Well I am guessing the question really is what is effective recruiting for ROTC. I will share our experience and what we think would be effective recruiting (see my notes at the end).
In some cases, phone calls made a difference and DS1 looked hard at schools. Emails did little if anything.
DS number 1 is our experience for AROTC and one service academy. (2 and 3 are “considering”)
Emails, each have been approached by hundreds, yes hundreds of various colleges and universities. 99% percent of messages go un-read. In fact, both created dummy email addresses just for this purpose.
Of those hundreds, maybe a dozen had ROTC programs that sent some sort of information. Most were in the form of emails. All snail mail regarding ROTC came from national mailings, not local battalions.
I am struggling to remember the sequence, but sometime around the formal award of the advance designee AROTC scholarships at least two ROO’s or cadets made some personal phone calls.
Of various programs DS1 looked at here are the summaries of the decision process.
1. State school, made personal phone calls, ultimately rejected because they do not offer the degree wanted. Tiny AROTC program, but huge AF program as it is next to a major AF base.
2. Private school 1, 60k+/yr, called much, mailed some, we toured. Had the correct degrees, school put together a clear letter with financial package paired with ROTC to bring the cost to less than a state school. Ultimately rejected as DS1 needed a medical waiver and this represented a long term financial risk. School has a large AROTC program. They called a lot.
3. Private school 2, location where DS1 did his interview for AROTC. Rejected for the same financial risk as 2. DS considered it because he was impressed with the person that conducted his interview.
4. State school 3, no other reason than is just did not feel right. Not a well known school, small AROTC program.
Program number 5….the one DS1 selected.
5. State school with the proper degree, not far from home. AROTC has about 100 cadets. School has the proper engineering degree. ROO was a little slow to respond at first, but got better as time went on. I can’t say why, but it left open a question. The school itself sent information that the 3 year AD winners would be given the 4th year room, board and tuition. It was not advertised. If the medical waiver does not go through, DS has a regular scholarship there to fall back on.
At the end of the day school 5 turned out to be both the best financial decision has also been the best AROTC program decision. DS1 was selected for ranger challenge, did well and was able to observe these other schools and is very happy with his decision.
My imperfect observations: All, and I mean ALL of the ROTC advance designee awards in our high school have gone to children of prior service members. Often to the same branch as the parent. I would try to recruit among that subset.
Many of the in-school scholarships have the same pattern. Exceptions appear to be in nursing and a few highly recruited professions.
If I were to recommend a recruiting program it would not be spam. I recommend old fashioned personal phone calls and face to face contact when you can. I would also recommend formal use of cadet recruiters if possible, from the general area that the prospects call home. DS1 re-posts photos from events such as Brigade level competition. Those have created a bit of a buzz in a school that is not known to be pro service of any kind.
