Nrotc Marine Option?

[NavyNOLA]

All of the Marine option recipients from the spring scholarship board should have been placed by today. Check your portal if you haven't already.

 

[kinnem]

In the past it was true that if you were an NROTC midshipman you could not re-apply for the 4 year scholarship. That changed last year so I suspect the Purdue web site is simply out of date.

 

[NavyNOLA]

rocatlin.. I have a question about the 4 year scholarship that your son was awarded during his freshman year of college. According to the Purdue website, you can re-apply for the 4 year scholarship while you are a freshman but you can not be enrolled as an NROTC Midshipmen. It sounds like your son was in the college program when he re-applied for the 4 year. Do you know if this rule specific to just Purdue or is this a general rule. Or, are we not understanding something. Also, was your son able to participate in the Cortramid the summer after his freshman year given that he was awarded the 4 year.

You can absolutely be a College Program freshman in an NROTC unit and reapply for the 4-year National. In fact, that is the absolute best path to earning one. Perhaps there's a typo in the Purdue info, or maybe you read something wrong.

Currently (and I don't see it changing), students who earn a 4-year National during their freshman year will NOT attend CORTRAMID following freshman year. Instead, they'll go after sophomore year. No, it's not really all that big a deal, so not to worry. This is the way it is due to budgeting/funding limitations from a big picture summer training perspective.

 

[JakeReitz]

In the past it was true that if you were an NROTC midshipman you could not re-apply for the 4 year scholarship. That changed last year so I suspect the Purdue web site is simply out of date.

I went and talked to the NROTC at Purdue today. They told me that their application and info is about 2-3 years out of date, and they are currently in the process of revamping it

 

[cmilli97]

You can absolutely be a College Program freshman in an NROTC unit and reapply for the 4-year National.

Hi NavyNOLA, just wondering why that's the best way to earn a scholarship? I'm interested because I wasn't selected.

Also, do College Programmers attend summer training, like CORTRAMID and MWTC, and it's pushed back for non-scholarship cadets, or do they not participate at all?

 

[USMCGrunt]

I went and talked to the NROTC at Purdue today. They told me that their application and info is about 2-3 years out of date, and they are currently in the process of revamping it

JakeReitz: Not that you need confirmation, but my DS recently went through NROTC at Purdue and the website didn't change the entire time he was there. It was a good unit - the website wasn't a priority for some reason. Glad to hear that they are addressing this.

 

[5Day]

I went and talked to the NROTC at Purdue today. They told me that their application and info is about 2-3 years out of date, and they are currently in the process of revamping it

@JakeReitz What did Purdue tell you? Add some details to confirm or correct what we have suggested.

 

[rocatlin]

Yes, my son received the 4 year scholarship as a freshman. If you think about the timeline, you actually reapply before you enter your first semester. As stated, it's the best route in that you are eligible for the 2 Marine Option 4 year boards as well as being considered for a unit initiated sideload.

Also, as stated, 4 year recipients that were awarded during freshman year do not go to CORTRAMID. The scholarship does not actually kick in until the Fall semester of the sophomore year as well.

As far as CORTRAMID after sophomore year, that was optional for my son. He'll be going to the normal Mountain Warfare training at Pickel Meadow this summer and OCS Bulldog next summer.

 

[JakeReitz]

@JakeReitz What did Purdue tell you? Add some details to confirm or correct what we have suggested.

Basically I was told that they are in the process of making a new application for non-scholarship NROTC and it will be up soon. He said they've got some guys who probably shouldn't be in nrotc so they'd like to weed them out before hand

 

[kinnem]

Also, do College Programmers attend summer training, like CORTRAMID and MWTC, and it's pushed back for non-scholarship cadets, or do they not participate at all?

You must be contracted to attend any summer training. This means you are either on scholarship or have achieved advanced standing in your rising junior year. DS missed CORTRAMID because the sideload scholarship he earned did not kick in until second semester sophomore year. If you have a good sense already of what community you want to go to then missing CORTRAMID is probably not a big deal. Besides, you'll learn a bunch about the various communities anyway... bt you won't have the "experience" of them.

