ROTC Question

Darrowboat

Prospective Officer
5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
36
Hello everybody!

I frequently visit these forums (although this is my first post) and would like to thank everyone for all the helpful information provided here.

Now on to the matter at hand:

During October I completed my NROTC scholarship application/interview/package/etc. I am eagerly awaiting results on that! I applied for the Marine option scholarship and my number one choice college was UT Austin (already accepted there and will pay in-state tuition). That university also has an AROTC program.

During my interview, the Captain asked whether or not I had applied to the ROTC programs of any of the other branches. I honestly answered no and was not planning on it (I also indicated this in my application). He said that this was good because it shows my commitment to the Marine Corps.
Now today, I received a random call from an Army recruiter notifying me that an AROTC recruiter will be at my school tomorrow if I wanted to meet with him.

Now the question is, would it be wrong of me or negatively impact me if I applied for the Army ROTC scholarship to UT Austin purely as a plan B if the Marine Corps doesn't grant me a scholarship?

Thank you in advance to everybody!
 
I don't see it as a problem at all, many cadets change their paths/options so don't feel locked down after telling the recruiter you weren't planning on doing any other ROTC.
 
AROTC recruiter visiting

+1 to Aglahad. You answered truthfully at the time you answered the question. But plans are always subject to change. You should meet with the recruiter and if you're interested in applying to AROTC go ahead and do so. I expect if you had told the Captain you were also considering AROTC he would have said "Good. It shows your commitment to serving".

Because of my DS I'm gung-ho Marines but AROTC has more scholarships to give out since its a much larger service. (I couldn't talk my son into it though :biggrin:) Go for it if you want to. You aren't breaking any moral bond.
 
I agree you should think you created a moral conundrum. You answered honestly, but it now places a new conundrum. What if you don't get the plan A, but plan B, is it because you want to be in the Army, or is it because financially it is beneficial to you and your family?

The thing is college is 4 yrs, 30 weeks a yr, 20 hrs a week in classes at the college of your choice in major you select. When you commission it is 4 yrs at least, 365 days, 52 weeks, and 40 hrs+ at the base/post they choose in a field they determine.

Be prepared to give 110% either way. The cliche: I just want to serve in any way. Wears very thin when you are serving in your plan B branch, in your plan B career field, at a base/post you never wanted to be assigned to for 4 yrs.

I am not saying that once you go plan B you won't fall in love with it, get plan A, yadda, yadda, yadda. I am saying, be prepared when you accept the scholarship for plan B, that this is a possibility, and ask yourself at this time in my life, am I going this route for ease (financial) or for the love of serving in any manner?

Only you can answer that question. This forum is great, but as a parent, I would really stress to talk to your folks. We don't know you, what your dreams are, what motivates you regarding the military. They do. Most importantly, come 4 yrs from now, we won't be at your commissioning crying as you take the oath. Parents cry for many reasons...tears of joy that your dream came true, tears of sorrow and guilt that because of taking a scholarship, you now owe yrs of your life in a career you only chose because financially it was the only option.

Talk to the folks. If they play the we only want you happy scenario, than be the adult, and push the subject until they give their opinion. If they are like 99% of parents they have one, they are just being silent because they want you not to be impacted by their opinion.
 
Thank you everybody for the responses! I have decided I will meet with the Army recruiter this morning.
In reply to Pima, I would like to serve no matter what branch it is I'm joining, I just feel like if I had to choose one it would be the Marine Corps. I would still be absolutely stoked if I was given the opportunity to commission as an officer into the Army.
Thank you all again.
 
The cliche: I just want to serve in any way. Wears very thin when you are serving in your plan B branch, in your plan B career field, at a base/post you never wanted to be assigned to for 4 yrs..
and you know this... how?
 
Before I respond dunninla, is that comment directed specifically to me? I don't want to assume anything, Nor would I want to divert the thread if not needed.

