Vetting Process of Applicants

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To address the urgency of United States public policy challenges and foster a highly productive environment, the selection process for scholarship awardees is designed to be exceptionally competitive. The criteria for selecting applicants are rooted in the core values and operational principles of the Soldiers to Statesmen Foundation. The qualifications required for potential scholarship awardees are detailed as follows:

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• Applicants must have served in the United States military.

• Applicants must have received an honorable discharge.

• Applicants must provide letters of recommendation from previous commanding officers.

• Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from fellow soldiers.

• Applicants must not have worked for organizations that are contradictory or openly hostile to the United States or its national interests.

• Applicants must not have been associated with entities connected to organizations hostile to the United States or its national interests.

• Applicants must not have engaged in personal activities that contradict or oppose the values and interests of the United States.

• Applicants must not have made official statements hostile to the United States or its national interests.

• Applicants must not have committed a federal crime, verified through a federal law enforcement background check.

• Applicants must not have committed a misdemeanor, verified through local police background checks for all previous residences.

• Applicants must not have been convicted of narcotics use.

• Applicants must agree to regular drug screenings.

• Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing their academic development in fields that prepare them for public office and enable them to positively influence public policy aligned with United States national interests.

• Applicants must agree to adhere to the academic and degree track outlined by the Soldiers to Statesmen scholarship program, which requires earning multiple graduate degrees and certifications, including:​

  • Master’s in International Relations

  • Master’s in Economics

  • Master Certification in Advanced National Security Studies

  • Master Certification in Counter-Intelligence

  • Master Certification in Political Warfare​

  • Master’s in Public Administration​

Additionally, all applicants must sign a legally binding agreement affirming the accuracy of the information provided during the application process. If an applicant or scholarship awardee is found to have knowingly submitted fraudulent information, this will constitute a violation of their contract with the Soldiers to Statesmen Foundation. Such a violation will result in the immediate expulsion of the awardee from the program and require full reimbursement of all monetary and non-monetary benefits received to date.