Was First board just the big 3 athletics gimmies?

From the high school ROTC scholarships page: "Requirements: Be between the ages of 17 and 26"

http://m.goarmy.com/rotc/high-school-students/four-year-scholarship.m.html

That could be at the time of contracting, I suppose, but that's not what it says.
Also I think Pima is right about the max. college credits.

That being said, I agree with Jcleppe that the stats listed are not really as above average as you seem to think (still competitive though, in my opinion). You don't mention his PT test score, and the only athletics I see is golf. A poor or mediocre PT score could be an issue.

Also, unless the school uses some unique method of grading, there is no way a single semester or year of 4.0 could bring a 3-year cumulative GPA of 3.53 up to 3.7.
 
parentalunit2 said:
KeyzCat – Your post just about blew me away. The blanket judgments and flat out insults to other young folks who wish to serve. Wow. Just wow. OK, I’ll go there.

“So why exactly was he passed over for kids with lower scores”

Because life isn’t fair.

“when you know hundreds of the limited slots are being taken by people with no real military goals other than as a resume fluffer”

Yes, your child would be the *only* one in ROTC or an SA with a goal of actually serving in the military.

“He already had to give up goal of SA since he turns 17 46 days after the deadline“

This statement makes no sense whatsoever. Apply next year.

It is way too early for the annual sour grapes of ‘my kid didn’t get the golden ticket they clearly and so richly deserve’. I truly hope your child does not share in most of your attitudes.
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Thank you parentalunit2! I was really offended as well. My son is one of those winners with the lower GPA and ACT scores. He is, however, a third generation Eagle Scout and sixth Eagle in our immediate family. National Youth Leader Training (Boy Scouts) and National Leadership Challenge (UNG.) Four year varsity starter in soccer, leading scorer two seasons, First team all conference and District three times and team captain. Leading scorer of his club team. Vice President of the National Honor Society, Precinct Election Official, Red Cross Blood Drive Coordinator. Two Senatorial Commendations (one for soccer, one for academics), two school-wide awards for academics, Senior of the Month, Wendy's High School Heisman, Academic Excellence award every year of high school. He also received maximum points and remarks on his interview.

He is not a recruited athlete, and wants to have a career in the Army, followed by the Secret Service. I, of course, think my son is just as worthy as anyone else's child, based on the Whole Candidate Score. Seems to me OP thought their child was a shoo-in because of their own service, and is shocked that their entitled child was passed over.

Also, at the time of his application, DS had 16 college credits. The app therefore said he was disqualified, because for AROTC, you can't have more than 15. He was able to continue the app however. When he emailed Cadet Command, they said he would have to provide an acceptance letter from his school (UNG) that said he was being accepted as a freshman cadet. UNG gladly obliged this request. So college credits is NOT an automatic disqualifier for AROTC.
 
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It's early yet for sour grapes. I believe there are two more boards. I am in agreement with many here that the candidate in question's stats are good and probably scholarship worthy. We don't know how he interviewed or how strong his essay was .......what about the PFA?

My son was lucky enough to receive a 4 year on the first board to Norwich and VMI. He also has an AFROTC scholarship and a USCGA appointment. I believe it is the whole candidate that these institutions/boards are seeking. His ACT is OK at 30 but we felt this was his weak point compared to many posters on these forums. He is a three sport athlete at a good sized school and has 8 letters. He is captain of 2 of these teams. He also has had significant leadership roles in different bands. He did score maximum points on his interview as well and maxed the PFA.

I wish the best to all who have the drive to get through these applications and have the drive to serve this country.
 
Hate to be that guy, but I'm not seeing stats that would warrant a first round offer, and his school list didn't help any (Norwich is on a lot of lists). The one unknown that none of us will really know is how he did on the CBEF (that personality test on the application). Your son is competitive for an offer, but I would say he's not a shoe in, and you/he shouldn't feel slighted because he didn't get a first round offer.
 
