ROTC and Semester Off

tonythetyger

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
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Is it possible for a four year scholarship AROTC cadet to take a semester off given that he has a legitimate reason?
 
It's called an Leave of Absence (LOA). It's in your contract. It will still be up to your PMS to approve it.
 
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Thanks. I have read the contract. I failed to ask on my OP whether the cadet could remain on scholarship for that semester he wishes to be on LOA for personal hardship. The contract isn't clear on the matter but suggests that all benefits (including scholarship) are suspended during an LOA?
 
If you are on LOA your benefits are suspended. I'm a little confused why you would think the Army would still pay your bills if you were taking a break from ROTC.
 
The army assumes that if you are taking an LOA you not only be temporarily out of ROTC but college as well (i.e. personal hardship as you stated). So you will not be entitled for compensation. If the LOA is necessary for ROTC it must be for college as well, without that clause everyone would be requesting an LOA haha.
 
Aglahad,

You made me chuckle with your response. I agree if they allowed that I would bet the majority of cadets would be taking an LOA somewhere in their 4 yrs.

Tony, I was not meaning to offend you in my response, my apologies if I did.

I can see why he asked this question though. For example, what if he is attending college out of state, but must come home for the semester to take care of a personal crisis. While at home he intends to attend an IS school as a part time student to remain on track for graduation. If the scholarship cannot be utilized it may create financial issues, thus he can't graduate on time since he can't afford to take classes at home. If the scholarship can be used he could academically keep up.

We tend to forget not every child attends college a couple of hours away by car, some attend hours away by plane. Our DS has a room mate from Chicago and another from Seattle.

The other factor is maybe he has worked out with the school that they would allow him to take their on-line classes to fulfill his course load, but still charge him the tuition cost. Many colleges now have on-line programs for their night school students, which still is a part of their school system. The college may have already agreed to let him do this because of his hardship, but placed a caveat that he would be charged as a FT student if he pursued this avenue.

My question to the OP about this is from a different position. You want to take a semester off for personal reasons, let's assume it is for spring this yr or next fall. Personal hardship is traditionally something that comes with emotional hardship. Will you be able to get your mind back in the game when you must return?

I am sure you will say yes, but take some time and think about it. I am not asking you to reveal your reasons, I am saying with serious hardships, emotions take longer to heal than someone at your age can even begin to fathom, even with a positive outcome, there will always be your mind and heart wandering off worrying.

Not saying you should do this, but I would say if it is a serious nature and you want to go home, maybe you should also decide if you should transfer totally to a school near home that can allow you to be in ROTC and attend college. Only you know if this is a 6-9 month thing and be cleared or something that might be in your life for the next few yrs. where you decide in 6-9 months you can't or shouldn't leave your family and because you took that LOA, now you are left with 1 of 2 choices, quit or go back when you weren't ready.

College is not easy, nor is ROTC, and it is harder when you are not plugged in emotionally.

Take time, let your emotions of what you are going through settle, because right now you are probably in a knee jerk reaction mode. Once the emotions are settled talk it out with your family on what is the rational path to take. It may be you don't even take the LOA.

My best wishes, hopes and thoughts are with you during this time. It will work out, maybe not the way you planned, but the way it was intended to be.
 
I don't mean to steal the thread but are you able to take a semester off to study abroad in a foreign country while in ROTC? Or is it possible to do this in the Summer in CULP or something else?
 
Study Abroad

I don't mean to steal the thread but are you able to take a semester off to study abroad in a foreign country while in ROTC? Or is it possible to do this in the Summer in CULP or something else?

Vira check out the previous thread at:
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=20596

It looks like the Army encourages the study abroad. Check out the responses by Clarkson and Marist they both comment on it being done at their schools. But it looks like it may be frowned upon during their Junior year.
 
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