Military & Veterans Programs
August 19, 2023 2026-10-28 16:03Military & Veterans Resources
Contact
Prescott | Lower Level
Call: (406) 657‑1031
Email: finaid@rocky.edu
Text: (406) 500-4555
Fax: (406) 657‑1189
Resources
Whether you’re just starting your search or ready to enroll, we have resources to guide you at every stage.
Applying for Federal Aid? Use RMC school code: 002534
Start FAFSA →
Serving Those Who Served
Rocky Mountain College has been serving veterans and their family members for more than 75 years. We are proud of the hundreds of veterans, service members, and military‑connected family members who currently attend or have graduated.
RMC is committed to:
→ Providing the higher education and training needed to pursue new careers
→ Offering an experience that is distinctive, challenging, and supportive
→ Helping military‑connected students successfully transition to college and beyond
Today, RMC is actively engaged in supporting enrolled veterans, service members, and their dependents. We are recognized as a Military Friendly School® (Gold standard) and are the only private institution in Montana with this distinction.
RMC is also an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, offering tuition support to Yellow Ribbon–eligible students.
Rocky Mountain College is where veterans and military families are valued, supported, challenged, and prepared for their lives ahead.
Yellow Ribbon Program
RMC proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
→ Available to: Undergraduate students using the Post‑9/11 GI Bill®
→ Graduate students: May use Post‑9/11 GI Bill® benefits at RMC, but are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon at this time.
You may qualify for Yellow Ribbon if you:
→ Served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months; or
→ Were honorably discharged for a service‑connected disability after serving 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001; or
→ Are a dependent using transferred Post‑9/11 GI Bill® entitlement from someone who meets the criteria above.
How Yellow Ribbon works at Rocky Mountain College:
→ The Post‑9/11 GI Bill® pays up to the VA’s annual cap for private institutions.
→ RMC then contributes 50% of the remaining tuition and required fee expenses*.
→ The VA matches that amount.
→ Result: Tuition and required fees are fully covered for eligible Yellow Ribbon students.
→ The VA also pays a monthly housing allowance and up to $1,000 for books and supplies, directly to you.*
Learn more and apply:
VA Education Benefits: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/
Please note: If you are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, any RMC institutional funding awarded prior to RMC’s knowledge of your Post‑9/11 GI Bill® eligibility may be revised to reflect the RMC Heroes Scholarship.
*Required fees include: academic lab fee, campus technology fee, Graduation Fee Accrual, ASRMC student government fee, and ASRMC student publication fee. Course‑specific fees are not included.
Tuition Assistance (TA)
Students, service members, and veterans planning to use Tuition Assistance (TA) should:
→ Contact their Education Services Officer (ESO), military counselor, or Service education office.
→ Receive approval for TA before enrolling at RMC.
→ Once TA is approved by your Service, you may complete your enrollment at Rocky Mountain College.
Military Friendly Campus
Rocky Mountain College has been named a Military Friendly School®. This recognition highlights institutions that:
→ Offer strong student support services
→ Have clear academic and credit policies for military students
→ Provide flexibility for military responsibilities
→ Focus on the success of service members, veterans, and military spouses
The Military Friendly School® website provides tools to help you compare schools based on your goals and needs.
Readmission of Service Members
If you are called to military service:
→ RMC complies with federal service member readmission regulations.
→ You will be readmitted at your previous academic standing and tuition/fee rate.
→ You must notify the College and the Office of Student Records about:
→ Your military service, and
→ Your intent to return within three years of completion of service.
If you miss the three‑year notification window, you do not lose eligibility, but you will follow the College’s standard readmission policies.
“Military service” includes active duty, active duty for training, or full‑time National Guard duty under federal authority for more than 30 consecutive days. It does not include National Guard service solely under state authority.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
More information: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Voluntary Education Programs
RMC complies with DoD Directive 1322.08E, ensuring service members and their adult family members have access to voluntary education programs.
Questions or complaints about this directive may be directed to:
Office of Financial Aid – finaid@rocky.edu
Military Honor Stoles
Students graduating from Rocky Mountain College who serve, have served, or will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to wear a Military Honor Stole at commencement.