If it is directed to me, I can give you multiple examples of ADAF officers that signed the dotted line and illusion didn't meet reality. I can also give you multiple AFROTC cadets that realized at a later date this wasn't their path. foebux is .questioning it now as a C300 aka MSIII. He may be stuck living a life of plan B.

The OP is choosing between 2 very distinct branches regarding missions. As I stated before he needs to talk to his folks, we don't know him, his dreams, his aspirations. We won't be on the other end of the phone call. This is a decision best left with the family. It impacts their family.
 
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My ROTC application experience was very similar. I applied for both Army and Marine Corps. Originally I wanted Marines the most. However, I started to lean more for Army throughout my senior year. I am now a freshman with an AROTC scholarship, I am very happy with the choice I made. One reason I chose Army was because it was a larger branch which leads to more opportunities of branching and career advancement. But it comes down to what you want to do. If you are happy with any branch like I was; then cultivate as many plans as you want. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Especially when you are dealing with the differences of funding between the Marine Corps and Army. From what I know, last year there were about 200 Marine scholarships awarded compared to about 2000 Army scholarships. The Marines also weigh in your physical fitness above all the other branches. I am at a tri-service school and I know one Marine Option Midshipmen who was told he got a scholarship just because of his PFT score. I can tell you I did not get a Marine scholarship due to my PFT score because my recruiter told me. This is not to discourage you at all. Just make sure you are working hard. If you legitimately want to serve; someone will see your passion.
 
My ROTC application experience was very similar. I applied for both Army and Marine Corps. Originally I wanted Marines the most. However, I started to lean more for Army throughout my senior year. I am now a freshman with an AROTC scholarship, I am very happy with the choice I made. One reason I chose Army was because it was a larger branch which leads to more opportunities of branching and career advancement. But it comes down to what you want to do. If you are happy with any branch like I was; then cultivate as many plans as you want. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Especially when you are dealing with the differences of funding between the Marine Corps and Army. From what I know, last year there were about 200 Marine scholarships awarded compared to about 2000 Army scholarships. The Marines also weigh in your physical fitness above all the other branches. I am at a tri-service school and I know one Marine Option Midshipmen who was told he got a scholarship just because of his PFT score. I can tell you I did not get a Marine scholarship due to my PFT score because my recruiter told me. This is not to discourage you at all. Just make sure you are working hard. If you legitimately want to serve; someone will see your passion.

Thank you for the reply! Your experience sounds very similar to what I'm going through. I am basically trying to decide which branch I would be more suited to. As for the Marine PFT, I scored a 298. I worked my butt off all summer long because I have absolutely no sports on my application and knew I would need to show that I am still physically capable despite that fact.
 
As for meeting the recruiter today, he actually did not show up at my school but I am considering scheduling a private meeting anyways. Thank you again for all of the input.
 
Thank you for the reply! Your experience sounds very similar to what I'm going through. I am basically trying to decide which branch I would be more suited to. As for the Marine PFT, I scored a 298. I worked my butt off all summer long because I have absolutely no sports on my application and knew I would need to show that I am still physically capable despite that fact.

298 is truly an awesome score for an applicant. Hell... it's an awesome score for a Marine. Well done. That should certainly grab someone's attention. But despite what someone said earlier, its not all about the PFT score - although Marine Option does emphasize it more than the other services.
 
I couldn't agree more Kinnem.

Too easy to say it is all about the PFT score for Marine Option. The total package from grades, leadership positions, application, essays, extra curriculars, interview AND physical fitness makes the difference.

As demonstrated time and again in practice (and reported on this forum) there are candidates who have top PFT scores who don't get a scholarship and others with good (but not great) scores who do.

If there is any consistent measure, it may be that a candidate needs a 1st class PFT score but I am sure there may be an exception out there somewhere.
 
That is an excellent score ("excellent" may actually be an understatement)! Yes results can be different among applicants. I do know of another Marine Option Midshipman on scholarship who did his 3 mile run in 27 minutesb but his academics were outstanding. But at least you know the PFT score is one thing you do not need to worry about. Good luck with the rest of the application process!:thumb:
 
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