Research this option. Here, for the last board and query on the site. There is another chat group for this. Call your ROO. Google it, too.
My son was offered this in the first round. He called his ROO and was immediately offered a school based 3-yr AD ROTC scholarship. Which is the same as the national 3-yr, but it isn't transferable to other schools. The ROO also was able to look at my son's board review sheet to tell him that his GPA was the only thing holding him back from the first round 4 year, as they had a 3.7 GPA cut off and my son's was below that. Covid virtual learning and home alone was not his friend. BUT he had everything else, including strong leadership. My son wants to fly helicopters and his top choice and the 3 year will help him do that faster...as long as he passes flight medical. So he had to upload the IKE offer letter on the ROTC national site with it marked intent to decline. He got bumped out of the National board for the second two rounds, but he is thrilled and heading to where he wants to go.
Being offered an IKE isn't a negative. They saw something in you and don't want to lose you. In fact, they want to get you in a leadership role sooner than later. The ECP allows your service years to start two years earlier, so retirement comes earlier. You get an associates with tuition and board 100% covered. Then, you transfer to any four year of your choice on the Army's dime. There is a pathway to active duty so look closely and don't rule it out based on verbage here. Talk to the four schools. You go in as an MS 3 to the JMA. So you skip the peon years. You serve as a 2LT in the National Guard once you graduate...with your associates...do drill, but are non-deployable until you finish you Bacheloers degree.
There are tons of positives. I encourage you to look closely. There are many different paths to the same end goal. And some board applicants won't be offered a scholarship at all. Keep your options open. Talk to your ROO. Tell them about the IKE offer. See what they have to say. Talk to the JMA schools. There have been some people who spoke with them who were told that if they decline but don't get a national or school based offer to come talk to them and they would honor the original IKE.
Keep your doors open. Be kind and respectful. Be positive. Write a thank you, if you speak to anyone. And do what you need to do...what is best for you...to get where you want to go.
My son has the 3 year scholarship, but that school does not cover room and board for scholarship winners. So he will have to pay 100% room and board. He would have paid nothing had he accepted the IKE.
Congratulations!
