Differences between NROTC and AFROTC summer training setup

From reading on their websites, I get the impression that NROTC and AFROTC are set up differently with summer training and opportunities.

What is NROTC's equivalent to summer field training? When or does it take place? Whats the deal with marine option cadets having to go to Marine OCS after ROTC? Is it the same for navy?

Does AFROTC have opportunities after field training similar to the summer cruises/carreer exploration?

If possible, could someone give me a grid of everything a AFROTC student and NROTC student on a four year scholarship would be able to do each summer.

With which service ROTC would one be more likely to receive a scholarship covering full tuition?

NROTC Midshipmen (not called cadets) have summer "cruises" for scholarship students
The 3rd class cruise (after freshman year complete) is called CORTRAMID (Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen) and is for both Marine and Navy option to experience various aspects of Naval service. This is the only time Navy Option and Marine Option share a "cruise".
I'll break off to Marine Option at this point...
The 2nd class cruise for Marine Option (after sophomore year) consists of the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport CA. A lot of hiking and field skills. Helps with training for Officer Candidates School.
The 1st class "cruise" for Marine Options (after junior year) consists of 6weeks at Officer Candidates School (also called "Bulldog" for NROTC). After completing this, the Marine Options are eligible to receive their commission upon graduation. (At OCS they actually get to put "US Marines" on their cammie uniform and get symbolically awarded the Eagle Globe and Anchor -- although they aren't "a Marine" in the sense they haven't received commission.)
Upon graduation they join all newly commissioned Marine 2nd Lt's (regardless of commissioning source) at The Basic School for 6 months -- where one could almost argue they become "fully Marine" -- although they earn the title at commissioning.

This is just a brief overview of the Marine Option side of the house. I'll let someone else chime in on the Navy side and Air Force. Other MO parents/Marine vets can also add their 2 cents on my explanation as well.

As far as full tuition, all NROTC scholarships are "full tuition" and fees + stipend. (Stipulation is that the advanced standing path is different.)

Navy side you will do CORTRAMID as mentioned. The other summers will have fleet cruises with ships, subs or aviation units. Senior year you do the same but have more options like EOD, SEALs, and a few others. There are some other smaller opportunities like exchange programs and some other unique things. These billets tend to go up and down each year. Use google and it will give you some ideas. There is no equivalent to SFT for Navy side. If you are on scholarship or achieved advanced standing for NROTC you will commission active duty if you complete all requirements. So your summer training is really spent getting an exposure to the fleet and hopefully opening your eyes to what your future holds and want service selection is best for you.

Besides the typical mandatory summer cruises for NROTC, are there any other extra opportunities for training like AROTC has? Or maybe any of the additional things like a Naval Academy Midshipman might have?

Correct me if I am wrong but NROTC equivalent of Summer Field Training would be the week long orientation that NROTC midshipmen have to go through. Summer Field Training is meant to test your ability to lead under a stressful environment. From what I know summer cruises do not provide that kind of training only to give midshipmen exposure to Navy life.

Pulsar99 said:

Does AFROTC have opportunities after field training similar to the summer cruises/career exploration?

Click to expand...

There are PDTs which are mandatory for rising sophomore scholarship cadets to shadow officers in the Air Force. You also have CROSHOW which is a shadow program for Combat Rescue Officers and gives a taste of the intense training CROs go through. To get into CROSHOW you do have to be physically fit. There is also Escape, Survival, and Evasion Training which occurs at the Air Force Academy which is given to one rising senior cadet in each detachment. Lastly there used to be a parachute training that occurred at the Academy which may come back with an increase in ROTC funds and allegedly there are some cadets this year that went to army schools to earn badges such as Parachutist wings and Air Assault badge.

Pulsar99 said:

If possible, could someone give me a grid of everything a AFROTC student and NROTC student on a four year scholarship would be able to do each summer.

Click to expand...

Freshman Summer - PDT to an Air Force Base
Sophomore Summer - SFT and CROSHOW if you apply
Junior Summer - Freebie or CROSHOW if you apply or ESET if selected

Pulsar99 said:

With which service ROTC would one be more likely to receive a scholarship covering full tuition?

Click to expand...

Definitely Navy unless they made the changes to reflect scholarship amount by major. Either way, Air Force is very reluctant to give full tuition scholarships past in-state tuition. The majority of the scholarships in the AF pay up to the in-state tuition of your institution.

AlphaAlphaSigma said:

The majority of the scholarships in the AF pay up to the in-state tuition of your institution

Click to expand...

Just a clarification on that statement. The majority will pay up to the in-state tuition, but if your institution charges you OOS tuition that is more than IS, than you cannot use the scholarship. IE you live in NC and attend VT. VT will charge you OOS, which is higher than NC in state, you will need to convert that 4 yr scholarship type 7 to a 3 year type 2.

Overall between all of the ROTC scholarships, you need to understand that the scholarship reward selection rate is 16-18%.

I also would say that I personally think the summer options and tuition aspects should not be part of the equation. The reason why is both the Navy and the AF will require you to go Active Duty upon commissioning. It is 4 years of 24/7/365 wherever they assign you. College is 4 years of 30 weeks, and maybe 20 hours of academics where you choose to go for those years. IMPO, choose what branch you want to serve in upon commissioning, not the 2-4 weeks of summer experiences.

Additionally, retention rates for ROTC programs are much lower than most candidates realize. If you need the scholarship to attend your dream school, and once there you decide you are not a fit for that ROTC, you will now be in between a rock and a hard place. Stay in the program because you love the school, and cannot afford it without the scholarship or leave the school.

OBTW, the other thing for AFROTC is only the rising sophomores that are contracted are offered that shadowing program. Non-contracted, including the cadets that converted their type 7 4 yr to type 2 3 yr are not offered that option. Plus, it is really a budget driven issue. AFROTC placed a halt to the program for several years because of sequestration. Nobody know what FY17 will look like. JMPO, but I would say that the majority of cadets will only do SFT as a rising junior.

Every Det runs things differently on orientation. Feedback is that it tends to be the most strenuous as Marines are also involved, but when you visit a Det ask the upperclassman you talk to what it's like. No two det's are the same. And all the summer training is geared towards fleet exposure and learning. As to other things such as jump school, dive school, etc... Honestly not sure. USNA gets a few spots and those numbers tend to fluctuate every year. My guess is NROTC has some, but when start spread them across all the Dets they are just small in number. USNA holds screeners for these schools, not sure how NROTC would divide it up. I will ask around.

To expand on earlier comments. Some units vary the freshman orientation from year to year. DS's old unit seems to be alternating periodically between a "hell week" orientation and a "fill out the paperwork" orientation. I'm not sure but I'm guessing they vary it based on the availability of qualified Sgts especially the AMOI which happens when they are between different AMOIs.

I was informed that last year, of all the candidates that successfully completed the SEAL screener, 14 USNA and 14 NROTC midshipmen were selected to attend the SEAL cruise. Again, my son's unit has had a midshipman on the SEAL cruise for 3 of the past 4 years.

I'm pretty sure the 1/C Navy cruise is normally with the community you wish to branch to, and that some responsibility and leadership is assigned and expected. There is a formal evaluation of the midshipman at the end of the cruise. I'm pretty sure if the mid screws up they may not commission, just like many Marines will not successfully complete OCS, and therefore not commission.

It's hard to screw up summer cruise. I mean if you show (or just don't) up 2 hours late and drunk then yes you won't be doing too well. Your 2/C cruise is meant for you to shadow enlisted. Your 1/C cruise is meant to shadow a JO. A lot of Mids are timid on cruise. Honestly show up daily, with a good attitude, ask questions, ask to participate.