How does ROTC Cadet receive designated branch?

[NorwichDad]

Not getting your desired career choice is not confined to just military branching. There are thousands of college grads every year that graduate and find themselves working in fields they did not expect. How many business majors are managers at Starbucks, engineers that work on the floor of a manufacturing plant, lawyers that are selling Real Estate. Most people have to make due with what they are doing at the time, many times it's not what they want, these days that's more the norm then the exception.

Army cadets that are able to make Active Duty may find that they don't get their first choice branch, what they need to understand is that they got their first choice job, an officer in the US Army. Applicants today should be counseled that the first priority is to be commissioned and graduate, the second is what branch they serve in. Cadets should also know that even if they get the branch they want, they may not get the job they want within that branch.

My son just started AD Aviation BOLC, he is right back into the competition mode. He will not know which airframe he will fly until the Primary Flight School is complete, it's all based on the class OML....the top person picks first and so on down the line. There are those there that have their heart set on one airframe, anything else will be a dissapointment. These students are just setting themselves up, they will all work hard to be the best they can be but there are only so many airframes to choose from. There are others, like my son who while they have a preference they will be thrilled just to be able to pin on the wings and fly, rest assured they will all compete hard but it won't devestate them if they don't get their first choice, sometimes there is only one Apache for 20 plus students, sometimes there are none.

Good leadership at the battalion level helps to prepare every cadet for branching. I'm sure the new LT's posting here can attest to the counseling they received.

I think Armydude and Aglahad put it the best in their comments. Work hard and be proud of the profession you have chosen, no matter what you branch.

This post should be required reading among AROTC cadets and maybe even all college students!!!

 

[EDelahanty]

ADSO

In addition to selection of branch based on OML rank, a cadet can also choose the ADSO (Active Duty Service Obligation). This is an additional three year active duty commitment in exchange for which you get a choice of 1) branch, 2) first duty post or 3) fully funded graduate school.

I don't know if all branches are included, and I would imagine your course of study might have to be useful to the Army (it turns out someone with a PhD in Sumerian archeology might have been particularly helpful in 2003).

There will be upperclassmen in your battalion who choose this route and can educate you on the benefits and drawbacks.

 

[Jcleppe]

In addition to selection of branch based on OML rank, a cadet can also choose the ADSO (Active Duty Service Obligation). This is an additional three year active duty commitment in exchange for which you get a choice of 1) branch, 2) first duty post or 3) fully funded graduate school.

I don't know if all branches are included, and I would imagine your course of study might have to be useful to the Army (it turns out someone with a PhD in Sumerian archeology might have been particularly helpful in 2003).

There will be upperclassmen in your battalion who choose this route and can educate you on the benefits and drawbacks.

Great points.

Just to add one tid bit the the Grad School ADSO. The commitment for the GRADSO is 3 years for each year of grad school, it's actually a more complicated equation but that's about what it works out to be. If you add everything together it would look something like this:

4 years commitment
2 years Grad School
6 years added GRADSO commitment
Total around 12 year plus commitment.

Not a bad deal if you are willing to commit to that much time up front.

A fellow cadet of my son ADSO'd for MI and also took the GRADSO, his commitment is a minimum 13 years.

Branch AFSO's are as EDelahanty stated, 3 years added commitment, same goes for ADSO's for your Post selection.

 

[goaliedad]

Great points.

Just to add one tid bit the the Grad School ADSO. The commitment for the GRADSO is 3 years for each year of grad school, it's actually a more complicated equation but that's about what it works out to be. If you add everything together it would look something like this:

4 years commitment
2 years Grad School
6 years added GRADSO commitment
Total around 12 year plus commitment.

Not a bad deal if you are willing to commit to that much time up front.

A fellow cadet of my son ADSO'd for MI and also took the GRADSO, his commitment is a minimum 13 years.

Branch AFSO's are as EDelahanty stated, 3 years added commitment, same goes for ADSO's for your Post selection.

Curious question (sorry for going OT)
Was the fellow cadet a 4-year scholarship recipient and
Where was he on the OML after LDAC?

