How will a government shutdown affect ROTC?

Strength and Honor

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So apparently the govt is due to shut down October 1st...

What's it mean for us applying for the 4-year scholarship? Has the Army already been set aside its money for the scholarships and there will be no affect, or will considerably less people get an ROTC scholarship this year?
 
S&H,

The more in the know will probably been here soon, but until then I'll take a stab at your concern.

Probably a lot of the potential financial cuts have already been factored into the ROTC/military budgets. They know their budgets have been cut and face almost certain continued cuts. Do not expect the number of scholarships to take a big hit. 2011(now MSIII/2015) took a big hit with the draw downs and bugets cuts - need something to fill your time read the thread from January 2011 AROTC boards...:wink:

However, the problem may be more about the personnel furloughs. Cadet Command could be furloughed for the duration of any shutdown. Without the staff there to process and keep the offices open/running the next board could be delayed a little and/or the paper work for changes, updates etc... could be even crazier than normal. Last I heard, CC only has about 5 people who process these applications and then later post results - getting a back log of paperwork and reduced number of days between boards could make for long waits just when you will be the most anxious to know:thumbdown:

Hope this helps until the others get involved with your concerns.
 
Here's my guess. The military continues on - even during a shutdown. The CR battle is not about additional DoD budget cuts but the sequester continues nevertheless. I therefore expect little impact to timelines on when scholarships are awarded (could impact notifications though) and I don't expect the scholarship numbers to be different from what was already planned. I do expect there to be fewer scholarships this year due to the sequester and continued draw downs. USMC is now talking about cutting back to 174,000 and I think Army is about twice that number.

It's likely that a shutdown would delay stipend payments. If AD military will experience pay delays then you can expect xROTC pay delays as well. Perhaps also delays in paying tuition and fees where they haven't already been paid.
 
Neither I nor my 3 roommates have gotten paid yet. Air Force, Navy, and Army ROTC represented here.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Sir Ernest Benn
 
Neither I nor my 3 roommates have gotten paid yet. Air Force, Navy, and Army ROTC represented here.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Sir Ernest Benn

Your signature quote from Sir Ernest Benn seems especially appropriate these days in Washington.
 
Currently the DoD budget will already take another 10% hit even without the shutdown. Thus, unless the Hill approves a higher budget, the shutdown really isn't the problem. The decision to reduce scholarships was put in place already with the new budget.

What does this really mean? Read how the Marines are looking at cut AD personnel even deeper. (There is a thread here going on it....military news forum) That is something you have to look at also when it comes to scholarships. If they are going to have a smaller force, they will need less coming down the pipeline in the next few yrs. Thus, it is not so much about taking away money from the scholarships, but more so about the amount needed to give to meet personnel numbers will be less required.

If they stick to the traditional 20%, than less scholarships may be awarded, but only because of the bigger picture is less AD.

As far as ROTC scholarship boards. Yes, it is filled with officers that do the board, but the paperwork pushing has many GS's involved. They will be told not to report to work come Tuesday. I believe the NROTC was suppose to meet this last week. This may delay the results being released.

ROTC cadets may or may not get paid because pay is always in arrears. The paycheck on the 1st will probably be there, but the 15th will be the one in question if they go past a certain date.
~~~~ For AF, the cut off date is usually 1 week out. That means if it goes on until the 10th, they will probably not see it on the 15th. It will be retroactively paid once they get back on line.

I highly doubt we will see more than a few days. Here is my reason why:
Elected officials love to play chicken in DC, however, everywhere they turn if you live in this area somebody is going to be ticked.
~~~~ In the DC area here is the count of military bases within 30 miles off the top of my cranium.
~ Pentagon
~ Ft. Meyer
~ Andrews AFB
~ Bethesda
~ Navy Yard
~ Ft. Belvoir
~ Quantico
~ Bolling
~ Annapolis

There will be a lot of noise coming just from those military members....they will be required to report to work, but if it goes too long, they will not get a paycheck.

At all of those installations, they have GS's too. Unlike the sequester, ALL GS's will be told not to report to work. Those 3 and 4 stars at the Pentagon rely on GS 15s to brief them on projects. The Wing King/Queen, Squadron Commanders rely on GSs for administration at their military installation.

I am not positive, but I also believe that many of the Profs at SAs are also going to be told stay home, because they are govt employees.

Also at Quantico they have schools on post, these are DoD civilians (GSs just like at the Pentagon). That may mean the military members children will not have school until this is resolved. This will pour more salt into their wounds. They must report to work with no knowledge of if they will get paid on the 15th, and find a way financially to get daycare for little Johnnie in 1st grade and Janie in 3rd until school starts up again.

