ROTC COMMISSIONING QUESTION

34KING18

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Apr 15, 2015
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Hey. I have a quick question regarding commissioning through ROTC mainly for Army but you guys can chime in on other branches as well. I got accepted to Citadel, Norwich and UNG right now. If I did not receive an Army ROTC scholarship and went through the AROTC programs there and met all standards, would I commission? I know for Army, you have to compete for active, reserve etc but I'm just wondering if I would be commissioned without a scholarship.

Not trying to start a fight between alumni :) but which do you think is better/more worth it/better commissioning chance? Thanks
 
Absolutely, you can complete all 4 years of AROTC without a scholarship and commission. The scholarship is not the deciding factor in commissioning through AROTC, it is the Contract. Non scholarship cadets that are not in the Guard/Reserve as SMP cadets would need to contract by the start of their junior year. The first two years are the Basic Course, the second two years are the Advanced Course. The PMS will need to recommend you to move into the Advance Course, as long as you keep your academics and APFT up and participate fully in ROTC you should be able to receive a contract.

Having a scholarship does not give you any advantage for Active Duty, non scholarship cadets compete in the same system. A scholarship cadet may be able to attend extra summer training because that are contracted earlier but there are still opportunities for non scholarship cadets.

If you do well in school and ROTC there is always the possibility that you may be able to receive a scholarship while you are in school and the ROTC program.
 
Hey. I have a quick question regarding commissioning through ROTC mainly for Army but you guys can chime in on other branches as well. I got accepted to Citadel, Norwich and UNG right now. If I did not receive an Army ROTC scholarship and went through the AROTC programs there and met all standards, would I commission? I know for Army, you have to compete for active, reserve etc but I'm just wondering if I would be commissioned without a scholarship.

Not trying to start a fight between alumni :) but which do you think is better/more worth it/better commissioning chance? Thanks

To answer your question about schools, my good friend graduated from Norwich and he said he would have rather went to a state school and joined AROTC versus going to a senior military university.

I went to West Point because I needed the discipline and I knew if I would have went to a state school, I would have gotten in various types of trouble. I enjoyed my experience at the Academy and made friends which will last me a life-time. That being said, I am glad it was only 4 years.

You need to have a personal reason to go to one of the academy's. Make sure you don't base your decision on what your parent's or anyone else thinks.
 
The school that fits you best is the best school for you. You can commission at all of them and I'm are all are equally tough SMCs.
 
You can commission at any school but, as mentioned above, you have to contract by the beginning of your junior year. A scholarship is a form of a contract. You can also, in Navy ROTC, get advanced standing and that will count as a contract as well. In advanced standing, you get a stipend but you do not get tuition paid for. Also, side load scholarships and advanced standing look at your college grades so work hard in college, particularly your freshman year.
 
The school that fits you best is the best school for you. You can commission at all of them and I'm are all are equally tough SMCs.
Haven't been on this site in a while, saw you changed your info line from MC Option in ROTC to USMC 2ndLt, congrats! I'm sure you're very proud!
 
Haven't been on this site in a while, saw you changed your info line from MC Option in ROTC to USMC 2ndLt, congrats! I'm sure you're very proud!

Thanks for noticing! Yes, I am. The kid just left home 4 hours ago to head back to Quantico. He was here on a 72 hours pass. It was great to see him. He loves every minute in the Corps and is living large! :)
 
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