AROTC Nuts and Bolts Question

The OC Josh

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Oct 22, 2009
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How does the book allowance and/or stipend work for AROTC?
(Assuming one has passed the APFT and has a 4 yr-Scholarship)
Can you have it direct deposited to a personal account?

Thanks for the help.
 
I know the stipend is direct deposit because a dd form comes in our summer packet. I'm not so sure about about the book allowance.
 
Book allowance is directly deposited as well, but don't expect it until November.
 
Receiving the stipend is contingent upon passing the APFT.
In order to keep receiving the stipend you must also pass the APFT each time the cadre runs it-monthly, I believe.

A note of caution incoming freshmen-it is imperative to keep your gpa up to the minimum required by the school and cadre. If you fall below it after the first semester they will put you on probation-if you're still below at the end of the year you will lose your scholarship. Fair warning.

Make sure you study and don't take your scholarship for granted.
If your grades aren't cutting it get the help you need to be successful.
College requires a bit more studying than you may be accustomed to.:smile:
 
In order to keep receiving the stipend you must also pass the APFT each time the cadre runs it-monthly, I believe.
The Army makes it's cadets take and pass the PFT once a month? I thought it was once in the Fall and once in the Spring.
 
The Army makes it's cadets take and pass the PFT once a month? I thought it was once in the Fall and once in the Spring.

That was always my impression too, although I've heard many units do continue monthly testing candidates until a candidate scores at the unit's target level.
 
That was always my impression too, although I've heard many units do continue monthly testing candidates until a candidate scores at the unit's target level.

That's what I've heard too. You pass it once to get the scholarship, but if you don't pass you have more opportunities to take it. (To a certain point of course)
 
Regarding book allowance

Freshmen, please check with your ROTC unit prior to freshman orientation. Universities handle book allowances differently. Some schools work with the university bookstore setting up "charge" accounts allowing students to purchase books up to the limit ie $600.00 per semester. Whatever the books cost is the amount charged against account. Overages are charged to student and additional amounts left between actual costs of books and book allowance are NOT refunded to student.

Please make sure to verify the book buying process with your individual school prior to purchase date so as to not be caught unaware.

Also, if your school ROTC does participate in this program, the only place you will be allowed to purchase books is through the university bookstore.
 
House 6, that sounds kind of illegal. the book money is the cadets to spend as they want...for the bookstore to keep the difference is not right. Book money should be direct deposited and the cadet can spend that on pizza and pop if they want. Your bookstore may have a deal where they front the money, and the cadet pays the bill when they get their money. The stipend and book money usually start 45 days after the semester starts. I think that buffer is built in to ensure that the cadet actually shows up and enrolls in classes.

As far as PT test...At our school you pass once a semester, you are good for the semester. We take the PT test once a month. May change with the new PMS, but that's how we operated to this point. I think the lesson learned here is that you need to understand what the standards are at your Battalion. Make sure you clearly understand when you have to pass the PT test each semester andwhat GPA you have to maintain. Your semester and Cumulative GPA must be above 2.0. PMS's have some flexibility in how they handle those that fall below, but best not to test the PMS. Hit the books, hit the gym, and do what's right and you won't have any problems
 
My son completed his Sophomore (MS2) year on May 14th. He receives his book money between 30 and 40 days after the semester begins. The money is deposited directly into his personal bank account. He purchases used books when available and get some through Amazon at reduced rates, he has yet to spend the entire book money given to him. At the end of the semester he sells what books he can. Any money left over is his to keep which has been quite a bonus. After he sells his books and with the discounts from Amazon over the last 2 years he has only spent about half of the book money and kept the rest. I haven't heard of the bookstore debit system mentioned above but different schools may operate various systems, best to check with them early. The big thing is to be prepared to purchase the books with your own money and then wait for the reimbursement.

At my son's school they do two recorded AFPT's a semester, one at the beginning and one at the end. They have at least one diagnostic test during the semester as well. You will need to pass your AFPT which is given within a week or so of starting school to be able to contract and recieve your scholarship, book, and stipend money. Once you pass you will need to continue to pass you recorded tests, if you fail one they will work with you to get you back in line, but really, if your just passing with the minimum your already below standards so it should not be hard to keep up.

