Master Sergeant David K. Thuma Memorial Scholarship

Criteria

a.  Applicants for the Master Sergeant David K. Thuma Memorial Scholarship must be a US Army Special Forces soldier in the grade of E-1 through E-9, currently on active duty, and have at least 3 years of Special Forces duty in one of the following Military Occupation Specialties (MOS):

(1) 18B-Special Forces Weapons Sergeant

(2) 18C-Special Forces Engineer Sergeant

(3) 18D-Special Forces Medical Sergeant

(4) 18E-Special Forces Communications Sergeant

(5) 18F-Special Forces Assistant Operations Sergeant

(6) 18Z-Special Forces Operations Sergeant

(7) 00Z-Command Sergeant Major with at least one of the aforementioned MOS' as a secondary MOS, and served in the Special Forces as a Special Forces soldier. 

b.  Applicant must submit a current copy of his official military personnel record, DA Form 2-1 and DA Form 2A to verify the information in paragraph a.

c.  Applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from his immediate supervisor and his unit commander in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) or above.  Letter of recommendation must include verification from the unit commander that the applicant is a Special Forces soldier, by enclosing the following statement "I verify that (Rank/Name) is a Special Forces soldier and has been in the Special Forces for a minimum of 3 years OR I verify that CSM (Name) is a Command Sergeant Major in Special Forces, with a secondary MOS of 18__, and has a minimum of 3 years Special Forces experience.”

d. Scholarship can be used for any expenses related to enrollment, annual fees and graduation fees with Excelsior College. 

e.  There will be no minimum GPA requirement for initial award of this scholarship, however, students awarded a Master Sergeant David Thuma Memorial Scholarship must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 to be considered for future aid under this program. 

f.  Financial Need must be articulated by submitting a copy of the current year federal income tax return and proof of current address (ie. utility bill, drivers license, official military PCS orders, etc.).

g.  All applicants are eligible for Veteran's Benefits, Tuition Assistance and the Army College Fund, so these will have no effect on entitlement to this scholarship.