Getting back to the original question "What's happening with Army ROTC?"
Here is my 'wild-a$$-guess'.
There used to be a federal legal limit (416/yr) on the number of Army Reserve and Army National Guard ROTC scholarships. That has been changed, and there is now, no legislated limit, on the number of these scholarships.
IMHO: The Army has made a strategic decision to do more Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) scholarships.
SMP Advantages, for the Army:
-Higher level of commitment, you must enlist to participate.
-Costs Army Less
-----2 and 3 yr programs only
-----State's funding SMP program, only some states pay for some of NG tuition/fees, so must be state funds.
-----Part of SMP funds are 'Federal Tuition Assistance' (maybe not out of Army budget?)
-The Tuition Reimbursement Program, still makes a commission possible, for lower income students.
-Student must attend a yr of college, AND get acceptable GPA, so already 'proven' college material.
-Cadets intern/mentor/drill with a unit, learning more about future job and the Army.
-Better trained - SMP'ers are encouraged to complete Basic and AIT (with a $350/month 'kicker')
-It takes 143 ROTC cadets to produce 100 commissioned Army officers, w/SMP at least part of those 'extra' 43 are now national guard, and are not completely lost resources.
This is Speculation and Conjecture on my part, take it with a grain of salt.
SMP is being promoted heavily.
Sec. 523. Repeal of annual limit on number of ROTC scholarships under Army Reserve and Army National Guard financial assistance program.
PUBLIC LAW 110–181—JAN. 28, 2008 122 STAT. 103
SEC. 523. REPEAL OF ANNUAL LIMIT ON NUMBER OF ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS
UNDER ARMY RESERVE AND ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 2107a(h) of title 10, United States Code, is amended
by striking ‘‘not more than 416 cadets each year under this section,
to include’’ and inserting ‘‘each year under this section’’.