Hello, I am currently a freshman a civilian institution in the 2nd brigade. I was awarded a 3-year AD scholarship back in the April of my senior year (2011) of high school to my school of choice because of my out-of-state status with the school. Would it be possible to move my scholarship over to Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets over at the 4th Brigade by the start of the 2012 Fall semester? I've been doing some research and I believe that attending an SMC would be most beneficial to me. They have can guarantee active duty, whereas my school cannot.
Moving 3-Year Advanced Designee AROTC scholarship to SMC?
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There is that old saying....Anything is possible. That being said it will be pretty tough to get a transfer from one Brigade to another, I believe Marist has said it is almost impossible. If you are dead set on switching schools and ROTC to a school in a different brigade you should be prepared to give up the scholarship.
You should probably call the battalion at the school you are looking to attend and talk with the cadre to get a feel for the situation.
Hopefully Clarkson or Marist will chime in with more detailed information.
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Going to be very hard to go from one brigade to another. I'm going to guess it's not going to happen, but the only way you are going to know for sure is to ask your Battalion. If you are worried about getting AD you need to get good grades, and do well in all you do, or get ready to pay to go to an SMC.
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If getting a guaranteed AD slot is your main rationale for going to a SMC I would ask that you rethink your plan of action and the perceived benefits you have identified (Not saying don't do it ). As the sir (Clarkson) said, by getting good grades, PTing hard and doing well at LDAC you will set yourself up easily for AD. Seriously, average or slightly below average performers get AD...
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Good grades will not be an issue for me. It's just that in light of recent military downsizing, I'm scared for the shrinking of the quota for active duty military officers and I want to do anything I can to guarantee an active duty slot.
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Then I would suggest simply excelling where you are. Make them want YOU. Unless, of course you think there are other issues where you are.
While it is true that SMC graduates are guaranteed an active duty slot, there are still a few variables that can keep you from commissioning. You still have to pass your DoDMERB. You still have to succeessfully complete LDAC. I think you get the picture.
The "where you graduate from" part of the equation is only part of your satisfaction with your military career outcome. You still are assigned your branch based upon where you rack and stack after LDAC. The highest 20% of cadets are almost certain to get the branch they desire. To maximize this outcome, you should attend a school where you will be able to achieve top grades while having the maximum time available to actively participate in the leadership of your unit, take on outside ECs, and all the other things that go into your WPS.
Right now, relatively few cadets seeking AD and put in the hard work necessary to get top grades (>3.25 GPA) and succeed in ROTC (PT, Land Nav, etc.) fail to get AD. Even if they were to cut the number of commissions to the lowest level since WWII, the majority of cadets will still get AD commissions if they want it.
I think you worry too much about the things you cannot control (i.e. the number of 2nd Lieutenants to be commissioned in any year) and worry too little about the things you can control (where you go to school, where you won't have the financial stress of rounding up enough loans to pay your tuition). I suggest you accept the 3-yr AD scholarship unless you find the school very objectionable or money is not an issue for your family.