How Rhodes/Marshall affects commissioning

I am applying for both the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships as a member of ROTC, and I wanted to check a few questions. I know that previous winners from ROTC have delayed commissioning for 2-3 years to attend school in England on their scholarships. My question is- what happens with respect to my branching etc? I am planning on ADSOing for post and branch (I know that's ironic as I am applying for these ultra-competitive scholarships, so be it). If I receive my branch of choice, and then get the scholarship, will I be branched into that afterwards? If not, would my ADSO contract be voided? Same question for ADSO for post. This could be a decade of obligation, so I'd like to know what happens!

As for the scholarships, I am well-aware of how competitive they are. All that I can say, so as to avoid further describing myself, is that I am a very competitive applicant.

AR350-1 identifies the obligation if taking the Rhodes or Marshall Scholarships.

These scholarships for ROTC graduates come with an ADSO. However, it is concurrent with your ROTC ADSO so the post and branch ADSO won't increase your time as it would be concurrent with the Graduate Scholarship ADSO of six years. You are also required to complete a utilization tour associated with your graduate education.

You would be accessed and commission with your normal graduating class.

jonathan.banks25 said:

I am applying for both the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships as a member of ROTC, and I wanted to check a few questions. I know that previous winners from ROTC have delayed commissioning for 2-3 years to attend school in England on their scholarships. My question is- what happens with respect to my branching etc? I am planning on ADSOing for post and branch (I know that's ironic as I am applying for these ultra-competitive scholarships, so be it). If I receive my branch of choice, and then get the scholarship, will I be branched into that afterwards? If not, would my ADSO contract be voided? Same question for ADSO for post. This could be a decade of obligation, so I'd like to know what happens!

As for the scholarships, I am well-aware of how competitive they are. All that I can say, so as to avoid further describing myself, is that I am a very competitive applicant.

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May I suggest you use something other than what looks like your real name? This is an anonymous opinion forum, not a a FB-type social sharing site. Your identity, privacy and safety are better protected that way. It will also help people to resist searching the name in a string with "ROTC," especially if you indicated you didn't want to further describe yourself. If it's not, all is well.

If you don't have enough posts (5) to pm a mod, just mention it here, and a mod will notice, or someone will bring it to their attention.

I am also surprised your ROTC chain of command doesn't know the answers to these career-related questions. Given the post above, you can always assume your service is going to have a regulation covering it. I only know how it works at USNA, where the UK Scholars group is mentored by professors and leadership as they work on applications to various post-grad scholarships, and the mids are very clear as to their obligation and service selection status.

jonathan.banks25 said:

I am applying for both the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships as a member of ROTC, and I wanted to check a few questions. I know that previous winners from ROTC have delayed commissioning for 2-3 years to attend school in England on their scholarships. My question is- what happens with respect to my branching etc? I am planning on ADSOing for post and branch (I know that's ironic as I am applying for these ultra-competitive scholarships, so be it). If I receive my branch of choice, and then get the scholarship, will I be branched into that afterwards? If not, would my ADSO contract be voided? Same question for ADSO for post. This could be a decade of obligation, so I'd like to know what happens!

As for the scholarships, I am well-aware of how competitive they are. All that I can say, so as to avoid further describing myself, is that I am a very competitive applicant.

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What branch are you hoping for? Just curious because the path you want to take will have a significant impact on your career depending on branch.

I can only speak for AF, but you would get your follow on from the onset. Hornetguy, Christcorps DS both did a RAND fellowship out of USAFA. They both knew upon commissioning what their next assignment would be 3 years later.

I know that many USMA grads over the years here received a Rhodes scholarship. I would suggest you look at their stats. Not saying you are not competitive, just saying that you might garner insight into where your strengths and weaknesses lie from a competition perspective. I am also not trying to divert the thread.

Good luck.

@AROTC Parent I believe that the link you were referring to is AR 350-100. If anyone looking is interested, the discussion of these scholarships is in section 3-4.

