Which ROTC scholarship is the most prestigious?

Prestigious

Pima, I apologize if my post implied that you did not value service. I was only speaking to our personal experience about how competitive NROTC and USNA application processes are. Your point is not lost on me. When DS told DW and me fall of his junior year that he wanted to apply for NROTC we both said absolutely not, felt it was the equivalent of committing to the military at the age of 16. I encouraged him to consider college first and then after four years if he still felt strongly about the Navy it would still be there. We encouraged him to not pursue the scholarship for just the financial reasons (although tempting, it's really not "free"). After we attended the national drill comp. in Pensacola we completely changed our minds. We were incredibly impressed with the operation and particularly the sailors we met who had enlisted and were enrolled at school there. Since his grandfather left high school to join the navy in 1943, there were no other choices for him it was either USNA, NROTC or Colege programmer.
 
since at it's heart all military service is about SERVING, the word prestige does come off as out of step with the core values. It's a little like asking which charity is the most prestigious and using that as one decision criterion in participating.
 
prestige n. The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing. A person's high standing among others; honor or esteem.

I think the "my branch is better/harder/sexier than your branch" horse has been beaten to death. I would go back to the original post and explore the word prestigious. I would argue that in the current environment of the all volunteer Army and the fact that less than one percent of Americans serve in uniform if you are looking for "prestigious" I would suggest trying out for American Idol and taking a pass on military service. Apart from being invited in 20 years to make a speech at a veteran's day ceremony there's not going to be a lot of prestige (unless you start a blog or make General). If you do get a scholarship someone might come to your high school and hand you a giant check...but that 'prestige will last about a week.
 
nofoddad,

I absolutely did not feel that way, I was trying to highlight that I too felt this way and due to a long post it may have been lost in the message...shocker I know :shake:

We had something similar to your family, but still different.

DS applied AFA and AFROTC, not other SA or ROTC. He was AFA all the way. We finally sat down with him, and realized it was AFA because in his eyes it was a "free" education. Not because he wanted the AFA more than AFROTC, but because he was concerned of the cost of college, also a better shot at UPT.

That is heartbreaking to a parent to hear your child is doing this for "cost" issues. We told DS remove the cost and UPT chances, pretend it is even. Where would you go?

He answered UMDCP. 5 days later we paid the Bursar the deposit.

We explained to him, the only way to be commissioned as an officer and get UPT in the AF is success at college and the desire to be in that branch.

Scholarship or no scholarship, hate the college, or hate ROTC it will be the end. You will be in a negative spiral. Hate the school, cut classes, bad grades. Hate ROTC and will score poorly, low OML, a career field that you hate for 4 yrs!

JMPO, as an AFROTC mom and a poster here for 4+ yrs., many posters do not get ROTC scholarships, but most do find a way to go to their top college picks. Their stats are high enough that the school offers merit or ROTC cuts regarding R & B, tuition. They may have to take military routes like SMP.

IF you want that branch, you will find a way.

If you want the best bidder, than I will leave that to others to respond on how it worked out for them.
 
nysegop said:
Thank you for those of you who took the time to give me an educated, logical response. For those of you who changed this thread into a series of personal attacks; you are the real "trolls". You people are the ones who are turning what was supposed to be a fact based education thread into a disgusting environment for me to ask questions. It seems like anything I say can be taken as an act of "trolling". Have a good day.

Thank you riroka, at least you take the time to somewhat answer the question.
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First, nobody has personally attacked you, if you take offense to some of the responses you received just take a look at the question you asked. Second, if you somehow feel slighted by these comments to the point you felt the need to give the above reply, then you are looking at the wrong profession.

Your original question made no sense to many people, why is it important to know which ROTC scholarship is more prestigious. Now asking how each service evaluates it's applicants is a valid question and I think that was answered early on.

Your correct, this is a fact based education forum and a great place to ask questions. The point is most people do a little research before asking questions. Many people have told you how to get this information, it's your job to do a little research. If you simply look through this forum you can find threads on almost every topic, will they answer all your questions, No, but it would be a great place to start.

