ROTC Question

I've done a lot of research on the web, and have still not been able to answer this question: To graduate as comissioned officer in the military, do I have to have a ROTC scholarship if I attend the Citadel or Norwich, or VMI?
-USMC 2010

USMC 2012 said:

I've done a lot of research on the web, and have still not been able to answer this question: To graduate as comissioned officer in the military, do I have to have a ROTC scholarship if I attend the Citadel or Norwich, or VMI?
-USMC 2010

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No.

Thanks, but does this apply to the rest of the SMCs and ROTC based college or just those three schools? It might be a stupid question, sorry.

Not every cadet in ROTC has a scholarship, in fact soon, not many cadets will have scholarships...Take ROTC while you are in college, and complete all the requirements and you'll be an Officer. You've done a lot of research on the web and you haven't come across all the different options? Perhaps I should shamelessly refer you to my blog.

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/whats-the-commitment/

I'm selling Army, so maybe you've just been looking at USMC websites.

Hope that helps.

USMC 2012 said:

I've done a lot of research on the web, and have still not been able to answer this question: To graduate as comissioned officer in the military, do I have to have a ROTC scholarship if I attend the Citadel or Norwich, or VMI?
-USMC 2010

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Nope- In fact with the exception of a short block (basically beginning about 4 years ago when the Army Scholarship funds opened wide open)- the vast majority of ROTC cadets commissioning did not have scholarships. As a non-scholarship cadet you can contract at the start of your 2d class (Jr) year and will receive your monthly stipend beginning at time. You should still have the opportunity to compete for military schools and will have to attend summer training (LDAC in the Army). One of the benefits of going to an SMC is that you are guaranteed Active Duty (if your PMS recommends you) regardless of whether you are a scholarship cadet or not.

clarksonarmy said:

Not every cadet in ROTC has a scholarship, in fact soon, not many cadets will have scholarships...Take ROTC while you are in college, and complete all the requirements and you'll be an Officer. You've done a lot of research on the web and you haven't come across all the different options? Perhaps I should shamelessly refer you to my blog.

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/whats-the-commitment/

I'm selling Army, so maybe you've just been looking at USMC websites.

Hope that helps.

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Thank you sir, I have been able to look at several different options for the USMC, PLC, OCS, Enlisted to Officer, etc, but have not looked in depth into the Army comssioning programs other than ROTC and WP...thank you for the link sir.
-USMC 2010

clarkson -- "soon, not many will have scholarships".

I'm trying to understand that in context. As I understand it, most ROTC cadets at this time do not have scholarships. So, is there a change?

My understanding of the CC memo from a couple of days ago is that the scholarships that will diminish going forward are those to Private Colleges and Universities that are not "tier 1". Now, I'm not sure who is defining Tier 1. Some would define that as UNSWR Unis Top 50 + LAC Top 25, others as Unis Top 100 + LACs Top 50, others still by the strict USNWR classification (this year) of Tier 1 being the top 196 National Unis and 186 LACs (Liberal Arts Colleges). I doubt very much that CC intends for the Top 196 to mean Tier 1, but we'll have to wait for them to clarify that. Then, what do you do with USNWR "Regional University" rankings, e.g. Villanova #1 in the North? Or Marist which is #10 in the North?

I would very much, as would I'm sure a whole tankload of PMSs, like to know exactly what CC means by "Tier 1" private schools. Clarkson is currently ranked #124 by USNWR... is that Tier 1? One thing Clarkson has going for it is that its rack rate tuition is about 15% below some other Private Unis... is that a good deal for CC? I think probably so.

I understand and agree that it may not be the best use of CC budget to give $43,000 per year tuition scholarships to Private schools that are not highly regarded academically.

clarksonarmy said:

Not every cadet in ROTC has a scholarship, in fact soon, not many cadets will have scholarships...

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You just struck fear into my heart Clarkson. I'm from NY and there are very few schools with an AROTC detachment on campus, and I only applied to one of them. The majority of the schools on my application are out of state-state schools. Will the amount of scholarships be reduced for out of state students as well?

Boy...you guys try to read into this stuff way too much I just see that scholarships are tightening up...4 years ago, as soon as I could get them qualified, I asked for a scholarship and got one. last year I only had a handful of scholarships for my incoming freshmen. This year I expect slightly less. About 25% of my freshman class is currently on scholarship, or are 3 year AD. All I was trying to say is that I expect to have more cadets in the program who are not on scholarship.

