Hello,
I just got my letter confirming a 4 year scholarship to Drexel and had a few questions.
1. How soon can I perform the APFT?
2. Even if do pass it, wouldn't the scholarship benefits not take effect until 45 days after enrolling?
3. Am I expected to pay my tuition and housing deposits? (Drexel gives free housing to cadets)
4. How do I go about claiming a travel allowance?
5. When I send the notification of intent to cadet command, do they want a copy of my acceptance letter from Drexel?
Thanks for all your help, I apologize if any of the answers to my questions are readily available elsewhere.
Congratulations.
1. Most likely you will take your first official APFT at the start of school. Some Battalions have an Orientation prior the the start of school and you will take the APFT then, There have been some who posted that the first APFT was withinn a week or tow of school startin, it really depends on your Battalion, they will send you information.
2. What take 45 days is the payment of tuition to the school, if you pass the AFFT and complete all the paperwork (More on that later) you will sign your contract and will start to get your Stipend from the day you contract. Tuition and book money will happen in about 45 says.
3. No, talk to the finance department at the school and let them know that you are on a AROTC Scholarship, the battalion will probably talk to them as well but just make sure. You may receive a late notice but don't worry, just let them know about the AROTC Scholarship. You will also want to talk to them about the housing so everyone is on the same page.
4. Good luck getting this, I don't think I have ever heard of a cadet getting the travel expense, though I can't be sure, we were able to make the 5 hour drive to school, not sure how it works if you have to fly. Talk to the HR person at the Battalion and ask how to proceed.
5. The paper work should tell you what they need, it doesn't hurt to send a copy.
Now, about the paperwork. To activate your scholarship you will have a pile of paperwork to complete, the hardest is the 104R form. The 104R is a complete 4 year plan of your classes to make sure you can graduate on time, this will need to be signed by your advisor. Don't wait til you get to school to fill this out. If the battalion does not send you one then either make an Excel sheet or find a blank one online. Start talking with your new advisor once you have one and start completing the form. There will be other paperwork such as Tax forms, Direct Deposit forms and a bunch of others. Some battalions will send you this paperwork over the summer, if they don't, ask if you can get it. They only send this paperwork to 4 year scholarship cadets, 3 year will have time to complete theirs before their sophomore year.
Once all the paperwork is done and you pass the APFT you will sign your contract, then you start getting your stipend. If your Battalion is a larger one, don't feel shy in keeping in touch with the battalion HR to make sure everything is being processed. There have been some horror stories on this board of battalions taking a few months to get their paperwork done, this will cost you your monthly stipend, the stipend is not paid retroactive, it starts the date you sign your contract.
Hope that helps a bit.
