Active duty officers in the United States Armed Forces.
An active duty officer in the US Armed Forces means a commissioned officer serving in the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard. It does not mean Reserve or National Guard officers on extended active duty within the Department of Defense nor does it mean non-military entities such as the US Merchant Marine or US Public Health Service.
Officers serving in specified career fields.
Officers serving primarily in operational career fields across the Armed Forces. The program excludes medical personnel, chaplains, lawyers, public affairs, contracting, and finance officers, among others.
View your Service’s list of Olmsted-eligible officer career fields.
Mid-career officers with a minimum of 3 years of commissioned service as of 1 April of the year of selection as a Scholar by the Board of Directors. Maximum total active federal service time restrictions vary by Service from 11 years to 13 years and 6 months. Contact the appropriate Service point of contact listed under Selection Process for applicable details.
A minimum of three years of commissioned service enables an officer to have demonstrated outstanding performance of military duties, especially with regard to leadership, promotional potential, and career ambitions.
Total active federal service includes any enlisted time served on active duty in the Armed Forces and any extended active duty served under Reserve or Guard auspices.
Outstanding professional performance and promotion potential.
The Foundation understands this is a subjective judgment, but candidates’ officer evaluations should clearly earmark them as a standout among their peers. Ultimately, the main factors considered by the Board of Directors of the Olmsted Foundation in selecting Scholars are outstanding performance of duty and potential for promotion, command, and senior leadership positions within a candidate’s primary career field.
Demonstrated scholastic achievement.
The Olmsted Scholar Program is an academic program. Most candidates have earned a high grade point average (GPAs) and class standing, if applicable, from their undergraduate universities. In the past, The Foundation set a notional minimum 3.0 GPA. However, the Board of Directors considers factors such as quality of undergraduate university, academic major difficulty, extracurricular activities, and personal situation when assessing a candidate’s academic credentials. Any graduate-level education completed will also be factored into this assessment.
Strong desire to study in a foreign language at a foreign university.
A major component of the Olmsted Scholar Program is learning to communicate at a high level in a foreign language. After selection as an Olmsted Scholar, the successful candidate will have up to one year to arrive at a level of language competency sufficient to enroll in a graduate school program at a foreign university. To assess your capacity to learn a language, DoD uses the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB). The average DLAB score for Scholars selected is between 125 and 130. However, this benchmark is not a required minimum or an exclusionary level for application.
Approval of service career planners/detailers/assignment officers.
A commitment to The Foundation’s goals as evidenced in a personal interview.
Scholars are selected without regard to marital or family status. However, if married, The Foundation highly encourages spouses and dependent children to accompany the Scholar throughout the Program, to include language training. Experience has shown that a Scholar’s family members overwhelmingly benefit from the language, cultural immersion, and travel opportunities inherent in the program, and being accompanied allows the Scholar full immerse in the local culture without being concerned about, or deprived of, his/her “stateside” family. It is important that each Olmsted Scholar candidate discuss this aspect of the Program with his/her spouse and/or children, as appropriate, and that the family is supportive of the candidate’s intention to participate in the Olmsted Scholar Program, including all of his/her desired study locations.
It is recognized that there may be reasons why a candidate’s family cannot accompany him/her for the entire course of the Olmsted Scholar Program. While this is especially true for active duty dual-military couples, a spouse’s professional commitments, restrictive health care issues, or other personal reasons may also drive this situation. Candidates should be prepared to discuss these personal circumstances during their interview to ensure that they can still meet the objectives of the Olmsted Scholar Program.
If a prospective candidate has any questions or concerns about spouse or family participation, please contact The Foundation directly to discuss the specific situation and circumstances.
While participating in the Olmsted Scholar Program, Scholars remain on active duty and are subject to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
As graduate students, Scholars are expected to adhere to institutional honor codes, academic professional conduct, and accepted standards of academic rigor and accountability.
Although sponsored by The Foundation, Scholars operate with considerable autonomy. They serve as representatives of the United States, their military Service, and The Olmsted Foundation.
In cases involving violations of the UCMJ, conduct unbecoming an Olmsted Scholar, behavior that reflects poorly on The Foundation, or failure to meet the minimum standards of the Program, The Foundation reserves to its Board of Directors the right to remove from an individual his/her status as an Olmsted Scholar.