AFROTC Scholarship Program Deception

Just wondering about something...

Does anyone else here feel that there really is rampant deception within the AFROTC scholarship, in how much money is paid out, when it is paid, etc...

On my first year in this program and it just seems like there is a lot of deception in terms of money...seems like ROTC and NROTC especially are much more straightforward and transparent.

Just wondering if anyone else feels this way, thanks

your results my vary with each individual detachment, kind of like gas mileage in a car. Depends on who's driving and how many occupants are in the car. DS is very pleased with the staff at his AFROTC Det.


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Yeah my Detachment has excellent staff, that's not the problem...it seems more like a national thing...I was under the impression money was paid directly to the university, not reimbursed at the end of the semester. I really hope I made the right decision doing AFROTC...I really love it, but I sure am burning money, even on scholarship.

Akrogan said:

Yeah my Detachment has excellent staff, that's not the problem...it seems more like a national thing...I was under the impression money was paid directly to the university, not reimbursed at the end of the semester. I really hope I made the right decision doing AFROTC...I really love it, but I sure am burning money, even on scholarship.

Click to expand...

Air Force ROTC can help you prepare for your future while you get the most out of your college experience.
STIPENDS
Each semester, scholarship recipients receive stipends to cover tuition and fees, books and other expenses and extra spending money.
LIVING EXPENSES
Upon activation, all scholarship cadets receive a monthly living expenses stipend during the academic year. Currently, the monthly stipend is $300 for freshmen, $350 for sophomores, $450 for juniors and $500 for seniors.
TRAVEL EXPENSES
All high school scholarship recipients are authorized to have their travel expenses covered from their home to their Air Force ROTC detachment. They will receive reimbursement approximately 30 days after the start of school.
Three-year scholarship recipients will not receive any benefits until the beginning of their sophomore year.

Are you not getting these items from the AF? What are you burning money on? If you can be specific maybe some folks on here can offer you some advice.

Sounds like a problem with either the responsible folks in the cadre or the way the bursar's office works. Many colleges agree to wait until the ROTC program pays the tuition, some do not. If you contracted late that could be a part of the problem as well. I don't recall seeing this as a general complaint over the years. Pima might shed more light on the internal workings of AFROTC.

I have seen this in AROTC as well, in my opinion it is a result of poor leadership. My DS was a 4 year scholarship recipient and it took months before he contracted (the quarter was almost over). He had passed his Dodmerb, scored 300 on PT test first week of school and when he asked about contracting he was told to be patient and not ask too many questions. There were several other cadets who were in the same situation as him, through no fault of their own their contracting was delayed and so was all the money.

I agree this is probably an issue for your unit and the bursar. I have heard of the occasional cadet in each branch, but unless AFROTC has changed the system this year than you never pay your tuition it goes directly to the bursar. It is not uncommon for there be a delay of 4-6 weeks between start of the semester and the bursar being paid.

Yeah...I might check into that...because the university is unwilling to budge whatsoever on the tuition issue (they take my financial aid/other scholarships for tuition leaving me with no money for housing) and then the AF puts the scholarship money directly into my bank account at the end of the semester. That's the big issue, I have scholarships to cover the other stuff, but the university/AFROTC don't really work together...my cadre tried to help me but the university wouldn't budge. So is life I guess.

The AFROTC scholarship is very clear. That money is used only for TUITION. If your other scholarships can only be used for tuition only than you are SOL. I would talk to the bursars office and see if they can apply your FA and other scholarships to your R &B.
~ If you have a student loan that money can be allocated to housing.

Honestly, I am surprised they cut you a check back because the key word, at least for type 2 is UP TO 18k. Our DS never got a check cut back to him or had the excess applied to his bill.