It is my understanding that the order of selection for GRADSO is 4-year scholarship cadets first (in OML order) followed by 3-year (in OML order) followed by 2-year (also in OML) order followed by others. With approximately 300 GRADSO slots (and a lot more than that trying to get it) I would be curious as to how many of the 4-year cadets sign up and get it.

 

[Jcleppe]

Curious question (sorry for going OT)
Was the fellow cadet a 4-year scholarship recipient and
Where was he on the OML after LDAC?

It is my understanding that the order of selection for GRADSO is 4-year scholarship cadets first (in OML order) followed by 3-year (in OML order) followed by 2-year (also in OML) order followed by others. With approximately 300 GRADSO slots (and a lot more than that trying to get it) I would be curious as to how many of the 4-year cadets sign up and get it.

Not sure if the cadet was a 4 year scholarship, though I believe he was.
30.82% on the AD OML

Not sure about the selection criteria, I was under the impression that the GRADSO was based on the OML not scholarship type, I could be wrong. being at 30% did not hurt his chance of getting the GRADSO. My son said that at LDAC when they asked who was interested in the GRADSO almost everyone held up their hand, after they had the presentation and hearing the obligations required they asked again, he said nobody raised their hand, I'm not sure the GRADSO is that hard to get for those that really want it and are willing to put in the extra obligation. This is just pure conjecture on my part, I have no idea how many cadets applied for GRADSO compared to how many received it.

 

[goaliedad]

Not sure if the cadet was a 4 year scholarship, though I believe he was.
30.82% on the AD OML

Not sure about the selection criteria, I was under the impression that the GRADSO was based on the OML not scholarship type, I could be wrong. being at 30% did not hurt his chance of getting the GRADSO. My son said that at LDAC when they asked who was interested in the GRADSO almost everyone held up their hand, after they had the presentation and hearing the obligations required they asked again, he said nobody raised their hand, I'm not sure the GRADSO is that hard to get for those that really want it and are willing to put in the extra obligation. This is just pure conjecture on my part, I have no idea how many cadets applied for GRADSO compared to how many received it.

As to the preference for scholarship winners this slide deck has all the info on the GRADSO program including the preference list.

http://www.career-satisfaction.army.mil/rotc_graduate_slides.html

According to the Purdue (not the Army slide deck above) slide deck, FY10 had 275 scholarships offered to 418 applicants. No details as to how many were 4-year scholarship recipients, hence my question as to his scholarship status.

I'm quite surprised at the number of hands that went down when presented with the service obligation. If you look carefully at the 5th slide in the GRADSO deck (including title) it describes the 3 different options available under the GRADSO program at year 7.

1) Go to grad school and commit to the 6 years of additional service. If you take this option, you have made the decision to go for the full 20-year career. The good news is that having your grad school completed, you will have a leg up OML-wise on those who get caught up in their careers and families and can't complete it piecemeal.
2) Exit the program (and the Army as well). You have no further service obligation, but you have served enough time (3 years beyond your ROTC requirement) to collect your GI Bill and go to grad school outside of the service. Unfortunately, that is not enough time to make it transferable to a family member. Not a great loss if your intent was to have Uncle Sam pay for grad school. You just don't collect your paycheck while doing so.
3) Take a 2nd command (next 3 years) and revisit the same decision (exit program with GI Bill) or go to grad school at year 10. Doesn't lengthen your total obligation (still ends at 15 years) and allows you to choose when you need that grad school break in your career.

Seriously, if a cadet is committed to getting a masters degree, there are very few downsides to the GRADSO option. The only reason I can see not to take it is that you want to do a school not covered (med,law,etc) by the program or don't want to commit to 7 up front.

That being said, I wonder how many of these kids fresh out of 4 years of college are looking forward to going for another 2 years...

 

[-Bull-]

I know a PMS (former, now retired) a couple years ago that was an expert on branching. I'm not saying this was the right thing he should've been doing in molding leaders, but he knew exactly how to "build" an accessions packet that could get a cadet in the right percentile to get one of their top choices. Granted, not all cases can be handled like that, but it happens. And still happens.

