Quick question before I give my full response. Have you looked at your Bursar statement? Did it show AFROTC paying the tuition, and than your merit being applied?
~ In that scenario, it is not AFROTC cutting you a check. It is the Bursars office cutting it from your merit.
I am not sure why this is a shocker. If you read the fine print it has been there since at least 08. They state in their fine print for both type 2 and 7...UP TO...TUITION.
~ Using type 2 as an example. It never said 18K and keep the change. It always said UP TO.
Hence, I think this is them saying to colleges, cadets and candidates regarding your merit packages beware if the college is offering merit that can only be used towards tuition, than they get charged 1st and we will be secondary.
~ Sequestration is still alive and kicking. We have passed the look in the sofa for loose change to pinching pennies. Easiest way to pinch is the fine print for billing ROTC scholarships that also have merit.
My DS's merit was not tied at all to tuition, it was pure merit. AFROTC came off the top and when it was 15K for tuition, they only paid 15K, not 18. Merit picked up the rest, and the check cut back was from the balance....the college paid the difference, not AFROTC. He did not keep the 3K and the merit balance.
FWIW, this is their exact verbage from the AFROTC site. Has been for eons or at least for 7 years.
- Type 2–Pays college tuition and most lab fees up to $18,000 and pays $900/year for books. Approximately 10 percent ofour four-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type 2 scholarship (mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $18,000, then he/she pays the difference. All three-year scholarships are Type 2.
- Type 7–Pays college tuition up to the equivalent of the in-state rate and $900 per year for books.
Sorry, but are you seeing the trend? Tuition up to? If your merit from your college is true merit and not tied to tuition at all than your life will not change.