(a) A student who enters the United States armed services within two (2) years after the student graduates from an eligible high school, graduates from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school, completes high school in a Tennessee home school program or obtains a GED® or HiSET® may apply for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship within seven (7) years of the student's date of entry into military service; provided, that the student did not attend a postsecondary institution before entering military service. If, however, the student is separated from active duty under a fully honorable discharge before applying for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, then the student shall apply for a scholarship within one (1) year of the date of separation from active duty under a fully honorable discharge or within seven (7) years of the student's date of entry into military service, whichever occurs first.

(b) To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, the student shall:

(1) Meet the requirements of § 49-4-907, other than any requirements pertaining to deadlines for application for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student graduated from an eligible high school before entering military service; or

(2) Meet the requirements of § 49-4-908, other than any requirements pertaining to deadlines for application for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student completed high school in a Tennessee home school program, graduated from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school or obtained a GED® or HiSET®.

(c) To continue to receive the scholarship, the student shall maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs by the institution at which the student is enrolled, shall continue to meet all eligibility requirements, shall reapply for the scholarship each academic year and shall meet the continuation requirements of § 49-4-911.

(d) This section shall not apply to any person whose discharge is not fully honorable. Discharges under honorable conditions and general discharges do not establish eligibility for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship under this section.