 

[scoutpilot]

Take a 2nd command (next 3 years) and revisit the same decision (exit program with GI Bill) or go to grad school at year 10. Doesn't lengthen your total obligation (still ends at 15 years) and allows you to choose when you need that grad school break in your career.

That is a VERY misleading statement. There are many folks who will never get a first command, and a 2nd command is a rarity and happens only at your BDE commander's discretion. To assume that you can just "hang around" and command again is egregiously simplistic and generally false.

 

[Aglahad]

As to the preference for scholarship winners this slide deck has all the info on the GRADSO program including the preference list.

http://www.career-satisfaction.army.mil/rotc_graduate_slides.html

According to the Purdue (not the Army slide deck above) slide deck, FY10 had 275 scholarships offered to 418 applicants. No details as to how many were 4-year scholarship recipients, hence my question as to his scholarship status.

I'm quite surprised at the number of hands that went down when presented with the service obligation. If you look carefully at the 5th slide in the GRADSO deck (including title) it describes the 3 different options available under the GRADSO program at year 7.

1) Go to grad school and commit to the 6 years of additional service. If you take this option, you have made the decision to go for the full 20-year career. The good news is that having your grad school completed, you will have a leg up OML-wise on those who get caught up in their careers and families and can't complete it piecemeal.
2) Exit the program (and the Army as well). You have no further service obligation, but you have served enough time (3 years beyond your ROTC requirement) to collect your GI Bill and go to grad school outside of the service. Unfortunately, that is not enough time to make it transferable to a family member. Not a great loss if your intent was to have Uncle Sam pay for grad school. You just don't collect your paycheck while doing so.
3) Take a 2nd command (next 3 years) and revisit the same decision (exit program with GI Bill) or go to grad school at year 10. Doesn't lengthen your total obligation (still ends at 15 years) and allows you to choose when you need that grad school break in your career.

Seriously, if a cadet is committed to getting a masters degree, there are very few downsides to the GRADSO option. The only reason I can see not to take it is that you want to do a school not covered (med,law,etc) by the program or don't want to commit to 7 up front.

That being said, I wonder how many of these kids fresh out of 4 years of college are looking forward to going for another 2 years...

Med is covered by a different option (HPSP) and usually opted for as an ed delay coming right out of ROTC. It is a 1 for 1 deal with each year of school accruing one year of service and includes residency. Consequently you will owe 8-12 years of additional duty. Most medical school "gunners" I know shy away from this option if at all possible. Buttt if the army is your thing it is nice knowing you won't be 200k in debt as a new attending doc.

 

[goaliedad]

That is a VERY misleading statement. There are many folks who will never get a first command, and a 2nd command is a rarity and happens only at your BDE commander's discretion. To assume that you can just "hang around" and command again is egregiously simplistic and generally false.

I'm just taking the words from the slide deck. If you have a more precise source for describing the process, please provide a link. I know these slide decks present the sales pitch for the program, but if someone here has details that shed light on the potential pitfalls, I'd be interested in learning.

The point I was trying to make is that there is some flexibility in the timing of grad school in the GRADSO option. There is also an exit strategy that does not commit the cadet to the full 15 if life leads them in a different direction before the commencement of grad school.

 

[scoutpilot]

I'm just taking the words from the slide deck. If you have a more precise source for describing the process, please provide a link. I know these slide decks present the sales pitch for the program, but if someone here has details that shed light on the potential pitfalls, I'd be interested in learning.

The point I was trying to make is that there is some flexibility in the timing of grad school in the GRADSO option. There is also an exit strategy that does not commit the cadet to the full 15 if life leads them in a different direction before the commencement of grad school.

The precise description is that getting a command is like interviewing for a job. A BDE Commander chooses his/her company commanders, and he/she is under no obligation to give anyone a command.

I completely understand your intent with the post, and it's a good one. Why they would propagate the idea that someone can just "take a second command" is beyond me. Very poor wording.