People are not here to spoon feed you everything you will need to know so you don't have to take the time to find some of the information on your own. People will however take a great deal of time to help you with the details once you have a the basics.

Have you met with any of the ROTC programs yet, have you sat with them and discussed each program, if you haven't then I suggest that you start if you are serious about ROTC. Honestly, even after you meet with each program you will still have questions, that's where this forum can be of help and people will be glad to help you.

One big hint, if you do ever meet with ROTC programs, don't ask them which one is the most prestigious.

Think a little about what and how your asking questions before you post, the responses will be better to your liking.
 
clarkson,

Your post:
If you do get a scholarship someone might come to your high school and hand you a giant check...but that 'prestige will last about a week.
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Needs to be edited...a week after you show up for ROTC!

For the OP, candidates and lurkers!

Those with cadets/mids in the system, or are in ROTC as instructors (Clarkson and Marist), NOBODY knows or gives a rat's behind who is and who isn't scholarship.

No points for OML are awarded to scholarship cadets/mids. They never discuss this unless it is them complaining that ROTC has yet to pay their tuition and the school has them "locked"!

Scholarship is "masked" for any and all boards. In other words nobody rating them has a clue who is or isn't.

Again, I think the OP chose poorly regarding the term "prestigious", he/she is 17. Image matters a lot to them. Give them a break, they want to serve our country so you and I don't have too!

I worry the negativity being displaced will make them say, never mind if this is the attitude!

Poor word choice, let's move on and guide them in making the right choice for their military future.
 
Scholarship is "masked" for any and all boards. In other words nobody rating them has a clue who is or isn't.
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Just to clarify one thing for the OP.

While AFROTC is unique in the fact that being on scholarship has no impact when being reviewed by the board to move on to FT, the other ROTC programs are a bit different.

The scholarship does come into play for AROTC in the form of Contracting. If a cadet is on scholarship and is contracted before their junior year they will automatically move on to the Advanced Course providing they meet the minimum requirements. A non scholarship or non contracted cadet will need to compete for those slots. Of course sophomore cadets can also contract if they are SMP.

PIMA is correct, being a scholarship cadet will not have any impact on your evaluation at LDAC (Summer after your junior year) or in how you are selected for your branch. Other then being eligible for summer training a scholarship cadet will not be treated differently then any other cadet.
 
At ease people!

Agree with Pima: "Poor word choice, let's move on and guide them in making the right choice for their military future."

Carry on.
 
Jcleppe said:
Of course sophomore cadets can also contract if they are SMP.
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This isn't anything against you, Jcleppe, I just wanted to clarify for anyone who stumbles on this thread and thinks SMP is a guarenteed contract.

Even if you enlisted with the intent of contracting through SMP, a ROTC contract still MUST be available in order to do so. The Army won't contract you simply because you're SMP. This is becoming an issue now in ROTC. A number of SMP guys in my BN are frantically trying to dig up contracts before this MS2 year is over so they can continue with MS3 year. What they're having to do is accept GRFD (must commission in Guard/Reserves) scholarships or GRFD contracts just to guarentee they can stay in ROTC. Our state TAG (Adjudant General of a state's Guard forces) has figured out regular contracts in ROTC are becoming more scarce and has been targeting SMP cadets (and others) for these GRFD contracts to help fill undermanned officer positions in the Guard.
 
-Bull- said:
This isn't anything against you, Jcleppe, I just wanted to clarify for anyone who stumbles on this thread and thinks SMP is a guarenteed contract.

Even if you enlisted with the intent of contracting through SMP, a ROTC contract still MUST be available in order to do so. The Army won't contract you simply because you're SMP. This is becoming an issue now in ROTC. A number of SMP guys in my BN are frantically trying to dig up contracts before this MS2 year is over so they can continue with MS3 year. What they're having to do is accept GRFD (must commission in Guard/Reserves) scholarships or GRFD contracts just to guarentee they can stay in ROTC. Our state TAG (Adjudant General of a state's Guard forces) has figured out regular contracts in ROTC are becoming more scarce and has been targeting SMP cadets (and others) for these GRFD contracts to help fill undermanned officer positions in the Guard.
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Be assured, I do not take what you are saying as anything against me at all.

