By Justin Creech
Staff writer
Thursday, March 14 2013

Deadlines for several scholarship opportunities offered by local military organizations are nearing.

From March 30-April 23, applications for scholarships with the Fort Belvoir Thrift Shop and Officers’ Spouses’ Club, and Army Officers’ Wives’ Greater Washington Area/Fort Myer Thrift Shop will be accepted.

The deadline for the AOWCGWA/Fort Myer Thrift Shop Scholarship is March 30, the Belvoir Officers’ Spouses’ clubs is April 12, and the Belvoir Thrift Shop’s is April 23.

Academic achievement is the most important criteria in determining the selection of recipients for each of the programs.

“The scholarships are awarded based on merit of the child,” said Jackie Baer, Thrift Shop manager when asked about its scholarship program. “The awarding of the scholarship has nothing to do with anything the parents have done except raising the children.”

The Scholarship Programs

• Thrift Shop Scholarship

Applications for the Fort Belvoir Thrift Shop Scholarship are now available. The application deadline is 2 p.m. on April 23. Recipients will be notified by mail the week of June 4. Scholarship applications will be available at the Belvoir Thrift Shop during regular business hours.

Call Jackie Baer, Thrift Shop manager and scholarship program administrator at (703) 360-3160, Ext.11

• Belvoir Officers’ Spouses’ Club scholarships

The Belvoir Officers’ Spouses’ Club is accepting applications for its scholarship program through April 12. The scholarship program is open to spouses and dependents of all ranks in all branches of the military service including Guard/Reserve with a valid military identification card. Eligible applicants or their military sponsor must reside in the greater Washington, D.C., area. Those who previously received BOSC scholarships or who are pursuing a second degree are not eligible to apply.

Applications for the BOSC Scholarships are available on Fort Belvoir at the Officer’s Club, Education Office, ACS, SFAC, Belvoir Federal Credit Union, or online at www.belvoirosc.org. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Application package requirements are found at belvoirosc.org. Packages should be postmarked before Apr. 12 and sent to BOSC Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 322, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060.

For more information, contact BOSC Scholarship Chair, Jennifer Wilder at (703) 532-1383 or boscscholarship@yahoo.com.

• AOWCGWA/Fort Myer Thrift Shop Scholarship

The 2012-2013 Army Officers’ Wives’ Greater Washington Area/Fort Myer Thrift Shop Scholarship information is now available at their website www.aowcgwa.org. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and are available for the children or spouses of U.S. Army personnel (active duty, retired, or deceased, officer or enlisted) who maintain a dependent military ID card. Three categories are available: high school seniors, college students (up to age 22), and spouses.

All scholarship application submissions must be postmarked no later than March 30.