Local AROTC

Apparently the local college accepts about 40 incoming freshman for their AROTC program. Of these 40 they say 4 of them have received 4 year scholarships. Of these 40 only about 14 will eventually be contracted and become Juniors. Their entire program consists of 40 freshman, 40 sophmores, 14 juniors and 14 seniors.

This looks like 10 out of 36 will eventually be on scholarship each year.

Does this look like the standard format for AROTC programs?

BarrettaM59 said:

Apparently the local college accepts about 40 incoming freshman for their AROTC program. Of these 40 they say 4 of them have received 4 year scholarships. Of these 40 only about 14 will eventually be contracted and become Juniors. Their entire program consists of 40 freshman, 40 sophmores, 14 juniors and 14 seniors.

This looks like 10 out of 36 will eventually be on scholarship each year.

Does this look like the standard format for AROTC programs?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure anyone here can really say since few have a broad exposure to the different units. I also expect the SMCs are quite different. However those numbers are broadly similar to my sons unit. Keep in mind that scholarship kids will drop, opening contract slots for others. Also, this picture will vary over time with the needs of the service, current threats, and wars.

DS's unit started with 45 freshman. 9 dropped during orientation, including 2 scholarship MIDNs. About another 10 have dropped since, including a few on scholarship. Upperclassmen have dripped as well this year but I do not know the numbers.

Curious as to why you ask?

I think BarrettaM59, having DS not get scholarship or enough FA at SMCs of choice is evaluating the scholarship prospects going forward, which is an exercise many here have undertaken.

From the description of the unit (sounds roughly similar to goaliegirl's), the numbers (Frosh through Senior) sounds reasonable as there are a lot of walk-ons who try it and get discouraged and leave the program. A couple might have academic issues along the way or just don't do well enough to merit the PMS' recommendation for advanced standing. Of the upperclassmen a couple might be 4-year winners, a few more may have campus scholarships awarded along the way or may be National Guard. And there will be a few upperclassmen who are only getting the stipend (no scholarship).

I think the best thing to do to find out the lay of the land is to have the prospective cadet talk to the ROO and ask about the last couple of years and who may have picked up scholarships (and/or advanced standing) to ask what made them stand out to merit that (i.e. GPA, participation within unit, PFT scores, athletics, etc.).

Understand that the competition is different every year and STUFF happens along the way, so aiming quite a bit higher is always better. This may serve as a wake-up call to the prospective cadet of the realities of life in the military - nothing is guaranteed, work you hardest and then do more yet, and good things will happen to those who persevere.

Looks about right...at Clarkson I have a commission mission of 15, and a contract mission of 20. What that means is by December of Junior year I need around 20 in a class to make 15 due to attrition. My goal is usually to have about 35 start in a freshman class. It's like nailing jello to a tree, so don't get too wrapped up in the numbers. I usually commission 2-3 females a year, but for the next two years I've got none. Some things I can control and some I can't.