In memoriam · Est. annual award

CPT James Ahn Memorial Scholarship

A $1,000 annual scholarship, awarded in Captain James Ahn’s honor to a Special Forces veteran working toward the completion of a higher-education degree.

$1,000 award Awarded annually Special Forces veterans

The memorial

Captain James Ahn, a graduate of UC Riverside and the Claremont McKenna College Army ROTC program, died in 2015 during a parachute training operation while participating with his Special Forces unit in Washington State.

For all of us who knew and loved James, he will never be forgotten. He was the consummate person and professional who was respected by everyone he came in contact with.

In James’ honor, we are sponsoring an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a Special Forces Veteran who is working towards the completion of a higher education degree.

“He had a big smile and would always grin ear to ear,” Master Sgt. Dan Linderman said. “He always found time to smile about something and made friends with our Asian counterparts. They latched onto him.”
Master Sgt. Dan Linderman

Eligibility

Requirements

01
Former Special Forces Service Member
02
Full time student pursuing degree/certification completion at an accredited post secondary institution including graduate school, university, college, community college, or vocational/technical institution.

Applications for the 2027 academic year are due by June 1, 2027.

How to apply

Apply Now

Applications for the 2027 academic year are open. To apply, email the items below to info@rotcconsulting.com with the subject line CPT James Ahn Memorial Scholarship Application.

Email Your Application

Full name, email, and phone
Mailing address
Branch of service and years served
College or university of enrollment, area of study, and anticipated graduation year
A copy of your DD-214 or other proof of service (black out all personal information — DOB, SSN, etc.)
In 1,500 words or fewer: how your goals have been influenced by your service within Special Forces

The legacy continues

Previous Scholarship Recipients

Master Sergeant (U.S. Army, Retired) Paul Schuweiler

His reflections on his career and on the Ahn Scholarship:

“I am honored and deeply grateful to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the CPT James Ahn Memorial Scholarship. After 25 years in the U.S. Army, including 16 in Special Forces and four deployments to Afghanistan, I have witnessed the true meaning of selfless service. While I did not serve with CPT Ahn, the Special Forces bond runs deep, and his sacrifice is a lasting reminder of the price paid for freedom. This scholarship will help me complete my Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, enabling me to continue safeguarding others with the same dedication and resolve I carried in uniform. I am thankful for the opportunity to honor CPT Ahn’s legacy and ensure it endures.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 (U.S. Army, Retired) Michael “Mikey” Beaven

“I am profoundly honored and deeply grateful to be selected as a recipient of the CPT James Ahn Scholarship. This recognition is beyond words; it is truly a privilege to receive this award. The significance of this scholarship, born from the legacy of CPT Ahn, touches my heart profoundly. Knowing that this fund exists because of the tragic loss of a brother-in-arms is both humbling and emotional. CPT Ahn was one of the finest, and his absence is deeply felt among all who knew him. My deepest thanks to the Committee for your unwavering support on this arduous academic journey. Your generosity inspires me to push harder for excellence and to further build upon CPT Ahn’s Legacy.”

Sergeant First Class (U.S. Army, Retired) Michael “Mike” Moralez

“I am humbled and thankful to be selected as a recipient of the CPT James Ahn Scholarship. I am beyond words; it is truly an honor to receive this award. Quite frankly, I am still in shock. It is a bit difficult to accept the scholarship and am emotional, practically in tears, as I know the fund exists because of a tragedy that befell a brother-in-arms. He was one of the great ones and is dearly missed. Though the circumstances were tragic, I know that CPT Ahn always supported his teammates in any way he could, and this scholarship is a testament to his philosophy. I am filled with a renewed sense of purpose to always seek self-improvement, exceed expectations, and never settle for anything less than my best. Like CPT Ahn’s selfless service, I am pursuing my degree for the betterment of others. Thank you, CPT James Ahn, and the Committee, for your assistance and support on this academic journey.”

Army Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army, Retired) Charles Hernandez

“My experiences as a Special Forces Green Beret have proven to be invaluable in my life. The Special Forces Regiment took the young and impressionable kid that I was and groomed me into the driven, reliable, and confident soldier, father, and husband that I am today…I have a deep appreciation for how far an education can propel a person if they are simply given the opportunity to pursue it. I want to pay forward the gift of education to those most in need of it–especially by helping soldiers in the enlisted ranks…. It is an honor to receive this sponsorship.”

Sergeant Major (U.S. Army, Retired) Brandon Brewington

“I joined Special Forces shortly after the tragedy on September 11, 2001. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, I quickly found myself deploying to Afghanistan as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. It was evident as a young Non-Commissioned Officer that I had to step up my game, not only to perform my job but more importantly, not to fail my detachment brothers. During these experiences, I stood next to America’s finest doing work that most Americans would never hear of or even understand.

Sadly, my time in Special Forces came to an end in June 2020 as I retired with 24 years of service and a total of eleven deployments across, Afghanistan, Iraq, and several countries spanning from West and East North Africa. After retiring, I moved my family back to Nashville to help build a stronger connection with our larger family network in Tennessee. While adjusting to the foreign world of civilian life, I have continued an educational path in business to support my electrical small business and merchant wholesaler small business established over this past year.

As I reflect on my time in the military, I know my family is better because of the experiences and relationships forged during my time in Special Forces. The Captain James Ahn Memorial Scholarship is a reminder of how our Special Forces community continues to support and uplift Special Forces soldiers after their time in the regiment. Thank you for standing with my family.”

Coaching the next generation of officers

The same standard James Ahn lived. Coached, file by file.

ROTC Consulting is a firm of retired officers who coach families through the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC scholarship process. Every family starts with the Blueprint.

Schedule your ROTC Scholarship Blueprint.

$400 · 60 min · LTC Kirkland · credited toward Interview Preparation or The Scholarship Track