As far as high cost/low cost/tier 1/out of state/in state, I just sit back and wait, get as many students as I can to take the class, as many students as I can to commit and get qualified, and then just do everything I can to make the argument that if funds are available I have a cadet who is ready for a scholarship. Hope none of my peers are reading my posts and stealing my secrets. I really don't think Cadet Command can micromanage what happens on the front lines, so as the money trickles down through the system, and as some schools can't find people to take the scholarships there will usually be some money for a highly motivated cadet, fully qualified cadet at a great school like Clarkson. And if not, if a student really wants to become an Officer, then SMP and GRFD can help.

I got paid $100 a month my last two years of ROTC. I was non scholarship, and I turned out alright (at least I think so).

sg1fan93 said:

You just struck fear into my heart Clarkson. I'm from NY and there are very few schools with an AROTC detachment on campus, and I only applied to one of them. The majority of the schools on my application are out of state-state schools. Will the amount of scholarships be reduced for out of state students as well?

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Texas A&M offers instate tuition to their Corps of Cadets members, as well as direct commissioning. Good luck making your choice - and know that financial aid is your BEST friend - my son didn't get an NROTC scholarship, but we paid very little out of pocket after all was said and done for his first year.

sg1fan93 said:

You just struck fear into my heart Clarkson. I'm from NY and there are very few schools with an AROTC detachment on campus, and I only applied to one of them. The majority of the schools on my application are out of state-state schools. Will the amount of scholarships be reduced for out of state students as well?

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So tell us, sg1fan93, has the fear subsided?

SMC'S and ROTC Scholarships

This I am pondering.....SMC's have a fairly hefty price tag and all students are in ROTC by nature of the schools. Just curious if anyone knows the percentage of students that attend SMC's that are on ROTC scholarships. And do these kids have a better chance on down the road of getting a 2 or 3 year offer because of it being a SMC or are all units on the same level playing field?

bjkuds said:

This I am pondering.....SMC's have a fairly hefty price tag and all students are in ROTC by nature of the schools. Just curious if anyone knows the percentage of students that attend SMC's that are on ROTC scholarships. And do these kids have a better chance on down the road of getting a 2 or 3 year offer because of it being a SMC or are all units on the same level playing field?

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bjkuds, I don't know the answer to the percentage, but I think it is easier to get a 2 or 3 year offer at an SMC than at a non-SMC unit because there is a greater number of allocations at the SMCs.

patentesq said:

bjkuds, I don't know the answer to the percentage, but I think it is easier to get a 2 or 3 year offer at an SMC than at a non-SMC unit because there is a greater number of allocations at the SMCs.

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Thanks. I have to give the DS something to think about that is positive.
We knew going in that Out of state scholarships were at a premium and it would likely be a matter of proving himself once he is there. The PMS told us that oos scholarships were 10 the previous year (If memory is correct), and they expected approx the same amount this year. I assume he meant 4 year, but I didn't ask that. DS is likely one of those kids that knowing he still has the potential scholarship to earn, that in itself will keep him from complacency. You eluded to that on a different thread and it is probably the best way to view the circumstances. Appreciate it

SMC ROTC

bjkuds said:

This I am pondering.....SMC's have a fairly hefty price tag and all students are in ROTC by nature of the schools. Just curious if anyone knows the percentage of students that attend SMC's that are on ROTC scholarships. And do these kids have a better chance on down the road of getting a 2 or 3 year offer because of it being a SMC or are all units on the same level playing field?

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bjkuds - the "fairly hefty pricetags" at SMCs are not universal - as shanagan mentioned earlier, Texas A&M offers in-state tuition to their corps of cadets, and so does North Georgia - so these become very affordable alternatives.

Our son is in his first year at a small SMC which had a much larger number of Army ROTC scholarship allocations than the battalions at larger, non-SMC universities - due to the size of the battalions themselves. For example, my son's SMC has 178 freshmen in his AROTC battalion (50 on scholarship) , whereas the battalion associated with a private college twice the size of his SMC had only 5 slots for their freshman class because of the smaller enrollment in their battalion (I think there were a total of 40 across all four class years at this college.) As far as all units being on the same level playing field for the 2 or 3 year offers: again, it's probably relative: greater number of allocations/greater number of students competing for a slot, and vice versa.

One thing about the 2 or 3 year offerings: if they are applying for these in their freshman college year while they are participating in ROTC, the students have a chance to become personally known - if they work hard, keep their academic, ROTC and PT scores up, and are clearly motivated, this can give them an edge that they may not have when they are being reviewed "on paper" by the national review board.

HMQ

patentesq said:

So tell us, sg1fan93, has the fear subsided?

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That it has