How many on-campus based ROTC scholarships are offered at an SMC

If a cadet comes in without a 4 year Army scholarship, is he/she able to compete for an on-campus based scholarship at an SMC? I'm guessing there are more scholarships offered at an SMC than at a regular college, but at the same time, hundreds of cadets are competing for that scholarship so I'm wondering if it is 'easier' to get the scholarship at a regular college where there are fewer cadets than at an SMC.

My goal is to get active duty, and I like the idea that if you meet the minimum requirements at an SMC, you will get active duty. This, however, isn't guaranteed at a regular college ROTC.

While SMCs have a larger mission there is a lot more competition.
Playing the averages, or minimums can backfire.
Join a unit and do everything like it is the most important thing in the world.
The best path to active duty is a good GPA and APFT score.
There are plenty of colleges that scholarships but the availability of the scholarship should not be your only reason for selecting that school.
Cast a wide net, contact ROOs. Ask questions.
If you email one a day, after a month you should have a clearer picture.

I go to a senior military college and I am in the corps of cadets. I am in Navy, but I have a lot of Army friends. I was asking my friend who was a junior in Army and he said in his year alone they started with maybe 120-130 cadets his freshmen year, and 80-90 of the Army ROTC cadets were now contracted on scholarship, with 105 juniors still in the unit. The nice thing about Army is if you stay with it and pass the PT test you have a high chance of contracting or being on advanced standing where you can get a stiffen but they don't pay for college. So if your ultimate goal is to commission, a senior military college is a great choice.

VTMIDN said:

I go to a senior military college and I am in the corps of cadets. I am in Navy, but I have a lot of Army friends. I was asking my friend who was a junior in Army and he said in his year alone they started with maybe 120-130 cadets his freshmen year, and 80-90 of the Army ROTC cadets were now contracted on scholarship, with 105 juniors still in the unit. The nice thing about Army is if you stay with it and pass the PT test you have a high chance of contracting or being on advanced standing where you can get a stiffen but they don't pay for college. So if your ultimate goal is to commission, a senior military college is a great choice.

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Which SMC do you attend?

Since you're already at an SMC, do you know whether the majority of cadets that request for active duty get it? (Navy or Army)

I understand that if you perform horribly academically (bad GPA) and in ROTC (low APFT score), then that person will probably not receive active duty even at an SMC.

But if you perform average and meet the minimum/necessary requirements, is it hard to get that PMS recommendation? I'm curious how many cadets request active duty but are denied at an SMC.

Major_Jared said:

VTMIDN said:

I go to a senior military college and I am in the corps of cadets. I am in Navy, but I have a lot of Army friends. I was asking my friend who was a junior in Army and he said in his year alone they started with maybe 120-130 cadets his freshmen year, and 80-90 of the Army ROTC cadets were now contracted on scholarship, with 105 juniors still in the unit. The nice thing about Army is if you stay with it and pass the PT test you have a high chance of contracting or being on advanced standing where you can get a stiffen but they don't pay for college. So if your ultimate goal is to commission, a senior military college is a great choice.

Click to expand...

Which SMC do you attend?

Since you're already at an SMC, do you know whether the majority of cadets that request for active duty get it? (Navy or Army)

I understand that if you perform horribly academically (bad GPA) and in ROTC (low APFT score), then that person will probably not receive active duty even at an SMC.

But if you perform average and meet the minimum/necessary requirements, is it hard to get that PMS recommendation? I'm curious how many cadets request active duty but are denied at an SMC.

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Major_Jared - you have been asking a variation of this same question for nearly two months. Stop perseverating on this question. Choose a college or SMC you can afford without a scholarship, do well academically and in your military science classes, get along with your peers and instructors. If you do this at an SMC or regular university your application for AD will be considered. There are no 100% guarantees at either type of ROTC program.

Major_Jared said:

VTMIDN said:

I go to a senior military college and I am in the corps of cadets. I am in Navy, but I have a lot of Army friends. I was asking my friend who was a junior in Army and he said in his year alone they started with maybe 120-130 cadets his freshmen year, and 80-90 of the Army ROTC cadets were now contracted on scholarship, with 105 juniors still in the unit. The nice thing about Army is if you stay with it and pass the PT test you have a high chance of contracting or being on advanced standing where you can get a stiffen but they don't pay for college. So if your ultimate goal is to commission, a senior military college is a great choice.

Click to expand...

Which SMC do you attend?

Since you're already at an SMC, do you know whether the majority of cadets that request for active duty get it? (Navy or Army)

I understand that if you perform horribly academically (bad GPA) and in ROTC (low APFT score), then that person will probably not receive active duty even at an SMC.

But if you perform average and meet the minimum/necessary requirements, is it hard to get that PMS recommendation? I'm curious how many cadets request active duty but are denied at an SMC.

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I am part of the Virginia Tech Corps of cadets. So everyone that gets commissioned becomes active duty from virginia tech that is in the corps of cadets. You are right about GPA and poor scores, but there are options like plc for marines where you could possibly pick up a commission. You don't really request active duty you apply and your application usually goes in front of a board and they see your grades, fitness score, and your ranking in your rotc unit.

VTMIDN said:

So everyone that gets commissioned becomes active duty from virginia tech that is in the corps of cadets.

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This is not accurate for Army. Not everyone in AROTC at VT that is in the corps of cadets is assigned AD upon commissioning. Did you mean for Navy scholarship midshipmen?

My DD's MS1 year is almost over, which is really hard to believe! One thing to remember is that every school, SMC or not has an AD mission, my DD's school has a mission for 2020 for 20 active duty officers. I think 8 or 9 came in this fall on scholarship, 3 of those were nurses for a nursing mission of 3. My DD told me that every freshman in her class except one that started with her is now on scholarship to try to help fulfill that mission, and a few AFROTC cadets transferred over and will be considered for a scholarship at a school based board next month. That still doesn't mean they are guaranteed AD, however, the cadre is very motivated to help them succeed because it fulfills their mission. She is in a battalion of about 70 cadets (some at area campuses) and is enjoying her experience, the smaller group is a good fit for her. Find the right fit, make a decision, show up in shape and max the PT. And plan to get good grades, I cannot emphasize that enough and you should not have a problem going AD. Basically is you want to be a student at an SMC and can afford it, go to one. If you want to be at a civilian college for four years and have oneyou got into with ROTC that you can afford, then go to it.

Major_Jared said:

Since you're already at an SMC, do you know whether the majority of cadets that request for active duty get it? (Navy or Army)

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NROTC midshipmen ALWAYS go active duty upon commissioning. There is no other option.

AROTC Parent said:

VTMIDN said:

So everyone that gets commissioned becomes active duty from virginia tech that is in the corps of cadets.

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This is not accurate for Army. Not everyone in AROTC at VT that is in the corps of cadets is assigned AD upon commissioning. Did you mean for Navy scholarship midshipmen?

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Well I may be wrong, because my information could be false. By your junior year at least here at Virginia Tech you are either on a commissioning track or on the professional non-miltary side of the corps of cadets. I know that at least for army they want as many officers as they can get at this rotc. Also if by your junior year you are contracted, and the colonel CO signs you off by your junior year for AD you will go AD. I haven't heard of anyone from VT going into the reserves after being contracted and commissioned. I may be wrong, but from my perspective army and air force cadets every day in my corps of cadets company, I tend to get the scoop on a lot of information. I am Navy option and since I have a commissioning path like Kinnem mentioned I will be going active duty.