 

[NavyNOLA]

Hi NavyNOLA, just wondering why that's the best way to earn a scholarship? I'm interested because I wasn't selected.

Also, do College Programmers attend summer training, like CORTRAMID and MWTC, and it's pushed back for non-scholarship cadets, or do they not participate at all?

It's the best path for students who were not selected for or did not apply for a 4-year National in high school. It is also the first opportunity you have once joining as a freshman College Programmer; the 3-year Sideload application doesn't open up until spring each year. Assuming somewhat competitive standardized test scores and high school GPA, being a College Program student will definitely make you more appealing to the scholarship selection board. Think about it- a College Program mid is demonstrating now that they are truly committed to the program, even without receiving financial benefits, whereas the majority of their competition is still in high school. Also, the unit staff has the ability to evaluate the student and coach them during the application process. The unit's CO will do the officer interview, and their words will matter much more to the board than the recommendations of a junior officer. Furthermore, the student/unit can submit first semester grades, PRT scores, fall semester FitReps, etc., in order to bolster an applicant's package. Bottom line, do College Program freshman year if you want to pick up an NROTC scholarship as quickly as possible, and submit that scholarship application early (NLT Sep/Oct time frame).

I believe the summer training question has been answered above.

 

[srsick]

All of the Marine option recipients from the spring scholarship board should have been placed by today. Check your portal if you haven't already.[/Q

My son's still says - items waiting to be processed .

 

[rocatlin]

Hi NavyNOLA, just wondering why that's the best way to earn a scholarship? I'm interested because I wasn't selected.

Also, do College Programmers attend summer training, like CORTRAMID and MWTC, and it's pushed back for non-scholarship cadets, or do they not participate at all?

To echo and add to NavyNOLA's remarks... my son's MOI was also on the 4 year scholarship selection board. Even if he weren't, MOI's, OSO's and board members do network. Do well as a college programmer and you'll have an edge on the high school applicants.

Go ahead and resubmit your 4 year application as soon as it opens up. As NavyNOLA stated (and my son can attest), showing that you're committed regardless of the current circumstance you find yourself in bodes well for the process.

 

[cmilli97]

Can I start the application process over again for the 4 year now, or do I need to wait until I am working with my OSO or NROTC staff as a College Programmer during my freshman year?

 

[rocatlin]

Can I start the application process over again for the 4 year now, or do I need to wait until I am working with my OSO or NROTC staff as a College Programmer during my freshman year?

My son started as soon as the application opened up. Start as soon as possible. If you still have the same RS personnel handling the packet, give them a heads up. Go ahead and contact the ROTC unit of the school you plan on attending and inquire about the college program.

 

[NavyNOLA]

Can I start the application process over again for the 4 year now, or do I need to wait until I am working with my OSO or NROTC staff as a College Programmer during my freshman year?

Sure, you can start it now. However, I'd HIGHLY encourage you not to submit the application prior to reporting as a College Program student and discussing it with the Freshman Advisor or MOI. They will be able to help you fine tune your paperwork. They'll also arrange for the interview to be done in-house with the CO. Don't rush it.

 

[mcchris72]

Just found out I was awarded the Fredrick c branch scholarship and was wondering if I it would be possible to attend a school a regular university that offers NROTC

 

[ahaven7]

I was awarded the Frederick C Branch Marine Leadership Scholarship as well! Where is yours too? From my understanding it is specifically tied to one of the 17 HBCU's that are on the NROTC list as eligible for this type of scholarship (same as the Navy version: MSISR)- I am sure there are ways once you get to the unit and do some time, if you still wished to try to get switched to a regular university on a "regular" Marine Option scholarship, that there are ways to do so. Although it is probably very difficult and maybe even unlikely as there is not a lot of information out there on that process. For now just be happy you have the opportunity to become a Marine Corps Officer!! Oorah

 

[NavyNOLA]

FCB scholarships, just like MSISR, are only to HBCUs and HHE universities. You cannot transfer them to a "regular" university, either now or later.

 

[mgreen]

mcchris72: congratulations on the FCB. I suspect the best, and perhaps only, path for attending a "regular university" would be to decline the scholarship and go college program. You could then reapply for a 4 year scholarship or try for side loaded.