Graduate Scholarship Designed for Military Leaders | Trident University

November 30, 2021 – Chandler, AZ – Trident University International (Trident) has updated its graduate-level William “Joe” Gainey (WJG) Scholarship. The scholarship is open to Trident students enrolled in a graduate program or the Instructional Systems Specialist graduate certificate who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces as Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard.

Trident is proud to be military-centric, as many of the University’s students and alumni have a military background, including those actively serving, veterans, and military spouses.

The WJG scholarship is designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for students receiving military Tuition Assistance. It provides $300 towards the cost of each eligible course until military Tuition Assistance is exhausted for courses taken within the military fiscal year (October 1 through September 30). Once annual military Tuition Assistance benefits are exhausted, the scholarship reduces students’ cost per credit hour by 50% for up to 5 additional courses within the same military fiscal year.

Gainey enlisted in the Army in 1974 and served the United States for 33 years. Over the course of his career, he held several leadership positions ranging from gunner to Command Sergeant Major. He served in Operation Joint Endeavor (IFOR), Operation Joint Guard (SFOR3) and Operation Joint Forge (SFOR 8) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

In 2005 Gainey was named the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honorably serving in a role dedicated to advising the chairperson on matters of professional development of enlisted personnel. He retired on April 25, 2008, with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. In 2021, he was grandfathered to the rank and title of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gainey, a firm believer in the power of higher education, holds three degrees from Trident –Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Science in Leadership, and Master of Arts in Education. He currently serves as a military advisor to the AIU Board of Trustees. He also serves as a board advisor for Centurion Military Alliance, and as Military Program Advisor for Eye Safety Systems.

Scholarship updates are effective now. Learn more about eligibility requirements. The William J. Gainey Scholarship can only be combined with the Military Education Grant and cannot be combined with any other Trident grants or scholarships.