WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIGILANT TORCH SCHOLARSHIPS?

View our 2026-2027_Scholarship_Policy.

Eligibility

Members of the Vigilant Torch Foundation (VTF) and their immediate family members, including grandchildren, are eligible for the MIND, BODY, and TORCH Scholarships. The membership must be current. Active duty members and their immediate families are eligible if they are assigned within our select Special Operations community at any point during the application window. Membership is not required in this situation.

Eligibility for the MIND Pathway and BODY Pathway is limited to certain fields of study, whereas the SOUL Pathway and TORCH Pathway are open to students pursuing any degree.

Only dependents (spouses, children, or grandchildren) are eligible for the SOUL needs-based scholarship.

Awards

There are 25 total scholarships available with awards ranging from $2,500 to $15,000.

Please see the list of eligible degrees below for the MIND and BODY Pathways, as well as a distribution of the awarded amounts for all four pathways: MIND, BODY, SOUL, and TORCH.

Process

Applicants will fill out Step 1 of the process, which will gather important administrative data to enable VTF to confirm eligibility and contact applicants. Applicants will be given a unique alphanumeric code which will allow their submissions to be blind-rated against a grading rubric. If applicant scores are tied for top awards, the Scholarship Committee reserves the right to conduct and score in-person interviews to differentiate awardees. Award announcements will be emailed no later than mid-May 2026.

Application Window

Applications for any of the four Vigilant Torch Scholarships are due no later than 11:59pm EST on 16 March, 2026.

The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point has partnered with the Vigilant Torch Foundation to offer the SGM Edward C. McKay Scholarship Program. This scholarship program offers the unique opportunity for active-duty Senior Noncommissioned Officers (SNCO) to pursue higher education, while also providing key mentorship opportunities intended to develop future leaders of the U.S. military.

Program Overview
The modern battlefield is rapidly changing. As a result, the way the U.S. military educates and prepares leaders must also evolve.

Each year, one Ed McKay scholar will have the opportunity to receive a master’s degree in security studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. The degree program will focus on national and international security problems with several different focus area opportunities.

The scholarship recipient will also serve as a fellow of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. In this role, the Ed McKay scholar will use their years of combat experience in Special Operations to educate and develop West Point Cadets into future officers and leaders of the U.S. Army.

Become a Sponsor
Individual and corporate sponsors are needed to support the Ed McKay Scholarship program. Donors will help ensure the U.S. military and its leaders can create solutions for the challenges our nation will face in the future.

Contact Us
For additional information on this scholarship program or to become a sponsor, contact scholarship@vigilant-torch.org.