The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Just Curious. Does anyone know if prior military service has any advantages in the application process? Is anyone else out there applying and currently active duty military?

This is a tad late of a reply however, veterans preference is 5 points and disabled vet preference is 10. SMART is required to give you these point bumps being a DoD program.

During the initial application process they specifically ask if you are requesting veterans preference, and have to provide the necessary documents if you are. Besides this is a DoD funded program, veterans preference is mandated.

There is definitely a 5 Point bump for all Federal programs due to honorable military service. It's law

5-Point Preference (TP)

Five points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a veteran who served:

During a war; or
During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or
For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.

This comes from http://opm.gov/staffingPortal/Vetguide.asp

Since the SMART program is a workforce development program they must give preference to veterans. See Title 5 U.S.C. (as amended)

Hooyah for seven years of navy service!

This is directed specifically for veterans applying for the scholarship. I am both a veteran and a recipient. There is absolutely a point bump for veteran status and there is also a point bump for disabled veterans. If you are a veteran and intend to claim this you need to submit your DD-214 (for veterans preference) and if qualified a separate VA form for Disabled Veteran preference, in your application. This is a workforce development program however, and "points" do not guarantee that a facility will select or sponsor an individual. You occupational specialty, academic major, level of degree, and research goals, determine your placement within the program. You must be selected by a facility that will endorse you for the scholarship. The better that your professional background aligns with your facilities mission, the better your chances for selection. Ultimately my advice is that an individual be utterly honest in every aspect of their application, personal statement, follow-up reviews, and site interviews. Good luck!