Eligibility
- Applicant is an SFA member in good standing, or a dependent/grandchild of an SFA member in good standing.
- Dependents/grandchildren of a deceased SFA member are eligible if the member was in good standing at time of death.
- Applicant must be accepted to (or attending) an accredited college, university, or technical/vocational institution.
Important: Scholarship funds are paid directly to the school’s financial aid office and earmarked as tuition.
Award categories
| Category | Quantity | Amount (each) | Notes |
| Undergraduate / Graduate Scholarships | 15 | $3,000 | Three (3) are initially reserved for graduate-level applicants (unused graduate funds revert to undergraduate). |
| Technical / Vocational Awards | 5 | $2,000 | If fewer than five qualified awards are made, unused funds transfer to the undergraduate pool. |
Total 2025 scholarship fund: $55,000 • Total awards: 20
How to apply
Application window: April 1 – May 15
Committee recommendations due: no later than June 15
Awardee notification: no later than July 1
Step 1 — Prepare your single-PDF application packet
There is no separate application form. Applicants submit a complete package as one PDF in the order listed below:
- Sponsor Letter from an SFA member in good standing (include sponsor’s full name, member number, and relationship).
- Acceptance Letter from the school where the applicant is or will be enrolled.
- Personal Letter including contact information, educational and career plans, and the chosen course of study with rationale.
- Transcript and test scores (Transcript and/or SAT, ACT, or GRE as applicable).
- Summary of activities and achievements including honors, athletics, extracurricular activities, work experience, and community or volunteer service.
- Evaluation Letter from a guidance counselor, principal, or equivalent, addressing specific actions and character traits.
- Two required essays (200–400 words each).
Step 2 — Write the two required essays
- Essay 1: Discuss what you believe is one of the most pressing issues in America today and what should be done to address it.
- Essay 2: Discuss why the Special Forces motto, “De Oppresso Liber” (“To Free the Oppressed”), is important to you personally, your community, nationally, and globally.
Step 3 — Name and submit your application PDF
Combine all required materials into a single PDF file in the order listed above and submit electronically according to SFA instructions. Refer to the official Scholarship Guidelines PDF for the required file naming format and submission details.
Tip: Keep your submission well-organized and clearly labeled. Applications are evaluated using a structured scoring system.
How applications are evaluated
Applications are evaluated and ranked on a merit-based weighted scale:
| Component | Weight |
| Academics (transcripts/test scores) | 30% |
| Activities & Achievements | 25% |
| Essays | 20% |
| Personal Letter | 15% |
| Evaluation Letter | 10% |
| Sponsor Letter | 0% |
| Acceptance Letter | 0% |
Financial need may be considered as a tiebreaker, but the program is not sponsor- or need-based.