Bruno,
I concur if you want to argue about whether ROTC should be cut regarding the 600 BN that the DOD will have to cut over the next 10 yrs than it is probably best to go over to the off topic since ROTC is just a small amount of the financial aspect for each and every branch.
However, if you want to discuss will this impact my cadet/mid at school or my hs student applying, the thread needs to remain here and alive.
Yesterday on the news regarding these cuts, a spokesperson stated that AD bennies, including combat pay may be realigned. If they realign the AD world, they may turn back and say no more book stipend or even harder cap on tuition reimbursement regardless of private or public.
It is important to understand that as I always have said the devil is in the details. The details for an ROTC student is to understand you have yet to raise your right hand and taken the oath of office as an AD member, until that point the contract will have wiggle room.
Read it carefully, there are a lot of escape clauses for the military to drop the scholarship, not so much for the ROTC cadet.
It was written in this way to protect the DOD.
Marist,
I get what you were trying to say, but 5K for a CC is insane. CC's don't cost 5K a yr. They also typically don't have ROTC, so where would they train for the 1st 2 yrs.
Creating a 2/2 contract for community college students would provide incredible savings for 4 yr scholarships:
Year 1: $5,000 (Community College)
Year 2: $5,000 (Community College)
Year 3: $30,000 (Private College)
Year 4: $30,000 (Private College)
Additionally, for the AFROTC system it is not only broken down for intended majors, but Type.
Type 7 will only pay IS tuition, which usually runs around 9K for expensive IS, you cannot make up the cost between the scholarship and tuition, if they school charges 9500 you are SOL. They make up @75% of scholarships.
Type 2 4 yr only pays 18K, but the cadet can pay the difference, they make up 20%. The cadet that gets a Type 7 can convert to Type 2 3 yr, but tops at 18K a yr, yet it allows them to attend their college knowing that if it is 20K they will pay out of pocket 2 K
Type 1, 5% of all scholarships, says go and be free, we will cover the entire tuition. 95% of them are STEM.
In essence, the AF using your model of 70K is still cheaper. Type 7 that converts tops out at 54K. 75% are type 7.
Type 2, 20% of cadets, get 18K for 4 yrs. 72K total.
Type 1, 5% may get 25K a yr in tuition for 4 yrs. 100K.
However, when you avg 75% with 54K max if all convert to Type 2 3 yr, 20% 72K, and 5% 100 K. The cost is going to be lower than the 70K on the worst day.
AFROTC also does the no SFT, scholarship yanked and no points are awarded for scholarship. Hence, that number may be reduced even further. SFT occurs at the Army's MSII yr or LDAC. There is no 100% guarantee.
dunninla
Re: Host Colleges, reduction of
That is not as simiple as it might at first appear. The issue isn't just one of Host, you also have a "presence", if you will, at Affiliate campuses in a spoke around the Host.
Then the more fundamental issue: Does the presence of ROTC on a college campus serve critical purposes other than Officer Accession? What about advertising, marketing? Is there a political purpose achieved by having ROTC at Harvard that is far more important than the 3-4 officers that will commission out of Harvard annually in future years?
Yes you are correct it is a marketing tool. However, it is a manpower issue too. Host ROTC units pay fees (leasing) to the colleges for their command space. It is easier to break that lease than a BRAC.
In the end the cadets/mids would still be walking advertisement on campus, but the branch has saved money.
They may determine that the return is not worth it. If you believe Harvard students will change their mind about their military perceptions, great, BUT IMPO, it is a waste of money. Money we no longer have to spend.
ROTC is going to have to take a hit. It really is the bridge between SA commissioned, and OCS/OTS commissioned. It is cheaper than an SA, more expensive than OCS.
Most importantly, before we all deem ROTC DOA, look at each branch.
As I illustrated, Army has not utilized to this point the tier/type system, nor STEM. Navy and Army send 100% for what the AF calls SFT (55% acceptance). AF does not utilize SMP. There are alot of shades of gray that each branch can use to cut costs.
I would not be shocked if after these cuts, the ROTC selection process becomes more unified, taking the best from each system.