Military Science, Leadership, and Operations

Military science is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare, and the theory and application of organized coercive force. It is mainly focused on theory, method, and practice of producing military capability in a manner consistent with national defense policy. Military science serves to identify the strategic, political, economic, psychological, social, operational, technological, and tactical elements necessary to sustain relative advantage of military force; and to increase the likelihood and favorable outcomes of victory in peace or during a war. Military scientists include theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and other military personnel.

Military personnel obtain weapons, equipment, and training to achieve specific strategic goals. Military science is also used to establish enemy capability as part of technical intelligence.

In military history, military science had been used during the period of Industrial Revolution as a general term to refer to all matters of military theory and technology application as a single academic discipline, including that of the deployment and employment of troops in peacetime or in battle.

In military education, military science is often the name of the department in the education institution that administers officer candidate education. However, this education usually focuses on the officer leadership training and basic information about employment of military theories, concepts, methods and systems, and graduates are not military scientists on completion of studies, but rather junior military officers.

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Scholarships for Military Science, Leadership, and Operations Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

David M. Gardner Memorial Scholarship - WCCC

Colorado Mesa University, School of Applied Technology

$6,400 September 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The David M. Gardner Memorial Scholarship is available to full - time students at Western Colorado Community College. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a graduate of a Mesa County high school to qualify for this award.

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David M. Gardner Memorial Scholarship - WCCC

Colorado Mesa University, School of Applied Technology

award

$6,400

deadline

September 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The David M. Gardner Memorial Scholarship is available to full - time students at Western Colorado Community College. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a graduate of a Mesa County high school to qualify for this award.

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Marine Corps Essay Contest

U.S. Naval Institute

Up to $5,000 June 30, 2026 See Details

Description

The Marine Corps Essay Contest is open to active duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians. To be considered, you must submit a 2,500 - word essay on the following topic: "Bring new thinking about how the U.S. Marine Corps will tackle the security challenges of the coming decades. No issue is too big or too narrow -- as long as it...

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Marine Corps Essay Contest

U.S. Naval Institute

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

June 30, 2026
See Details

Description

The Marine Corps Essay Contest is open to active duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians. To be considered, you must submit a 2,500 - word essay on the following topic: "Bring new thinking about how the U.S. Marine Corps will tackle the security challenges of the coming decades. No issue is too big or too narrow -- as long as it...

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Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

U.S. Naval Institute

Up to $5,000 July 31, 2026 See Details

Description

The Naval Intelligence Essay Contest is open to active duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians. To be considered, you must submit a 2,500 - word essay that explores the roles of naval intelligence in this dynamic and uncertain future.

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Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

U.S. Naval Institute

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

July 31, 2026
See Details

Description

The Naval Intelligence Essay Contest is open to active duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians. To be considered, you must submit a 2,500 - word essay that explores the roles of naval intelligence in this dynamic and uncertain future.

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Bank of America Scholarship - University of Florida

University of Florida

$500 Varies See Details

Description

The Bank of America Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of Florida-College of Military Sciences, Navy, and Marine. You must be a senior Navy midshipman who is in the top 50 percent of your class and demonstrates financial need to be eligible for this award.

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Bank of America Scholarship - University of Florida

University of Florida

award

$500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Bank of America Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of Florida-College of Military Sciences, Navy, and Marine. You must be a senior Navy midshipman who is in the top 50 percent of your class and demonstrates financial need to be eligible for this award.

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Nakayama Public Service Scholarship

Duke University

50% of tuition Varies See Details

Description

The Nakayama Public Service Scholarship is available to junior-level undergraduate students at Duke University who want to work on our world’s challenging problems by engaging in public service careers. Selected scholars will engage with Duke faculty and public servants in a variety of fields for mentorship and career exploration.

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Nakayama Public Service Scholarship

Duke University

award

50% of tuition

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nakayama Public Service Scholarship is available to junior-level undergraduate students at Duke University who want to work on our world’s challenging problems by engaging in public service careers. Selected scholars will engage with Duke faculty and public servants in a variety of fields for mentorship and career exploration.

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Navy V-12/NROTC Memorial Prize - Tufts University

Tufts University - School of Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering

Varies Varies See Details

Description

The Navy V-12/NROTC Memorial Prize is open to ROTC students at Tufts University. Undergraduate students whose direct descendants participated in either Tufts or other college V-12/NROTC programs during World War II between July 1943 to June 1946 are also qualified for this award.

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Navy V-12/NROTC Memorial Prize - Tufts University

Tufts University - School of Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering

award

Varies

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Navy V-12/NROTC Memorial Prize is open to ROTC students at Tufts University. Undergraduate students whose direct descendants participated in either Tufts or other college V-12/NROTC programs during World War II between July 1943 to June 1946 are also qualified for this award.

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Jim and Dorothy Carlson Undergraduate Benefit Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

Varies Varies See Details

Description

The Jim and Dorothy Carlson Undergraduate Benefit Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Preference will be given to students from Sacramento, CA.

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Jim and Dorothy Carlson Undergraduate Benefit Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

Varies

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Jim and Dorothy Carlson Undergraduate Benefit Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Preference will be given to students from Sacramento, CA.

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WID Michigan College Scholarship

Women In Defense - Michigan Chapter

Varies August 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The WID Michigan College Scholarship is available to junior-level and above female students within Michigan who are currently enrolled at an accredited Michigan university or college. To be considered for this award, you must be a U.S. citizen, be enrolled on a full-time basis, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you should...

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WID Michigan College Scholarship

Women In Defense - Michigan Chapter

award

Varies

deadline

August 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The WID Michigan College Scholarship is available to junior-level and above female students within Michigan who are currently enrolled at an accredited Michigan university or college. To be considered for this award, you must be a U.S. citizen, be enrolled on a full-time basis, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you should...

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