Good luck with your first year, your going to love it.
 
what happens if the book money doesnt come until later, but we can't afford to buy the books out of our own money when the semester starts?
also, how does the paying for tuition work?
 
When my son's financial aid award came, it had a student loan on it. When I inquired as to why we would need it when he also received full room and board, the councelor said to cover books and expenses until his money comes in.
Is that an option for you? Maybe you can check with the financial aid dept.
 
rotcdonde,

You will either need to get a small student loan or find some way to purchase books with a credit card and make the minimum payment until the book money comes in. The Min. payment should be small considering the amount you will pay for books and the book money may come in before the first bill is due. At the worst you should only need to make one payment before you receive the book money and are able to pay off the balance.

The tuition scholarship money will not be paid right away. You will need to pass your AFPT which won't be for at least a week or so after school starts. You will also need to meet with you advisor and completely fill out a 104R form and turn it into the ROTC office to be approved. Once this is all completed you will sign your contract and raise your right hand. At this point the ROTC will release the scholarship money to the college. If it goes like it did with us you will receive a few late notices from the school, our PMS just said to ignore them, they have an agreement with college accounting office so they don't have to pay any late fees. You'll find that the ROTC is always late making the first payment of the year, don't worry too much about it, they will get it all paid and taken care of. If you get a phone call from the college accounting office about payment just let them know you have the ROTC scholarship.
 
I believe there has been some misunderstanding regarding book allowances. Please allow me to clarify:

(1) the $600.00 book allowance is not a god given right. It is the amount that Cadet Command will pay up to offsetting the costs of books per semester.

(2) Each school handles book allowances differently. Please check with your ROTC program to see what their policy is regarding book allowances.

(3) The book allowance is not money that is given to cadets every semester to spend as they see fit. It is for a specific purpose ( buying books) unlike the monthly stipend which the cadet earns. If a student's particular ROTC program has mandated that the students purchase books/supplies from university bookstore then the student should purchase from approved stores or reject the book allowance portion of the scholarship.

(4) This is a general statement regarding tuition/fees/ scholarship. AROTC scholarships are not "full rides". There are some costs associated with attending college. Depending on school/ROTC program, a student might only be responsible for travel/upkeep expenses etc. Others ( most) do not pay room and board. There is a responsibility for the ROTC student/parents to anticipate paying some costs "upfront" and some costs later. ROTC payments will not kick in until October, when the new fiscal year begins.

(5) Please, please speak with both your ROTC program/ university Financial Aid office for particulars of how your particular ROTC scholarship will work. It is probably not wise to show up for Freshman Orientation expecting to pay nothing out of pocket. Budget and plan accordingly. Also, make very good friends with the Financial Aid office. Generally University FA offices are not highly concerned regarding ROTC scholarship payment. The more important thing is to make sure student passes PT test and is officially contracted.
 
No misunderstanding here, or need for clarification. I agree that you need to talk with the ROTC unit at your school to know first hand how the book money works. I was just giving information about how our school works. The $600.00 is deposited within 30 days of the beginning of each semester. The money is deposited directly into our accounts. We buy books from any source we choose, we do not turn in receipts or make an accounting of how much was spent, we are not required to let them know if we sell our books at the end of the semester. If there is money left over it is ours to spend as we want. They don't care if we receive all our books free, they just deposit the $600.00 each semester and thats it. Now I realize other ROTC's may do thing differently and there is a need to check with them, I was just relaying how our school works.

I do agree with you that you had better be prepared to pay for your books upfront since the money does not come on the first day. All your class fees will be paid with the tuition only scholarship.

The biggest thing to remember is that you will get all different answers for questions about how the ROTC works, every battalion is different in some way or another. When I received the Superior Cadet Award I received a $750.00 check deposited to my personal account, the cadets at a nearby school did not receive any money with their award. Like I said we're not all the same so make a list of questions and talk to your PMS.
 
Here are some sites that might help you out with textbooks.

FreeloadPress.com
Freebookexpress.com
textswap.com

The school library may carry texts.

Also Amazon is a great resource for buying used books.
 
When will an AROTC cadet have to provide his bank account direct deposit info? Is it during the summer? Or at the time of contracting?

Son will be opening an account with a hometown branch of the the bank that's on campus. If the account info is due to the army before he turns 18 in August, that may affect the type of account he opens.

Not a big issue. Just curious.
 
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