ROTC Question

Duce

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
3
Can any college freshman meeting criteria join ROTC without the scholarship portion? Do you have to be selected, or can you just join it?
 
Can any college freshman meeting criteria join ROTC without the scholarship portion? Do you have to be selected, or can you just join it?

There is an application and you have to get a physical. I believe that as long as you pass the physical and the unit has space to accommodate you (texts, uniforms, class space etc) that it is essentially a formality... as long as you meet all the other requirements (minimum academics, test scores, no convictions, etc.). You should contact the appropriate ROTC unit at the college you plan to attend (or are attending) to get the details. They will also tell you what courses you need to sign up for to be included in the unit. Such a person, who joins ROTC without a scholarship, is referred to as a College Programmer (at least in NROTC).
 
For Army ROTC, at least at my son's school, all you have to do is register for the MSI classes. Fall semester is Leadership & Personal Development, and Spring is Intro to Tactical Leadership - both 3 credit courses. You'll also register for PT (1 credit) both semesters. Although, as I understand it, not all schools give credit for ROTC classes. If your's does, you just need to make sure you leave room in your schedule for the additional 3-4 hours.

Again at my son's school, non-contracted freshman (i.e. non-scholarship) are able, for the most part, to participate in all ROTC activities - Ranger challenge, FTX, etc. They are not allowed to attend any sort of summer training such as Airborne, Air Assault, CULP, etc.
 
I would second what the above poster said about credit hours. Schools are different. My school gives 1 hour for MS1 each semester (class, lab, PT all together). 2 hours for MS2 and 4 for both MS3 and 4 years. Kind of a rip off, but can't really do much about it.
 
Thanks

Thanks for all the help. I am a high school senior now. Is there anything I have to do now to register, or do I handle all the application details in college?
 
Thanks for all the help. I am a high school senior now. Is there anything I have to do now to register, or do I handle all the application details in college?

Once you've settled on a college I would contact the unit and let them know you plan on joining. Visiting them during a college visit would also be great. Confirm which courses you need to sign up for (they might be numbered differently from college to college). If it works like NROTC, once you've signed of for the courses (esp. PT) they will contact you with the necessary paperwork and also any info about orientation, etc.
 
Thanks Again

Thanks again. I will talk to my doctor first, because I have asthma. I would really love to join, but at this point, I'm expecting the worst, hoping for the best.
 
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