so, the AROTC board meets today!!!

Good luck to everybody who is eligible for the first AROTC board evaluation!!!

I think's it's 50-50 for my son.

I am really hoping the results, one way or the other, are available soon: it's very close to the ED deadline for a few schools on my son's list.

You have all done a terrific job in educating me throughout this process and I thank you all.

Same to you brother

Good luck to all. The one thing I know is that many times candidates undersell themselves when it comes to their chances.

The AROTC board is different because there is the added factor of the actual university. You never know.

Good luck!

Relieved the 25th is finally here and the Board can begin the review. Good luck to everyone! If you are on this site, it demonstrates your commitment to the process - let's just hope the process does not take too long! Any idea where to look for a decision first - website? email? snail mail? And most importantly - WHEN??
Patience - I know, I know - but we're about out of that trait at our house!
Best of luck everyone!

Good luck to you all.

agp312 said:

Any idea where to look for a decision first - website? email? snail mail? And most importantly - WHEN??
Patience - I know, I know - but we're about out of that trait at our house!
Best of luck everyone!

Click to expand...

Last year, you noticed a status change on the ROTC website first. Basically it changed form "you have been selected for an interview" to something in regards to DoDMERB. It took (3) weeks for the decision to come thru....

For my daughter (*if* I remember correctly):

Jan 5-8: Board met

Jan 28: Status changed on board

Jan 29: Called PMS and told him about status change. He was able to look it up in his system and saw daughter was awarded 4 year scholarship and at what schools.

Jan 31 or Feb 1: Scholarship award and schools list came on ROTC website

Feb 6: Received scholarship paperwork in the mail

June 17: yes, JUNE, finally cleared all the DoDMERB hoops/hurdles to "Officially" get the scholarship

I know it won't be easy because I'm terrible with patience as well but even if you get the scholarship in this first round, that is just the beginning. It's a long haul thru the DoDMERB process. Even after you get to school, you still have to pass the PFT testing and then do ALOT more paperwork before any money gets paid back and the stipends can begin. My daughter passed teh PFT on teh 1st try back in early Sept and her stipends will just start this month. Tuition reimbursement won't occur until Thnaksgiving from what I'm told.

Wow!

Thanks for the time line info on yoru daughter's experience last year. It does seem like you pass one hurdle and then you hit the next!
Something you mentioned alarmed me - when you say tuition reimbursement did not begin until now, does that mean you had to pay up front for the first semester to her university and then you receive a check back??
That is food for thought - some of our son's schools are out of our price range, even for a semester! Wish all this was spelled out more clearly on the front end.
Well, we wait and see -

agp, I think the tuition payment situation varies by school.

For my son, his school knew of his scholarship in May (I think) because he had passed DoDMERB at that point. Because they knew so early, his first bill showed a credit equal to what they anticipated receiving from the Army. Accordingly, the amount we owed was only a fraction and that's what we paid.

Son was fortunate and passed his PFT on the first try, Aug 21. Prior to the test, the PMS made it clear that a cadet had to pass the test in order for the the Army to release funds to the college in a timely manner. Anyone who failed on the first try would have to pay tuition and get reimbursed from the Army.

ETA: As a point of reference, Son's scholarship board was the first week of December. It took 5 months to navigate the DoDMERB process and get a waiver for his one remedial issue (orthdontic braces). So, based on that timeline, I can see how it's possible some cadets may not have a scholarship credit before tuition bills go out.

agp312 said:

Thanks for the time line info on yoru daughter's experience last year. It does seem like you pass one hurdle and then you hit the next!
Something you mentioned alarmed me - when you say tuition reimbursement did not begin until now, does that mean you had to pay up front for the first semester to her university and then you receive a check back??
That is food for thought - some of our son's schools are out of our price range, even for a semester! Wish all this was spelled out more clearly on the front end.
Well, we wait and see -

Click to expand...

Yes, at least that's the way it was for her/us. We paid for the 1st semester, minus the food/lodging which is covered by the university for ROTC students. We are expecting to get reimbursed around Thanksgiving or soon thereafter.

After passing the PFT (which we thought was the last hurdle), there was a 4 year college plan and numerous other paperwork issues to muddle thru before "officially" contracting. It's not as seamless as you may be led to believe but they have ALOT of regulations and policies they have to follow so I understand.

k2rider said:

Yes, at least that's the way it was for her/us. We paid for the 1st semester, minus the food/lodging which is covered by the university for ROTC students. We are expecting to get reimbursed around Thanksgiving or soon thereafter.

After passing the PFT (which we thought was the last hurdle), there was a 4 year college plan and numerous other paperwork issues to muddle thru before "officially" contracting. It's not as seamless as you may be led to believe but they have ALOT of regulations and policies they have to follow so I understand.

Click to expand...

Each school and Battalion must handle some things differently.

My son passed his PFT back on August 27th and contracted on Monday August 30th.

The majority of the paperwork was sent in a package from his ROTC battalion, filled out and sent back prior to arriving at school. However, his 4 year college plan was only done a few weeks ago and he's been a contracted cadet since August 30th receiving his stipend starting Sept 15 and was already paid for his books. My son just received the pay for his travel to his college last week.

We chose to use the scholarship for Room and Board. I know the paperwork has been put into the army and from what we have been told, reimbursement will come around mid November on.

Each school handles things differently. Our school delayed his dorm fees but they were only willing to delay them until October 1st and that was it. It didn't matter that we were being reimbursed, the payment was due by October 1st.

im really nervous for my chances!!!! I just cant wait to find out whether i get it or not....whenever that time may be!