Finally, although this has truly no impact on the Hill and the budget, it is going to be news here. When the sequestration occurred big news in NoVA was due to it, the Metro would have less riders daily, and would lose millions every week. This of course was news because the longer it is shutdown, the higher the chance of an impact on other businesses in this area that rely on disposable income. This is just coming off the heels of the sequestration that occurred over the summer for the businesses.

As you can see, I am someone that believes it may be a few days for the shutdown, because the noise here in DC will be too loud for them to ignore.
~~~~ If you want to see what I am talking about, listen to www.wmal.com this upcoming week from 5 a.m. to noon. It is talk radio for the DC area, not national talk. Last Friday it was back to back callers of military members and GS's wondering how they will pay their bills in Oct.

Done venting about our govt!

Honestly, I would say to get a strong indication about scholarships, start reading about what the branch you intend to join are looking at for AD personnel. Start reading the forums on here that are Life after the Academy and military news to gain a glimpse of what is occurring now.
~ I.E the Marines may be cutting, but maybe not the Navy. The Army Guard may decide to cut, while the Reserves don't.

Each branch submits a budget to SOD Hagel. From there their budget is made, and sent up as a DoD budget to the Hill. You need to look at the needs of the branch for personnel to determine the true impact on ROTC.
 
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Jcleppe,

I actually disagree with you....for once.

AF/NROTC are not in the same battalion. They are at the same college, but colleges don't write the stipend checks. Heck they are not in the same branch. This issue pay issue will not occur until TUESDAY.

AFROTC cadets are paid via HQ AFROTC. HQ AROTC has no impact on when AF/NROTC are paid.

I would think it is more about what I was discussing regarding pay. ARREARS. Report date.

Not contracted by X date, DFAS would not pay.
~~~~ I.E contact Sept 8th, they may have missed the 15th cut off date.
~~~~ In college until May 12th, they will get a check June 1st whereas kids done May 3rd will get their last check May 15th.

The shutdown at this point has no impact.

Paychecks are rolling. It will not have any impact at all until the 15th.

~~~~~ iF their pay was processed for 1 OCT, than it will be in their account.

~~~ If it has not been processed by their branch by Monday 4 p.m. than expect a delay.

AGAIN, no offense to Jcleppe, but AFROTC and NROTC are not a part of the Battalion at the college. Their pot of money comes from the AF and Navy HQ. Just like AROTC does not care about if AF/NROTC can pay at the same college.
~~~ 3 branches to me says that they started college before the 9/15 payday cut off.
 
I was referring to FMB and AROTC, should have made that clearer. I have no idea how the AF and Navy works regarding pay.

Son hasn't had any delay in stipend or book money, tuition was paid within a week of school starting. Again this is AROTC. From what my son's have told me in the past, the AF and Navy often seem to be waiting for their money at their school's programs.
 
It will affect your pay, as for us, it will also affect if we have our FTX and ranger challenge as they both fall in the month of October
 
DS and half the MSIII's at his school have not been paid. He contracted the end of August. He has tracked it down with his HR dept. Seems there is a problem at Cadet Command with duplicate files being created and it is something they have to fix, just don't seem to be in a hurry.

The issue, besides money, is that he is trying to sign up for CULP, but because of the duplicate files, the computer system will not let him. If they don't get it lined out by the deadline later this month he is basically SOL for signing up.

At least he knows it's just not him.
 
FWIW,

DS contracted in the middle of last month. The HRA told him to expect his first stipend around 10/10. His account was credited with a prorated stipend yesterday. His tuition and fees were posted to the bursar account yesterday too. It looks like someone pushed it a little to make sure it beat the shut-down deadline. :thumb:
 
Just spoke to DS, he received his stipend today. On another note my DD is AD AF and they were told to expect some sort of pay disruption.

Its sad how 536 adults who are acting like 2 year old children can disrupt our great country. ( Thanks for letting me vent):wink:
 
Just spoke to DS, he received his stipend today. On another note my DD is AD AF and they were told to expect some sort of pay disruption.

Its sad how 536 adults who are acting like 2 year old children can disrupt our great country. ( Thanks for letting me vent):wink:

Cadet Delahanty received his October 1 stipend. As to your other comment,

"Congress consists of one third, more or less, scoundrels; two thirds, more or less, idiots; and three thirds, more or less, poltroons." - H.L. Mencken
 
I thought poltroons went extinct about 100 years ago. Maybe they were brought back using some DNA from some congressman they dug up or something? :confused:
 
I thought poltroons went extinct about 100 years ago. Maybe they were brought back using some DNA from some congressman they dug up or something? :confused:

That's about how old the quote is. But if you object to that Mencken quote, here's another (just amend it in your mind to include women)

"The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office."
 
That's about how old the quote is. But if you object to that Mencken quote, here's another (just amend it in your mind to include women)

"The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office."

That one is exactly right on.
 
No one in my (AF) detachment has gotten their stipends yet.

Anyone else?
 
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