for which they were trained. This is reflected in startling statistics: the national unemployment rate is 9.8 percent, and for veterans it is over 11.3 percent.

FRA believes that educating our service members and veterans is an important duty, and has been an outspoken advocate for enhanced education benefits for many years. For example, FRA was instrumental in ensuring the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit was available to military personnel who previously had no education benefits and allowed transferability of benefits to family members of career service members.

FRA's Education Foundation scholarship program has also been helping deserving students reach their educational and professional goals for decades, presenting annual awards of up to $5,000 to individuals pursuing college and graduate degrees. Thanks to the generosity of our members, legacy gifts and corporate sponsors, the scope of the program has grown substantially since 2000; increasing the number of recipients by more than 50 percent and boosting the monetary value of the awards by more than 260 percent. Just since 2000, the FRA scholarship program has provided over 200 scholarships totaling more than $850,000.

We recognize more is needed to ensure that our Nation’s military, and their families, are afforded an education that will benefit their future – and that of our country. The Foundation is an important step in growing this scholarship program.

The FRA Education Foundation makes scholarships available to eligible* full-time students who are U.S. citizens attending accredited colleges and universities in the United States.

*Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel and their families are eligible for FRA Education Foundation scholarships.

Application Process

The applications are posted at the bottom of this page in pdf files.

FRA Education Foundation makes scholarship applications available (see bottom of the page) from 1 September thru 15 April each year for the following school year. Scholarship deadline: APPLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS POSTMARKED LATER THAN 15 APRIL will not be considered. All applicants are considered for any scholarship the FRA is able to offer during a specific year, provided the applicant meets the eligibility requirement for the award (based on the desires of the donor). Scholarship recipients are notified in writing and by telephone. FRA only notifies the applicants who have been selected to receive a scholarship.

Have questions about FRA Education Foundation scholarships? E-mail Marylin Smith and have your questions answered.

The Colonel Hazel Elizabeth Benn Scholarship
The FRA Education Foundation offers a special scholarship for unmarried, dependent children of past and present enlisted Navy medical personnel who have served with the Marine Corps. The Benn Scholarship was established by Benn’s estate to honor the memory of one of the first active-duty female Marines selected for the permanent rank of colonel. Benn led the Educational Services Branch of the Marine Corps and worked tirelessly to increase the potential for Marine Corps personnel to pursue college degrees. The Benn Scholarship is available to qualified applicants entering their freshman or sophomore year of college and the deadline to apply for this scholarship is April 15th.

Other scholarship programs related to FRA are:

The Walter E. Beall Scholarship
FRA's Past Regional Presidents administer a scholarship for students who aspire to further their education in aeronautical engineering or pursue aviation-oriented degrees. These scholarships are derived from the estate of Past Regional President Southeast Walter Beall.  Applications for the Walter E. Beall Scholarships are available by writing to: Walter E. Beall Scholarship, 4911 Fennell Court, Suffolk, VA 23435, Attn: W. R. Holcombe. Requests can also be submitted via e-mail to prp.inc2@verizon.net.  Applications for the Beall Scholarship must be sent to the above address and be postmarked no later than 15 April. Visit www.walterbeallscholarship.org

The LA FRA Scholarships
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association (LA FRA) also sponsors an annual scholarship program. The application is posted at the bottom of this page in pdf file. Applicants who wish to be considered for both FRA and LA FRA awards must submit separate application packages.