I am interested to see the responses. In my years here, I don't ever recall theis question, and I have a funky feeling it has not been asked because the devil is in the details.
~ Read the fine print of the scholarship.
~~ An SA appointment will release them contractually. Failure to pass the PFT will result in not contracting.
Congrats on the scholarship, but truthfully, maybe this isn't discussed because college is four years and NROTC vs AROTC is different regarding commissioning.
~ NROTC will demand Active Duty, there is no Guard/Reserve option.
No offense to AROTC, but if your DS has been awarded an NROTC scholarship this early, I just can't fathom he will not get an AROTC scholarship.
NROTC are STEM driven. 85% go STEM. They care about the intended major. Their avg SAT/ACT scores are much higher than AROTC.
~ it is rare to see an NROTC recipient with less than 28.
~ They are smaller than the Army, hence fewer scholarships.
Ask your DS point blank, you take either scholarship, they will own you the minute you commission for at least 4 years. What do you want to do for those years?
~ Fly helos? Great, what if you don't get that? Do you want to be on à boat or a tank?
~ SEAL/Ranger? Great what if?
College is 30 weeks a year. 20 hours a week in class. They choose the college and their major. Active Duty is 24/7/365 wherever the military decides. Korea, Fort Drum, etc. Is their choice. Public Affairs/Finance are their decision too.
Just saying, look long term now because in a blink of an eye they will commission! Or worse yet, in 18 months from now he may come and say I want out of this ROTC program and change to another ROTC program. That means goodbye scholarship. This is not uncommon. My belief is many bolt because they created an illusion as a 17 yr old that did not match the reality of ROTC.