For reference, our son received a scholarship offer during the first round for AROTC and he was not in a single high school typical sports program (ie football, baseball, basketball, swimming, etc). He was on the ROTC Sandhurst teams and is a practicing Martial Expert (Brown Belt) that is scheduled to test for his black belt in June.
 
"What is a T&P SCD Vet? Service connected disability?[/QUOTE]"

Grunt, right on the SCD, and I believe T&P is Total and permanent.

Tough original post. Too early to get frustrated, marathon not a sprint. Need to stay positive. For all known he could have been spot from an offer. We all know most AROTC offers come in 2nd and 3rd boards, and there are campus based for AROTC, and college programmers for NROTC (Kinnem will need to straighten out my lingo on that one!)
 
Not sure why SCD / T&P SCD Vet facts were even provided by the original poster. The child is getting the scholarship not the parent.

Perhaps if the child had weaved the parent's service into his essay, then it would be in front of the board and a good topic / basis for the child's inspiration to serve/etc. I know my son incorporated my service into his essay to help frame his topic on service.

Agreed that there is plenty of time / boards that will allow Cadet Command to select the right candidates for this year's batch of future leaders.

Stay positive. But, plan appropriately.
 
Everyone keeps assessing his chances and advising the parent to keep being hopeful, etc., but according to the Army website, he is not eligible for a scholarship at all due to his age. What am I missing?

@clarksonarmy, is there a loophole here? Can a school just wait to activate his scholarship after he turns 17, which according to OP is sometime after the beginning of the fall semester? Or does he have to be 17 to be awarded the scholarship? I imagine the answer to this question would be beneficial to other posters as well.
 
Jcc123 said:
Everyone keeps assessing his chances and advising the parent to keep being hopeful, etc., but according to the Army website, he is not eligible for a scholarship at all due to his age. What am I missing?

@clarksonarmy, is there a loophole here? Can a school just wait to activate his scholarship after he turns 17, which according to OP is sometime after the beginning of the fall semester? Or does he have to be 17 to be awarded the scholarship? I imagine the answer to this question would be beneficial to other posters as well.
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Jcc, I was wondering the same thing. The OP stated that her DS is ineligible for any SA because he does not turn 17 until 46 days after the deadline, which is July 1st. Murfthesurf pointed out that would make his birthday August 15th, but then the OP says he won't be 17 until the fall. Those things don't match up.

Bottom line is that he is ineligible for the SA because of age. And if Pima is correct, he is ineligible for ROTC because he already has 33 college credits. The venting is easily understood, but perhaps unwarranted. Seems like his ambition will delay him a bit, but he still has many options and has a good chance for an appointment next year.
 
Any one who has served in the military knows that rules are rules and waivers are hard to come by. I am a little surprised this didn't come out in the vetting process (interviewers, application submission, etc) but that doesn't change the reality. There are multiple routes to a commission as an officer and it might be time to focus on Plan B.
 
when my son first tried to open his application it would not let him as he was not old enough. turns out he tried to early.
 
The 33 college credits are not relevant if the college does not accept them for credit toward graduation. A previous poster indicated the university simply had to provide a letter indicating they would be enrolled as a 1st Year/Freshmen despite a large number of credits. A letter was not required when my DD got the 4 year scholarship a few years ago. The credits did allow starting out in Calc3 and higher level history courses rather than entry level courses.

My DD went in with 33 credits from AP and dual enrollment as recorded on the 4 year scholarship application. However, it was all considered elective credit and had little impact on graduation requirements or the 104R.
 
AROTC Parent said:
A letter was not required when my DD got the 4 year scholarship a few years ago. The credits did allow starting out in Calc3 and higher level history courses rather than entry level courses.
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Same applied to DS who finished Calc 3 at local Big State U during senior year of HS.

Sorry to hijack, but...

Word of advice. I don't remember how many college credits DS carried in, but clearing up some of those required courses before showing up is almost essential to finishing an Engineering degree in four years, when adding in required Military Science Classes and Labs.

