i dont understand the issue. Rotc gives you a year with scholarship and you can change your mind as long as you dont continue in year 2. So there is no money issue here. Non scholarship cadets get two years to change their minds, so it isnt anything strange. Secondly, if I read this correct, he is quiting after his first semester. If he was trying to scam (play the system) the system, he would have had his second semester paid for also and then quit. So if he did it for the money only, he is actually an idiot for quiting now. Third and most importantly, you are asking 17/18 year old kids (yes they are kids even if they are legal) to make a life changing decision that will impact their lfe for no less than 4 years. So he thought he wanted join Rotc while in High School and when he actually experienced it he decides he doesnt like it, wow what a surprise. I am surprised more people dont quit Rotc or the academies. You have this group of people who have no first hand experience about the military and people are surprised when they dont like it. My guess is that more people would quit the academies except that they put so much effort into it, that quiting becomes a failure rather than something you dont like. This kid earned his four year scholarship. He didnt like it and it didnt work out. That is why the miltary gives you time to change your mind and if its a waste of money, then based on what you read about government waste, this probabably represents 1% of 1% of the militayr budget. Just like having a draft where a huge percerntage of the people drafted dont want to be there, having officers who dont want to be isnt going to make for effective leaders