ROTCaspirant
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If an Army ROTC cadet chooses to go Reserve, what is the commitment? Does the value of the scholarship remain the same, or will part of it have to be paid back?
AROTC Reserve Option
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ROTCaspirant
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Is it eight years of Active Reserve? Also, has the Army always offered the Reserve option, or is this a new thing because of recent cutbacks? In other words, might they do away with this option in four years?
EDelahanty
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ROTC = Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Yes, it is eight years of Active Reserve, which often becomes a mix of Active Reserve, and Active Duty, especially over the past ten years. Reserve does not guarantee staying Reserve... Active is always a possibility as needs of the Active Army merit calling up Reserves.
The Army is unlikely to do away with the Reserve option, since currently Reserves are understaffed. If anything, the Army is leaning toward a mix of less Active, and more Reserve, with Reserve having an increasing chance of getting called up as needed to supplement the leaner Active component. It is more economically efficient that way.
This is incorrect. There is no requirement to serve as an SMP cadet.
Jcc123 is correct.
A scholarship or non scholarship cadet can request Reserve/National Guard at the beginning of their MS4 year. They do not need to be in the SMP program or join the NG/Reserve prior to commissioning.
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Unfortunately the "Reserve" in reserve officer training corps has nothing to do with the Reserves anymore. Back in the day only a handful of ROTC grads got Regular Army commissions and the rest got USAR commissions. Not the case anymore, so that "Reserve" doesn't mean a thing.
Some of you are confusing going Reserve with accepting or converting a scholarship to GRFD. If you convert it's still the same scholarship, but you have to join the guard/reserves and SMP. You can also choose to access into the reserves or guard when you graduate. You don't need to be SMP to do that.
And, the Reserve option has been in place for at least 10 years (wow...I've been doing this a long time). It will continue to be an option, because we are currently being encouraged to be at least 30% GRFD and expect to put 50% or our graduates in the Guard/Reserves (unless they adjust our mission soon).
Future2LtMom
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Clarkson,
I don't want to divert the thread, but your statement above definitely caught my eye since my son is an MS1. I recall that someone said in another thread that 70% of those in AROTC that want active duty, get active duty (I believe it was Jcleppe or EDelahanty). Based on what's coming down from above, do you feel that's still the case, or are those numbers going to have to come down?
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No telling what the percentage will be in two years. Hopefully Cadet Command adjusts missions and manages expectations, but don't count on it.
I don't think I've ever seen a number of 70%, unless they were including SMCs and Academies. That 70% may also be once you strip out all the GRFDs and Cadets who choose Guard/Reserves. The overall number is looking to be around 50% for the next few years, meaning half of all AROTC Cadets will end up serving in the Guard/Reserves.
What you and your son don't need to do is worry about things he can't control. What he can control are his grades, his fitness, and his participation. Beyond that he's at the mercy of the "needs of the Army" if he wants to become an Army Officer and lead America's sons and daughters some day.
I don't think I've ever seen a number of 70%, unless they were including SMCs and Academies. That 70% may also be once you strip out all the GRFDs and Cadets who choose Guard/Reserves. The overall number is looking to be around 50% for the next few years, meaning half of all AROTC Cadets will end up serving in the Guard/Reserves.
What you and your son don't need to do is worry about things he can't control. What he can control are his grades, his fitness, and his participation. Beyond that he's at the mercy of the "needs of the Army" if he wants to become an Army Officer and lead America's sons and daughters some day.
When I posted the approx. 70% your right, it was after removing the GRFD and those that selected Guard/Reserves. With the new Special Branching Program those numbers can get a bit skewed.