Questions About Comissioning.

MIDNMartin18

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Oct 12, 2014
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Good Afternoon All,

I know I've been posting all over the board recently, so I applogize.
My question is this: is it true that if you attend a school like VMI or the Citadel that you can commission as long as you chose to do so? What I mean is that as long as you want to be an officer you CAN become one instead of having to get a scholarship like NROTC requires or basic training for Air Force. Also, how does one determine if they want to go Navy/Air Force/Marines/Army?
Thank you for your time.

V/r
 
Good Afternoon All,

I know I've been posting all over the board recently, so I applogize.
My question is this: is it true that if you attend a school like VMI or the Citadel that you can commission as long as you chose to do so? What I mean is that as long as you want to be an officer you CAN become one instead of having to get a scholarship like NROTC requires or basic training for Air Force. Also, how does one determine if they want to go Navy/Air Force/Marines/Army?
Thank you for your time.

V/r

VMI and Citadel are two of Six Senior Military Colleges. All SMC 's require ROTC participation but allow a cadet the option of commissioning or not. AROTC at most colleges reserve the right to offer NG or reserves as oppposed to active duty (AD). However at a SMC you are guaranteed AD so long as you are in good standing with the AROTC Professor of Military Science. AF and NROTC generally only contract for AD.

While a good percentage commission into a military branch, many opt to go to grad school or start a civilian career.

Because you are an NROTC college programmer and financials are of importance to you, you might consider one of the SMC's that offer in state tuition for members if the corps of cadets. These include TAMU & I believe University of North Georgia.
 
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So if I went to VMI, the Citadel, VT, Texas A&M and the like, I could become a Naval Officer if I maintain good standing and want to go Active Duty?
 
So if I went to VMI, the Citadel, VT, Texas A&M and the like, I could become a Naval Officer if I maintain good standing and want to go Active Duty?

Yes, but you have to be in the NROTC unit. The school does not award commissions; the ROTC programs do.
 
Also, how does one determine if they want to go Navy/Air Force/Marines/Army?

I am sure if I am far off base I will be quickly corrected. Personal preference is a factor but if wanting to be an Officer so is your choice of college major. Take a look at post on here of how the Army OML listings will be affected by new changes next year. In particular if you choose to be a STEM major. As the military streamlines so does your choices....

Does the Navy take many officers now that are not techincal majors of some sort.... ex.... computers, engineering etc?

I did not hear my DS (Army) say anyone at his SMC did not get AD that wanted it. You may not get your first chioce be aware of that, but I think most if not all got AD that wanted it.
 
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Did your son provide any insight as to why the PMS did not recommend those two particular cadets for AD?
 
Correct me if I am wrong on this… If you attend an SMC, ROTC will be required, even if you do not commission. North Georgia is AROTC only. I think Texas A&M requires it the first two years for those who are not choosing to commission (but not 100% on that). VA Tech I believe has a track for those that who do not want to commission that does not include ROTC, but still participate in the Corps.

The commissioning path for each service is different. I believe the "guarantee" of active duty for those in good standing is for the Army. Obviously as folks have posted, this is not a guarantee, especially with downsizing, but your chances at an SMC are pretty good.
For the Navy side I believe you will need to either receive a scholarship at some point or receive Advanced Standing after your Sophomore year to receive a commission via ROTC. Air Force I believe the determination is made at the end of your Sophomore year if you are selected for Field Training. Those who are on scholarship who are not selected, will then be dis-enrolled and the remaining college is on your dime. That is why you hear AFROTC scholarships referred to as 2+2. And also being on scholarship or not, does not impact whether you are picked up for field training. So each service has its own nuances on the path to commission. I think the important part is to pick a SMC that fits you best and can be completed with or without a scholarship. Each school has its own rules for Cadets on tuition and room & board costs. There are tons of threads on this forum about these schools.
 
Navy Commissioning

MidNMartin18

Agree with what is posted here in response to your questions. No college including an SMC, guarantees a commission. You may receive more support and be with more like minded individuals at an SMC, but this still leaves the performance in your hands. Consider also that a Navy Commission outside of the USNA from any college (SMC included) is becoming increasingly more difficult. A STEM major and doing well in these college courses, will make you a more competitive candidate. The Army ROTC program at SMCs is the only ROTC program that as of this date still offers a promise of active duty - on the assumption you meet all the academic, medical and ROTC course performance, and other needs of the Army for commissioning AND your PMC approves of you going on active duty - for your first tour of duty. After this tour, it is up to your performance whether you are offered additional tours.

I went on The Citadel NROTC site and it directs prospective ROTC Midshipmen to the Navy's NROTC site. Note the minimum required classes in Calculus and Physics - whatever major you choose. The Marine option, like the Army, I believe still commissions many liberal arts graduates without a STEM major: (the following is from the Navy ROTC site check it out)

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME IN NROTC?

NROTC midshipmen are required to complete the course of study prescribed by the college or university that they attend. Due to the increasing complexity of today's Navy, Navy option midshipmen are required to complete the equivalent of two semesters of calculus before the end of their sophomore year and two semesters of calculus based physics before the end of their junior year.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER GRADUATION?
Upon graduation, midshipmen who complete all academic requirements in the NROTC program are commissioned as Ensigns in the Navy or Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Although it is not current policy, in the future some midshipmen may be commissioned temporarily into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Midshipmen without scholarships may also receive a commission through the College Program.
 
People are overlooking the fact that commissioning opportunities are tied to the number of slots given to each program; each ROTC unit is given a yearly quota of AD commissions and once filled there are no other chances unless someone wants to apply to OCS, with tighter budgets and another drawdown underway the days of commissioning anyone who wants one is over and the competition for available slots will get ratcheted up considerably, additionally the Navy and Air Force are mostly interested in STEM majors so the liberal arts types are more and more limited to the Army and Marine Corps. More opportunities in the guard and reserve but with even those components being downsized fewer slots than in the past.
 
At VMI this current year they brought in 26 NROTC Scholarship Rats

I think it broke down to 18 Navy Option and 8 Marine Option. Over the next couple of years that will grow this number and commission about 58 (2014 numbers 35 Navy and 23 Marine) some with be awarded two or three year in-house scholarships. My DS is a Tier 1 Navy Option 4-year scholarship student. VMI only offers Mechanical Engineering as a qualified Tier 1 Degree Program.

So NROTC says that 80% of scholarships go to Tier 1 and 2 (they do not say how many in each) Now my guess is that the Tier 3 chances are shrinking for NROTC. Marine Option does not use the Tier system as far as I know and tend to have a lighter degree load on whole (less calculus more physical). Navy also requires a 2.5 GPA each semester vs Marine 2.0. With the Colonels permission you can change from T1 to T2. No chance going to T3 without the Admirals nod.

Best advice I can give is to pick an avenue that you are qualified and desire to do. VMI is a challenge, show up in great physical shape - run, sit ups, pull ups, run some more. Bring a humble attitude, you will spend 4 months of learning to embrace the suck (some call it hazing, but that is not allowed and there are very strict rules on what can be said and done to your Rat. Rats will be pushed to their limits, never enough time to complete your tasks or achieve the results to the level you think you can.) Being ready for the ratline will help your academic success. 2nd semester gets much better. Cadets will learn about 10 years of life lessons in those 4 months, and will be awesome leaders when they graduate.
 
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