I'm glad you added this info, I was just speaking very generally regarding SMP that it was possible to contract their sophomore year.

You should actually post this in a thread of it's own so those looking at SMP have a clear picture of the program and the changes that are going on. I have spoke to a couple young men that were getting ready to enlist in the reserves with the intention of going SMP. The recruiters they talked to did not give them a heads up regarding contracting, basically they told them it was a sure thing. I sent them to talk to an ROTC battalion where they got the same info you posted. Anyone considering SMP really needs to understand exactly what you posted so they know the risks.

Great post, thanks for filling in the blanks of my oversimplified post.
 
Pima said:
AFROTC is the only one that does not tie the scholarship to the school, the recipient can take it to any college that accepts AFROTC. Only 5% of scholarships are Type 1 (no $$$ limit). 95% of these recipients are Tech majors. Think about it if you are non-tech, you have 5% chance of 5% to get that golden ticket. The number is incredibly low. Historically they have over 5K scholarships, and only offer less than 1K. That means 50 are given Type 1, and only 2 or 3 are non-tech out of that 5K pool. 85% of the AFROTC scholarships are awarded to tech majors. The bulk of non-tech come from Type 7 (IS tuition rate...can go private, but it can't exceed the cost of an IS). They make up 25% of this pool. Type 7 is about 70% of the scholarships. Again, do the math, you are looking at about 200 non-techs out of 5K.
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Pima - DS and I are humbled by these statistics. Thank you for your knowledge.

Pima said:
The Army and Navy are not off the mark to call the AF the "banker's branch" aka 8-4 M-F, and as harsh as it may seem, the reality is rated officers are the "golden children" in the AF.
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I am too a long time AF spouse, my DH has done an ALO with the Army and a Joint Flying assignment with the Navy. For 5 years we were out of the AF and in the Army/Navy respectively. DH was also prior enlisted and got his commission from AFROTC SOAR program - then became an aviator.

You are right, when the AF is viewed by the Army/Navy - it is differently. Although, i'd love to see those 8-4 hours! My DH on average is 7:30-6.

My DS's bottom line, he wants to fly - more specifically - he wants to be involved in space flight - (long shot there with NASA on the outs). That's why he applied for USAFA and USNA - best chance for pilot slot. I wanted him to consider WP too - but he was adamant on flying - so USAFA and USNA it is.

I am absolutely loving your posts today! :smile:
 
"the ability to follow and also lead"... what an interesting phrase, and not so subtle implication about the other two communties?
 
The most prestigious scholarship

Means nothing. There are enlisted men who have been deployed 8, 9 , 12, 14 times. You better have your game on when it comes to leading them. Sorry this string is nonsense. IMHO
 
NorwichDad said:
Means nothing. There are enlisted men who have been deployed 8, 9 , 12, 14 times. You better have your game on when it comes to leading them. Sorry this string is nonsense. IMHO
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Hit that nail square on the head.
 
NorwichDad said:
Means nothing. There are enlisted men who have been deployed 8, 9 , 12, 14 times. You better have your game on when it comes to leading them. Sorry this string is nonsense. IMHO
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apologies everyone,
I was way too harsh


My son came home to sign his tax return this weekend. We went over to see our neighbor and his friend RP(2nd Marines 1942 to 46) last night. He spoke of Okinawa in detail. There must be some sort of real clarity of memory in old age. He talked how the Marines on the LST passed anti aircraft shells to the sailors during the Kamikazi attacks. Even the Marine officers obeyed the sailors. He told us on the island of the Army soldiers who were relieved by his regiment saying they were so glad the Marines are here. He said they told the Army soldiers they were glad to see them too. He talked about the Navy and Marine pilots after a strafing run would fly back over their line and tip their wings in respect and salute to the Marines on the ground. I came back and read the thread. I never was in the Armed forces but I think that respect was still there between those American men and women in Afganistan and Iraq this past 10 years regardless of their duty. We are all Americans and that is the ultimate prestige.

Sorry anyway for being a little rough.
 
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