NROTC inter service commission

[Hochiminhsucks]

Hi,

I'm a third year midshipman in NROTC at an ivy, and I've been falling out of love with the opportunities afforded to me with the Navy. I know that's no excuse, as I made a commitment, and I will stay the course if necessary, but I've been looking into some options online.

Has anyone heard of the Army's blue to green program? Basically, it allows enlisted and officers to transfer into the Army from the Navy and AF. My question isn't really about inter service transfers, as I'm sure that's highly unlikely to work, but rather, is it possible to commission into surface warfare for example from NROTC, and then to pursue the Blue to Green program and transfer into the Army? The only thing that makes me thing it might not be possible is that the service commitment that comes with NROTC might not be waived for transfer between services. What do you guys think? Thanks for your help!

 

[NavyHoops]

None of us really know as programs like Green to Gold can fluctuate based upon the needs of the service. Who knows what it will look like in 5+ years from now.

No need to answer if you don't want your business out there, but what is causing the change in thought? I think most of us do a pretty decent job of giving the pros and cons to certain communities. We may be able confirm certain things or clear up some myths. But, hey understand if you want to keep it private. Also if the Army is more along your liking, what about Marine Corps? With it being your third year, that opportunity might have already passed.

 

[Hochiminhsucks]

This wasn't really a sudden shift for me. A lot of people seem to have an immediate preference between the services before they choose, but I'm not one of those people. It doesn't matter to me what job I do, or what color uniform I put on, but rather, that I put on a uniform at all. So I won't be that upset at all if I stick around in the Navy.

The reason I chose NROTC over AROTC when I was in high school was just that I visited the two units at the university and the NROTC one seemed a lot more community-based and enjoyable. I also had notions that I could make it into the SEALS when I was younger, and that doesn't seem like as plausible an option anymore. I just wanted to see whether it was plausible for me to transfer into the army and become an infantry officer or something along those lines. It's too late for the Marines, at least the way one normally applies through the unit.

You don't happen to know anything about whether the Navy would let someone off the hook for their commitment, though, would you? I mean, it's not like I was just taking the scholarship and leaving- I'd just be in a different service. It seems to me that in an ideal world, it wouldn't matter, but maybe rivalries between services and possessiveness over midshipmen play a larger role than I think.

 

[AROTC-dad]

How certain are you that you cannot transfer over to MO?

At University of San Diego, which has a very large NROTC program, it lists the following:

Q: Is a Marine Option Scholarship different from a Navy Option Scholarship?
A: Yes, the Marine and Navy Scholarship process is different. However, some Midshipmen are allowed to transfer between Navy and Marine options if they so desire while they are in NROTC.

So there is no clear deadline listed for that program. Perhaps a discussion with your MO OSO would at least determine for certain if it is impossible?

Source:
https://www.sandiego.edu/nrotc/students/faq.php

 

[NavyHoops]

Sure they will let you out... with a huge bill for all tuition, fees and stipends paid out with interest tacked on. I have no idea if you can even apply for cross commission out of ROTC. SAs it happens, rarely, but does happen. I am guessing if a SA can do it, ROTC probably has something along these lines. If you look at old threads addressing this, cross commissioning is extremely hard and rare, its not something I would count on. The reason they don't allow it isn't because of rivalry or possessiveness, its because that service just spent a ton of money on you to attend an Ivy League college and train you to be a Naval Officer. If you total up 4 years of your school with stipends, books, fees, training, etc. I am guessing the Navy spent $500,000 or so on you. The Army or Air Force didn't do this, the Navy did. Its why pilots have extra commitments and special schools add on to commitments, its because they invested in you. You need to decide if you really want to be an officer at all. If you don't, then you need to figure out if you plan to suck it up and see this through or walk away understanding the financial impact. The men and women who serve under you deserve the best leadership possible regardless of you what you would of, should of, could of.

For those lurkers out in high school trying to pick a service, school or ROTC right now... please read this. Its why all of us old guys continually say to pick the service you want first, not the school or the ROTC detachment.

 

[kinnem]

Normally one would transfer to Marines by the end of their sophomore year, but I would think you still have plenty of time to train for OCS if you take action now. Your cadre would know for sure. You sure you want to change your hair style though?

 

[Pima]

Just my $2.07 opinion, and with that you can get a small coffee at Starbucks.

The fact is the military is still downsizing from a manpower perspective.

I have always been under the impression that the big issue with x-commissioning is you need both services to agree. The Navy has to say we will let you go, and the Army has to say we will take you on. If either say no, than it won't happen.
~ I know when Bullet decided to do a tour with the 82nd as an AF officer, that was how it worked for him. The Army had to agree that he was what they wanted for that job, and the AF had to be willing to let him out of the jet. That was just for a tour. This was also true when he applied for in residence PME as an O4. The Army had a voice if they wanted him to attend Leavenworth over him going to Maxwell.

I am with NavyHoops, this is not just an interservice rivalry. This is the financial layout and manpower needs. In the AF they call pilots the Million dollar (men/women) because it costs that much to train them just to become operational.

If you don't, then you need to figure out if you plan to suck it up and see this through or walk away understanding the financial impact

I cannot agree with this comment more! This forum typically has at least one thread a year of somebody being disenrolled or wanting to walk only to find out that they will now be on the hook financially.
~ Gojira's DS was handed a 145K bill, originally to be paid back in a lump sum, than within 4 years. If I am right, they also were going to charge interest. They negotiated with the Navy to repay over 10 years, but still the monthly bill was going to be hard to make.

For those lurkers out in high school trying to pick a service, school or ROTC right now... please read this. Its why all of us old guys continually say to pick the service you want first, not the school or the ROTC detachment

It is also why we say that if you need the scholarship to attend that school, rethink your decision.

I think we all get there is a cross over between services, but impo, not so much when push comes to shove.
IE: Kids in HS will come on and say I am applying to all 3 because I want to fly. Or in your case SEAL/Ranger/CRO. However, once in the program, just like you they realize how difficult those paths are to obtain, and now plan B for a career field does not match up with the commissioning source.
~ My DS did not apply to other sources because he knew he wanted to fly, but if he could not get it, he also knew he never wanted to be on a boat or in a tank.

Now they are on the hook for serving. When we say service before self it is not meant lightly.

I am not trying to dig on you. I am only trying to reiterate to candidates that unfortunately, you are not the 1st, nor will be the last that this has occurred to during their time in ROTC.