These scholarships are more like forgivable loans. That is the way I have come to view them
I don't think Gojira would agree with you, nor would our DS's friend.
Our DS's friend opted to dis-enroll as a POC, he was told to pay the 40K+ scholarship back. He was not offered enlistment. This was a great cadet, no problems, but he went to SFT and decided this was not the life for him. Due to the fact they wanted their money back, they were also able to have the college put a lock on his account for registering until it was paid.
Gojira's DS also was handed a bill of 143K and not the ability to serve out the time in the Navy.
I also know of someone from another AF forum that was dis-enrolled, this time because of a DUI. He was handed a bill, no enlistment option.
Of course there is also the NROTC mid at PSU that was disenrolled due to the riots. He too is on the hook for $$$$, no enlistment option.
Again, I don't think anyone would say it is a forgiveable loan.
As nick4060 stated don't assume you will be given the option to serve the time. They decide and in this day and age, serving is the rarity for AFROTC.
That is the thing to understand if you accept the scholarship, be prepared if dis-enrolled to pay the money back and it is not a 10 yr loan like FAFSA. Do not assume you can do your time AD as enlisted member.
A couple of yrs ago when it was really tight, @09 AFROTC allowed cadets to walk free and clear because it was the AF that separated them due to manpower reasons. This was when they were also RIFing and SERBing AD members. However, those days are long gone.