This initiative:
→ Recognizes and honors the service and sacrifice of student veterans and service members
→ Celebrates their commitment to both their country and academic excellence
→ Reflects RMC’s mission and its commitment to supporting military‑connected students
Eligibility includes:
→ Honorably discharged U.S. veterans
→ Students currently serving in the U.S. military (active duty, National Guard, or Reserves)
→ ROTC students commissioning upon graduation
The Military Honor Stole may be worn during commencement week ceremonies in recognition of your service.
Cost:
Stoles are provided by RMC at no cost to eligible graduates who request one.
To request a stole or learn more:
Phone: (406) 238‑7394
Email: veterans@rocky.edu
VA Work Study
If you’re a full‑time or 3/4‑time student using VA education benefits, you may be eligible for a VA Work‑Study allowance and “earn while you learn.”
→ Available to students in college degree, vocational, or professional programs
→ Program details and eligibility are outlined on the VA’s Work Study page
Resources
View the VA Work Study Handbook
View the VA Work Study Student Agreement
View the VA Work Study Application
VA Work Study Positions in Billings
Positions and availability may change throughout the year. To apply, contact each site directly to set up an interview.
Billings Vet Center
2795 Enterprise Ave., Suite 1
Billings, MT 59102
406.657.6071 — POC: Mary Walter
Veterans Upward Bound
1500 University Dr., Cisel Hall
Billings, MT
800.356.8387 — POC: Lori Borth
Department of Veterans Affairs VR&E – Billings
1766 Majestic Lane
Billings, MT 59102
406.373.3986 — POC: Tim Snyder, VRC
Department of Veterans Affairs VR&E – Fort Harrison
3633 Veterans Dr. | PO Box 188
Ft. Harrison, MT 59636
406.495.2010 — POC: Aaron N. Pugh, VR&E Officer
Montana National Guard
Students who are members of the Montana National Guard may be eligible for a tuition scholarship at Rocky Mountain College.
To qualify, a student must:
→ Be an enlisted and serving member of the Montana National Guard at the start of the semester they are enrolling
→ Be certified as a Montana National Guard member in good standing by the Adjutant General
→ Not already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
→ Have enlisted for a six‑year commitment
→ Meet all admission requirements of Rocky Mountain College
Scholarships for students who meet these criteria are applied as last‑dollar awards, up to the total annual cost of tuition only. Individual scholarship amounts will vary, depending on the amount of federal grants and scholarships the student receives.
ROTC at Rocky Mountain College
Army ROTC at Rocky Mountain College is a college elective program that integrates with your regular coursework and helps you develop leadership skills and, if you choose, become an Army officer.
Any RMC student can take the first two years of Army ROTC with no military obligation. ROTC offers leadership training, field experience, and teamwork skills that are valuable in any career, whether or not you pursue military service.
Scholarships & Benefits
→ High school seniors may compete for 3‑ and 4‑year full‑tuition scholarships.
→ Current RMC students may compete for 2‑, 3‑, and 4‑year full‑tuition scholarships.
→ At RMC, 3‑ and 4‑year ROTC scholarships include housing and food.
→ Scholarship students receive a $1,200 annual book allowance.
→ All contracted cadets (with or without a scholarship) receive a $300–$500 monthly, tax‑free stipend.
Courses
→ First‑ and second‑year ROTC courses are open to all students and cover the basics of officership:
time management, basic tactics, land navigation, effective communication, and goal setting.
→ Junior‑ and senior‑level ROTC courses are reserved for contracted cadets pursuing a commission.
Life After RMC
Whether you commission as an officer or simply take ROTC courses, the leadership training you receive makes you highly attractive to employers who value accountability, initiative, and the ability to lead teams.
Those who commission may serve on Active Duty or in the Army Reserve or National Guard.
Office of Veteran Resources
The Office of Veteran Resources exists to support student service members, veterans, and their families in their transition to and through college life.
Our Objectives
Connect you with local, state, national, and campus resources specific to veterans and military‑connected students
Assist with accessing academic support services and peer‑to‑peer mentoring
Support the RMC Veterans Club in its efforts to help military students transition and to promote understanding of military culture on campus
Provide guidance to RMC leadership in maintaining and strengthening our status as a military‑friendly campus
To request a stole or learn more:
Phone: (406) 238‑7394
Email: veterans@rocky.edu | steven.peterman@rocky.edu | 406.657.1099 | Library, North Corner
