Help me understand NROTC MO (non-scholarship winner)

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bburns112

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Oct 10, 2013
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Okay, so next fall I will be doing NROTC MO at Penn State. I was unfortunately not a scholarship winner and now I am a bit confused. Since I did not win the 4-year I have the opportunity to apply for 2-3 year scholarships. From what I have read these seem to be very competitive. If I do not receive one, will I not be able to commission? Will I be dropped from NROTC?
 
Well, you either need to win a scholarship or Advanced Standing to continue after your sophomore year. It is worth pursuing though. Even if you don't get advanced standing, which entitles you to the stipend only, you could turn around and try to land a PLC contract to commission that way.

One of the kid's in DS's unit did that this year. He didn't apply for the scholarship or advanced standing this year (guess he saw the writing on the wall or something... not sure) and landed a PLC contract instead. So he'll be at Quantico for 6 weeks this summer and 6 weeks the following summer. He'll commission after graduation and be paid for his time at Quantico (which might also have been a factor in his decision).

I think pursuing NROTC MO, even if you don't get advanced standing, makes you far more desirable to the recruiters with regard to PLC. Your military bearing alone should bowl them over when you walk into their offices. People just coming in off the street on the college campus? Perhaps not so much.
 
Thank you for the helpful information, Kinnem (again). I will put in 110% effort and apply for the scholarship/advanced standing as well as reapply to the USNA. I will expend all options. Commissioning as a Marine has been my dream since I was in the first grade. Although being declined from the USNA has been disappointing, I refuse to give up. I will commission one way or another!
 
My son, a sophomore, is in the middle of this process right now. As far as we understand it, if he does not get a scholarship or advanced standing by the end of his sophomore year, he is dropped from the program. He is NROTC-MO. there is a student who participates in some of the activities who is in the PLC program. My DS just finished the work for his scholarship application. One other freshmen is also doing his application for the "sideload" scholarship. I would think that a freshman who does not get a scholarship this year could try again his sophomore year. If my son does not get one, there is the chance he could be picked up for "advanced standing". He would be in the NROTC but without scholarship funds. This captain told him there are only 30 sideload scholarship slots available and 15 for advanced standing. So, if neither of those come through for him, his option would be to move on into the PLC program. And, as mentioned above, he would go into the PLC already knowing so much more than someone who never did ROTC. So staying with the ROTC would be very much in your favor.

I wish I knew when the board meets and when he might expect to hear back on the decisions. He will not ask anybody at the school though.
 
bburns... My (future) Devil Dog friend, do not give up! There are several commissioning programs offered by the USMC. If you want one, even if they don't pay the way, go get one! The leader I want is the one that has the drive to see it through... regardless.

Oh, you do know what they call the guy that doesn't get scholarships, pays his own way through college, maybe has to work full time while studying, perhaps gets lower than average grades, but gets his commission what ever way he can, don't you? They call him "SIR" just like an Annapolis grad!
 
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