ROTC Scholarship - accept or reject

FØB Zero

FØB Zero

Enthusiastically American
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I have wonderful financial aid from my university. However, I also earned the AROTC scholarship. Should I reject and give it to someone who may actually need it? In that case my service commitment would only be 3 years as well, so in the situation I would like to move to a civilian career I could move sooner. What is recommended? Would 4 vs 3 years of service make a big difference? I may even reapply to USMA this year.
 
FØB Zero said:
I have wonderful financial aid from my university. However, I also earned the AROTC scholarship. Should I reject and give it to someone who may actually need it? In that case my service commitment would only be 3 years as well, so in the situation I would like to move to a civilian career I could move sooner. What is recommended? Would 4 vs 3 years of service make a big difference? I may even reapply to USMA this year.
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Congrats. Nice problem to have. By rejecting your scholarship it will not transfer to another candidate. In some cases, the funds may transfer to the school to use towards campus based, but that is up to the Army/CC.

I am not sure I follow you on the service commitment. Are you considering giving up the scholarship, using your financial aid from the University and pursue a commission as a non-contract? If your goal is to commission into the Army, I would accept the scholarship and work towards that goal. It is also important to note that you have the 1st year "free" in terms of your obligation to the Army. If after the 1st year, you change your mind you can walk away without any financial/service commitment. Contract goes hard after the start of your sophomore year.
 
EEBTTF said:
Congrats. Nice problem to have. By rejecting your scholarship it will not transfer to another candidate. In some cases, the funds may transfer to the school to use towards campus based, but that is up to the Army/CC.

I am not sure I follow you on the service commitment. Are you considering giving up the scholarship, using your financial aid from the University and pursue a commission as a non-contract? If your goal is to commission into the Army, I would accept the scholarship and work towards that goal. It is also important to note that you have the 1st year "free" in terms of your obligation to the Army. If after the 1st year, you change your mind you can walk away without any financial/service commitment. Contract goes hard after the start of your sophomore year.
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I read that cadets on scholarship have a service commitment of 4 years whereas non-scholarship cadets have a time commitment of 3 years. If a cadet is NOT on scholarship, does he/she automatically commission as non-contract?

After one year on scholarship can I give up the scholarship?
 
FØB Zero said:
I read that cadets on scholarship have a service commitment of 4 years whereas non-scholarship cadets have a time commitment of 3 years. If a cadet is NOT on scholarship, does he/she automatically commission as non-contract?

After one year on scholarship can I give up the scholarship?
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You commitment upon commissioning is the same whether you are/were on a scholarship from the start or "contracted" later. You will have to contract by the start of your junior year in order to commission. I will wait for @Montana State Army ROTC or @MohawkArmyROTC to verify, but I am not aware of any service commitment difference between the two paths.

Yes- At the end of your 1st year, you can walk away from your scholarship and not owe a dime.

I am assuming that you have already selected a school to attend and have accepted the scholarship. Maybe a call to the cadre at the school will help answer all of these questions. That is what they are there for. Best of luck to you!
 
Don't disagree with any of above but I'll come at it from a different angle.

First, if there is a difference in the time commitment, one year more is no big deal at your age.

Second, what happens to your current financial aid package if you accept the scholarship? Does it go away? What happens to your financial plan if, after 1 year, you decide the Army is not for you? How do you continue college then? What happens if you do not maintain the minimum GPA and are dropped from the program?

I'm obviously a big supporter of participation in ROTC programs. All the above is under your control. Just want to make sure you go in with eyes wide open.
 
kinnem said:
Don't disagree with any of above but I'll come at it from a different angle.

First, if there is a difference in the time commitment, one year more is no big deal at your age.

Second, what happens to your current financial aid package if you accept the scholarship? Does it go away? What happens to your financial plan if, after 1 year, you decide the Army is not for you? How do you continue college then? What happens if you do not maintain the minimum GPA and are dropped from the program?

I'm obviously a big supporter of participation in ROTC programs. All the above is under your control. Just want to make sure you go in with eyes wide open.
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It may or may not go away... that is the part I am confused on so will be speaking with admissions next week.
 
if your ROTC scholarship does not pay room and board can you use your financial aid to cover that so you have no cost?
 
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