Tell me about ROTC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS just accepted his admission offer for the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech this evening, so my knowledge is very fresh! I have learned a tremendous amount in the last year (note that DS is a stronger student - 4.0 weighted, and has been is JROTC for the last 4 years).

The previous poster is right on the money - I have been surprised how competitive it is to get a 4 year ROTC scholarship). DS will be getting a grand total of $1K a year to be in the Corps. I don’t think you should assume at all that he will get his college paid for by ROTC starting his freshman year.

That being said, it does seem like getting a scholarship starting your junior year is much more doable (but far from a sure thing). I can’t comment on other places, though, but this is my sense.

Congrats! My husband did the Corps program at VT and is on year 18 active duty Army. He has very very close friends from his time in the program that we still stay in touch with today.

[Anonymous]

I think the Navy service obligation is 5 years active duty

Army is 4 years active duty or 8 years reserves (drilling one weekend per month and 2 weeks per year).

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Did everyone gloss over the B/C student part? Yes, ROTC is great but in no way is a B or C student competitive for ROTC. [/quote]

Army, yes, definitely

Navy... maaybe

Air Force or Space Force? Not a chance. They are very competitive and have been focusing the bulk of their scholarships on sophomores or higher.

[Anonymous]

Honest question. What happens if you start the program and realize it is too much. What are the penalties? Do you have to withdraw from the university too since that was presumably your hook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question. What happens if you start the program and realize it is too much. What are the penalties? Do you have to withdraw from the university too since that was presumably your hook?

You can withdraw after freshman year, but if you stay past years 2 or 3(can't remember the number), you must commit to military service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question. What happens if you start the program and realize it is too much. What are the penalties? Do you have to withdraw from the university too since that was presumably your hook?

You can withdraw after freshman year, but if you stay past years 2 or 3(can't remember the number), you must commit to military service.

Future Corps of Cadets mom - until the military starts paying you money, you are not on the hook for anything (although from your junior year you will be commissioned and then your service obligation begins). My understanding is if you get a four-year scholarship, your service obligation begins once you hit your sophomore year.

Another related point - at the two schools with Corps of Cadets (VT and Texas A&M) you can be in all four years and never join the military. They have a Civilian Leadership Corp for students that want the experience but don’t want to join the military (there’s a good chance DS will end up doing this)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question. What happens if you start the program and realize it is too much. What are the penalties? Do you have to withdraw from the university too since that was presumably your hook?

Sorry, didn’t answer the question. At VT if you leave the Corps in the first six weeks, you have to withdraw from the school (presumably to avoid people using it as a way in). They were very vague after that, but I have seen evidence of someone withdrawing and then staying at the school at least as a sophomore if not earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question. What happens if you start the program and realize it is too much. What are the penalties? Do you have to withdraw from the university too since that was presumably your hook?

You can withdraw after freshman year, but if you stay past years 2 or 3(can't remember the number), you must commit to military service.

Future Corps of Cadets mom - until the military starts paying you money, you are not on the hook for anything (although from your junior year you will be commissioned and then your service obligation begins). My understanding is if you get a four-year scholarship, your service obligation begins once you hit your sophomore year.

Another related point - at the two schools with Corps of Cadets (VT and Texas A&M) you can be in all four years and never join the military. They have a Civilian Leadership Corp for students that want the experience but don’t want to join the military (there’s a good chance DS will end up doing this)

Thanks for the reminder of this. My son does not qualify for ROTC (type I diabetic) but wants to be military. So I'll have to check the medical requirements to see if this is something he's allowed to do instead.

[Anonymous]

If you withdraw, depending on when and scholarship status, you might owe military time. I also know people who paid the scholarship back. This was a long time ago so not sure that is an option anymore. For the non- military schools that both my husband, kids and I attended- you could stay regardless of scholarship- you just needed to at tuition. I am not sure what the situation is for the 6 SMC schools.

University of North Georgia. Location Dahlonega, Georgia. ...
Norwich University. Location Northfield, Vermont. ...
Texas A&M University. Location College Station, Texas. ...
The Citadel. Location Charleston, South Carolina. ...
Virginia Military Institute. ...
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

[Anonymous]

Someone w/drew from usna this year on day 91. After day 90, you can take the GI bill. The boy did just that and transferred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did everyone gloss over the B/C student part? Yes, ROTC is great but in no way is a B or C student competitive for ROTC.

It doesn’t matter. He is a sophomore in high school. He probably wont get a scholarship directly out of high school, but he can absolutely get the same exact 3 or 4 yr scholarship if he applies as an enrolled freshman or sophomore. Applying as a college student for a retroactive ROTC scholarship isn’t the same process. What you did in high school has little consequence. They care that you got the minimum ACT/SAT score, your current college grades, and your leadership/physical fitness and demonstrated interest and success potential ROTC program

[Anonymous]

OP, here. Thank you, all, for these very helpful comments and suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The scholarship pay 85k x 4 ? What is the catch?

The scholarship pays tuition and fees, so it’s not $85k.

At some schools, room and board is covered by the university. Not sure how common that is, but it was not a policy for any of my kids (3 different universities)

As for payback, it can be Active Duty or Reserves. It depends on the needs of each service, students do not always get their preference.

Wash. U. and some other St. Louis-area schools offer at least some ROTC scholarship holders room and board:

https://sites.wustl.edu/rotc/gateway-battalion-scholarship-benefits/

I don’t understand from the summary whether Wash. U. offers room and board for up to 31 students in every class or 31 students universitywide.

[Anonymous]

Readers ought to be careful to look into the current details for any ROTC program of interest. Several posters above are documenting what they experienced, but things have changed since their time. In particular, the details now will not only vary from year to year, but also will vary from one service to a different service. Even within NROTC, there can be variances between the Navy midshipmen and the “Marine option” midshipmen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The scholarship pay 85k x 4 ? What is the catch?

The scholarship pays tuition and fees, so it’s not $85k.

At some schools, room and board is covered by the university. Not sure how common that is, but it was not a policy for any of my kids (3 different universities)

As for payback, it can be Active Duty or Reserves. It depends on the needs of each service, students do not always get their preference.

Wash. U. and some other St. Louis-area schools offer at least some ROTC scholarship holders room and board:

https://sites.wustl.edu/rotc/gateway-battalion-scholarship-benefits/

I don’t understand from the summary whether Wash. U. offers room and board for up to 31 students in every class or 31 students universitywide.

My DD spoke with the commander at WASHU ROTC, but ultimately chose another school. They do pay for room and board in addition to full tuition. They have a small battalion, sounds like all the students on scholarship there gets the free room and board. Tulane, Lehigh, URochester, and a few other schools also offer room and board in addtion to full tuition. Vanderbilt/Carnegie Mellon will pay for a portion of your room and board.