Also, MS classes burn up electives, leaving little room for courses like foreign language, computer science, etc. unless requirements are checked off before showing up.
 
Regarding OP son's age, he may be eligible for AROTC in Fall 2016. There is online AROTC information stating must be 17 during first semester of AROTC. Depending on college applicant may not set foot on campus until after August 15th so he would be 17 before school technically begins (again may be different at SMC).

He would still be under 18 when commencing AROTC and I believe would still need parents signing off (own son was 17 for DODMERB in late winter of senior year, and turned 18 in spring.)

OP sounded consistent: he is 16 now, turns 17 circa August 15th. Some colleges start classes that early so in some colleges he could be 16 for " a couple of days of Fall semester" which is what OP said. Clearly ineligible for SA, as required 17 by July 1st. Defer to others on the credits issues; and the whole ECP area.

Clarkson or other ROO could provide some definitive information.
 
I had a tough time reading and understanding the original post. If this kid is 16 then he isn't even eligible to start the application. The application can't be started until the applicant is 17.
 
My son is 16 and received a 4 year. Will be 17 before college starts. It looks to me like the college credits is probably the main issue. I'd call and ask to verify he wasn't deemed ineligible based on the already completed college credits. These are dual enrollment not projected AP credits, right?
 
Assumptions can be inaccurate and presumptuous - DS was offered a 4-year scholarship but does not play any of the "big 3" sports - he is a rower. His scores (ACT and grades) are quite high, and he has a lot of leadership in his background --
he also is committed to military service as a career, rather than the "minimum."
It sounds like your son simply is not yet old enough to be awarded a ROTC scholarship and is also too young for a SA. I'm sure your research will put him way above the learning curve for next year.
 
KeyzCat said:
My son was there this week for a visit program He came home today and did not even know about this program. It is weird that they told him based on his scores he should be getting an offer but not tell him yes you are on the list. Norwich is his second school choice. His number one school also has been very high expectation he will get an offer but they have not sent an email either to let him know he got it so will contact them on Monday. The closest ROO to us refused to even return phone calls requesting to make a interview to complete his packet. He had to fly to his number one school (in another state) to get an interview obviously it was very likely a good thing that he was not doing an interview with a rep that is not high on his list (actually not one of his choices) We actually went to that closest school (3 hours away) and the person that was there in the ROTC office told my son he would be better off going to a military junior college over FIU and not even waste the College Board application waiver on FIU if his goal is a true military career
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If I am reading this correctly. Than my guess is what clarkson stated his age is a factor. I would think that the ROO that refused to return phone calls, realized he is too young. The FIU PMS impo, politely told them that they would need a waiver and thus going to a junior college would be a better option.

Thus, as USMC stated rules are rules, and it did come out during the vetting process. The fact that they had to fly out to a school to get an interview and than drive to another school leaves me with more questions? Mainly, if you drove 3 hrs., why did you not interview there?
~ No flaming here, but I am totally mystified by your posts.
So since I am a SCD Veteran and can't afford a 40k a yr even if he worked his *** off to be offered merit scholarships that cover 50% of it he should not apply for a ROTC scholarship because he nor I can afford the 20k a yr left?
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I get the financial aspect. Truly, I do. This is my 1st yr since 2008 that I only have 1 kid in college. It feels like we won the lottery! However, what I don't get is the other post...flew out to number 1 school for an interview while in my quote you can't afford 20K a yr.
~ You said he, not we. If it was we than, that had to set you back several hundred dollars for just an in and out (flight, hotel, rental car, food, etc). Yet, going back to the other post he interviewed a 2nd time at FIU, 3 hr drive.
~~ 1 post he had to fly out to get an interview, and another it appears you drove 3 hrs. Did you fly out because you did not like what the FIU interviewer said and wanted a 2nd opinion?

I get the venting, however, I am with USMC, you are a vet. That means you should know the system regarding regs and waivers. IE: FIU CoC stated that he would need an age waiver for his application, and that was unlikely. They were being honest.
 
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