Are scholarships guaranteed?

My son received a 3 year AD scholarship (AROTC) last year out of high school.

He is at his unit, and loving everything so far. They just found out today that there are cuts coming in the available contract slots (1500 nationwide?). My son has not yet contracted due to being on a 3yr AD scholarship. He is supposed to contract before the start of his Sophomore year.

So, the question is: Assuming he meets standards (PT, grades, DODMERB), is his contract/scholarship guaranteed? Or can AROTC back out of the offer since he ins't contracted yet?

kcdale99 said:

My son received a 3 year AD scholarship (AROTC) last year out of high school.

He is at his unit, and loving everything so far. They just found out today that there are cuts coming in the available contract slots (1500 nationwide?). My son has not yet contracted due to being on a 3yr AD scholarship. He is supposed to contract before the start of his Sophomore year.

So, the question is: Assuming he meets standards (PT, grades, DODMERB), is his contract/scholarship guaranteed? Or can AROTC back out of the offer since he ins't contracted yet?

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First, the cuts you read about are not for the total available ROTC slots, but for the slots available for the class year following your son. They manage this stuff on a class year basis, calculating how many officers they expect to lose to retirement etc. and how many officers they will need from ROTC to replace them at the beginning of the pipeline each year.

And in some sense, your son's scholarship is guaranteed. It would take something extremely radical to cause it to be withdrawn without cause. As long as he meets standards and keeps his nose clean he should be fine.

All that being said, as I recall even the contract says something to the effect that it can be terminated by SecDef at any time for any, or no, reason. So, like most things in life, nothing is absolutely guaranteed.

kcdale99 said:

They just found out today that there are cuts coming in the available contract slots (1500 nationwide?).

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What is this blasphemy of which you are speaking?!

Can you tell me where you read this? My son is currently going through the AROTC application process and will be a college freshman the fall of 2014.

My son heard this today from his Cadre. That is as much as I know. He called worried because he hasn't contracted yet.

He was also just informed that he has to go up to Bn HQ for a PT test later this month. They are sending up the cadets who are contract ready so he feels much better now.

kcdale99 said:

My son heard this today from his Cadre. That is as much as I know. He called worried because he hasn't contracted yet.

He was also just informed that he has to go up to Bn HQ for a PT test later this month. They are sending up the cadets who are contract ready so he feels much better now.

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I'm sure he was overly concerned. And yet that edginess is helpful in driving them to achieve. I'm sure he'll do well.

News flash...the Army is getting smaller and the budget is getting tighter. Something none of us can control.

clarksonarmy said:

News flash...the Army is getting smaller and the budget is getting tighter. Something none of us can control.

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Pretty much, with thousands of soldiers getting cut I am sure a few of those cuts are meant for future 2LTs. Facts are facts the Army isn't going to need as many 2LTs on ACTIVE as before but you will probably see more dedicated GFRD scholarships. So take heart in that.

clarksonarmy said:

News flash...the Army is getting smaller and the budget is getting tighter. Something none of us can control.

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+1

Many people think the sequester for was just one yr., but the reality is because of the sequester for the next 9 Fiscal Years, the DoD must cut their budget by 10% every yr.

This is the early 90's all over again!

JMPO, if we could get back to a 5-6% unemployment rate than a lot of this would resolve itself. People would walk out the door at 4 yrs.

If we could get the educational costs at college under control, it would also change how many take the ROTC path.