However, @AROTC Parent that didn't quite answer my question. It said that the 6-year ADSO for these programs is served concurrently with my initial 4-year ADSO, which means that if I'm doing a 2-year program, I will graduate and have a 4-year ADSO remaining - no problem. But I don't understand where you're getting that the post and branch ADSOs won't add to that consecutively. Don't post and branch ADSOs (6- year total) add to the end of my initial 4-year ADSO? Why would they all of a sudden be served concurrently with the 6-year Rhodes/Marshall ADSO, which is served concurrently with my initial 4-year ADSO?

@Capt MJ There's nothing to worry about. Not my real name.

@-Bull- I'm going for infantry. What kind of impacts on my career would you anticipate, any negative ones?

@Pima I'vs been studying those guys' (and girls') stats, and I believe mine are comparable. There's obviously the major major factor of luck of the draw and the possibility of even more distinguished applicants, but it's something I feel I can think about, though certainly not expect.

jonathan.banks25 said:

@-Bull- I'm going for infantry. What kind of impacts on my career would you anticipate, any negative ones?

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I misread your initial post my first time through. If you are able to delay your commissioning until after grad school it will not affect you as much. But if you are not, you will be significantly behind your peers which will affect your chances for promotion. This problem is not always shared in other branches (mainly AF and Navy) but the Army has requirements for certain jobs you must do for each branch and rank. This is especially important in a combat arms branch. If you miss multiple years for school and don't fill the same jobs your peers are it might come back to hurt you because the Army's personnel system is not really setup to reward what you want to do at the LT level. I saw an article a few years back where a LT was facing not making CPT due to a similar situation. He spent his LT time in school instead of on the line and the Army wasn't going to select him for promotion. I believe GEN Milley got involved on that case.

I'm not saying your endeavors are bad, just want to give you an insight on how the Army's personnel management system rigidly views some of these opportunities instead of being on the line where they want you. That will be an even greater disadvantage if you aspire to join the Infantry.

jonathan.banks25 said:

@AROTC Parent I believe that the link you were referring to is AR 350-100. If anyone looking is interested, the discussion of these scholarships is in section 3-4.

However, @AROTC Parent that didn't quite answer my question. It said that the 6-year ADSO for these programs is served concurrently with my initial 4-year ADSO, which means that if I'm doing a 2-year program, I will graduate and have a 4-year ADSO remaining - no problem. But I don't understand where you're getting that the post and branch ADSOs won't add to that consecutively. Don't post and branch ADSOs (6- year total) add to the end of my initial 4-year ADSO? Why would they all of a sudden be served concurrently with the 6-year Rhodes/Marshall ADSO, which is served concurrently with my initial 4-year ADSO?

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Don't post and branch ADSOs (6- year total) add to the end of my initial 4-year ADSO?

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- Not per Rule 2 Note 2 in table 3-1. The total initial ADSO from ROTC would be 6 years even with both the post and branch ADSO.


banks25 - you are correct 350-100 in the APD website.... I will try to correct the link too. I'm not sure either of us are correct in interpreting the ADSO having reread both posts and the regulation. Are Rhodes/Marshall 2 years of graduate school? If so you will serve 6 years, at least, after your post graduate degree. My interpretation is that the Post/Branch ADSO are also considered part of your 'initial ADSO' if accepted. Review Rule 2 and applicable Note 2 - "ADSO is served concurrently with all ADSOs except for civilian schooling."- this should commit you to only 6 years in your initial ADSO (ROTC + Post and Branch).

"Time spent attending one of these specified graduate programs will not be credited toward fulfilling an existing USMA or ROTC ADSO." - This is the 2 years in England or wherever. "a. Officers participating in 2-year designated “partially funded” civilian education programs following commissioning will incur an additional 6-year ADSO, to be served concurrently with their initial ADSO."

See if your Cadre know a good S1 from Cadet Command to confirm.