AROTC commitment contract

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PapaBear

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If I were to receive a Army 4 Year scholarship to Texas A&M, and accept, yet for some reason during my college career I decide to back out, what are the consequences? Is there a "point of no return" to where I cannot turn down the scholarship and am legally obligated to commission and serve? And lastly, is it possible to pay back a scholarship if I decide I no longer want it?
 
http://www.goarmy.com/for_parents/rotc.jsp#faq01
Is enrolling in Army ROTC the same as joining the Army? Once a student starts taking ROTC courses, is he/she obligated to join the Army?

Young adults must serve as Officers in the Army after graduation if they have received an ROTC scholarship, OR if they have enrolled in the ROTC Advanced Course. Enrolling in the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate someone to serve unless they have also received a scholarship. For more details, see: Your Commitment.
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http://www.goarmy.com/for_parents/rotc.jsp#faq03
What is my young adult's Army service obligation to pay back any scholarship benefits, or for enrollment in the ROTC Advanced Course?

Scholarship winners must serve for four years; non-scholarship Cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve for three years. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. For more details, see: Your Commitment.
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https://www.goarmy.com/rotc/commitment.jsp
Army ROTC students who receive an Army ROTC scholarship or enter the Army ROTC Advanced Course must agree to complete an eight-year period of service with the Army.

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Enrolling in the Army ROTC Basic Course does NOT involve a commitment of service to the Army unless you have received an Army ROTC scholarship.

All scholarship students will be required to serve in the military for a period of eight years. This obligation may be fulfilled by serving four years on Active Duty, followed by four years service in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
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That's all I could find on it. I know the Air Force can let you back out after the first year on scholarship, but it doesn't appear that way for the Army.

I would recommend contacting them directly to find out more information.
 
PapaBear said:
If I were to receive a Army 4 Year scholarship to Texas A&M, and accept, yet for some reason during my college career I decide to back out, what are the consequences? Is there a "point of no return" to where I cannot turn down the scholarship and am legally obligated to commission and serve? And lastly, is it possible to pay back a scholarship if I decide I no longer want it?
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All ROTC scholarship winners can leave the program during the first (freshman) year without obligation or repayment. After the first day of your sophomore year you are commuted to 8 years (4 active + 4 inactive for the Army and Air Force). If you choose to leave (quit) the ROTC program the military will decide whether they want you to serve your time as an enlisted person or allow you to pay back the FULL scholarship money (plus interest?) that you owe them. Needless to say, entering into a ROTC contract with the military is serious business and if it isn't "right" for you then you should get out within the first year.

http://www.armyrotc.uta.edu/2007/commitment.htm
"Four-year scholarship cadets do not incur any military obligation until the first day of class of their sophomore year. However, any four-year scholarship cadet who receives academic probation (and therefore suspension) after both semesters of their freshman year will automatically lose their scholarship."
 
Eagle 1 said:
I would recommend contacting them directly to find out more information.
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I would make sure that I have the scholarship offer in hand before asking your ROTC PMS the above questions. They may get a little nervous. They (ROTC) want you to be absolutely sure that this is the correct decision for you, but they also want to maximize the return on their scholarships.....particularly this year when supposedly there are far fewer scholarships for more applicants. Good Luck with whatever you decide.
 
PapaBear said:
If I were to receive a Army 4 Year scholarship to Texas A&M, and accept, yet for some reason during my college career I decide to back out, what are the consequences? Is there a "point of no return" to where I cannot turn down the scholarship and am legally obligated to commission and serve? And lastly, is it possible to pay back a scholarship if I decide I no longer want it?
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You have one "free" year to try it out. You may use the scholarship all through your freshman year. If you decide to withdraw from the ROTC program at any time during that year, you do not incur any service obligation nor do you have to pay back the money used. However, if you withdraw beginning the first day of your sophomore year up until you graduate from the program, you will become obligated to either pay back the money used toward your scholarship OR serve a specified amount of time as an enlisted person in the Army. The decision of which of those two options you would take is left up to the Army to make, not you.

So, bottom line, freshman year you can back out and sophomore year onward is the "point of no return."
 
Just to be sure for my own purposes (I hate giving any kind of misleading information), does the 1 year "try it out" offer go for all services? Air Force is my path so obviously I knew that did, but I couldn't find anywhere where it said there was 1 year for Army.

By the way, PapaBear, I hope I didn't give you any wrong ideas. Luckily these guys read this topic too :wink:
 
I can assure you that Army has the one year try-it-out. My son is in that year as a freshman at A&M right now. We were told this by many sources including the Professor of Military Science when he interviewed for his scholarship. I can't speak for the Navy/Marines, but I imagine it is true in that branch as well.
 
CadetMom777 said:
I can assure you that Army has the one year try-it-out. My son is in that year as a freshman at A&M right now. We were told this by many sources including the Professor of Military Science when he interviewed for his scholarship. I can't speak for the Navy/Marines, but I imagine it is true in that branch as well.
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Thanks everyone for this information. It was a big concern of my parents that this option was there only out of caring for me.

And CadetMom777, how does your son like it? Because next year, with or without a scholarship im going to be a fish in the Corps doing Army as well.

Oh, and what outfit is he in?
 
Eagle 1 said:
Air Force is my path so obviously I knew that did, but I couldn't find anywhere where it said there was 1 year for Army.
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How about in the link that I included in the above post?
 
Four-year scholarship cadets do not incur any military obligation until the first day of class of their sophomore year.
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There we go. Thanks aglages.
 
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