NROTC or AFROTC Comparison Questions

Hello. I am trying to figure out a little bit more about some specific details that differ between AFROTC and NROTC. I have not yet gotten a decision on either my AF nor Navy scholarships yet, but I am aware that I might not earn either.

In the case that I do not earn either, which ROTC branch should I go down that would offer me a better shot at getting a tuition scholarship for my school?

I am by no means doing ROTC just to pay for my school, so please don't say that! My issue is that I was only accepted to OOS schools that will be difficult for me and my family to pay for otherwise. I desire to serve as a commissioned officer and that is the #1 reason for me wanting to participate in ROTC.

I currently do not have much of a preference between the two branches as I like different aspects of each that would suit my desired job.

I know that AFROTC guarantees scholarships for students junior and senior years which is a big relief knowing that if I put in the effort, I will earn at least some level of a scholarship. Does NROTC do this too?

In addition, does anyone know if one branch has slightly easier to earn side load scholasrhips for freshman and sophomore college programmers? I am going to major in Computer Science.

Also if anyone has any other inside information about anything AFROTC or NROTC, please share!

Sorry for the essay, I just have a lot of questions.

It really depends on what you want to do after school. Do you like the idea of being land locked or out at sea? What communities in AF and Navy would you be interested in(pilot, Submarine, cyber, SWO, ETC) You should consider the differences between AF and Navy to help figure out which. If you have no interest in being on a boat/sub on the ocean, then Navy is not for you.

As far as getting a scholarship while at college. Navy is likely going to be easier. Computer Science is a Tier 2 major for the Navy, and they are interested in Tier 2. AF does offer some 3 three scholarships though, but not as many. No matter which you choose. If you do well academically, participate at the unit and be a team player, crush in the physical fitness tests. You will have a good chance at a scholarship after your freshman year.

OK, with regards to "I know that AFROTC guarantees scholarships for students junior and senior years " - well, sort of.. But not fully. please be aware that even 4 year scholarship winners in AFROTC must be INVITED to progress to those last 2 years of training, and not everyone participating in AFROTC is invited. Some top students, great grades, no writeups, solid performance evals were not invited, even from schools like MIT. So there is a risk you would compete for a scholarship do just fine, but not be awarded the scholarship, not be afforded a path to commission after investing 2 years.

Please research units at affordable colleges, and also research cross-town ROTC units like at Pima Community college, that would allow you to compete as a college programmer (without a scholarship) by participating in an AF or NROTC unit while attending an overall more affordable school. For all options, research your total cost to attend, and as a recommendation - by all means do not go to a college that you cannot afford - avoid debt or as much debt as you can. Do you have a local community college you can get credit at next year, while living at home? If you get a weekend/ summer gig you could save money for the next year too.

Edited to add: Because FAFSA has serious issues, some colleges are extending their application windows and acceptance timeframes this year. You may be able to still apply to more affordable schools with ROTC detachments/ units or cross-town agreements - take advantage / do your research if so.

It's my mission that each of my DW and my children start their post-college life debt free. So many of their friends are saddled with huge undergrad loans that they'll be digging out of for 20-30 years. What a crap burden. Many of us had mortgages weighing on us to provide a home for our families - that's hard enough - but some of these college loans mean 20Xers will not qualify for a home loan because of the 200k+ they owe their dream undergrad school. Honestly - No thanks. work with guidance to find affordable colleges in your area -it's OK to transfer to the dream school or whatever. Good luck/ hope those perspectives may help.

Learn about the mission of each branch, and research what you might end up doing if you don't get your dream officer role. That made a big difference for my son a few years ago, as he aligned more with the Navy mission and roles should his dream job not be offered.

Thanks for your willingness to serve - good luck with your applications.

@Ihavenoidea , @Herman_Snerd

Thank you for both of your inputs. I am actually interested in being on boats/ submarines for long periods and I think the Navy is a good pick for me. Also, I want to do cyber or possibly RPA, so the AF also fits with my interests.

As far as scholarships are concerned, is it true that highly qualified, enthusiastic and involved candidates get denied frequently? I've heard that if a candidate gets good grades, qualifies well for PT, and shows enthusiasm and commitment to the program, they have a high chance of making it to commission.

The thing is that I really just do not want to go to community college. I only get this time of my life once, and I simply do not want to spend it at home. My nearest Det is at UCLA if I were to take the CC Crosstown route.

If you don't mind answering this......when did you submit your NROTC Application? I ask because if you are a Tier 2 major, but have not yet heard back, then you likely sitting on the alternate list for NROTC. And assuming that is true, you have a better than average shot at getting a 3 year sideload scholarship for NROTC. If you wanted to hedge your bets, try considering a college with both AF and Navy ROTC units, and you can spend your first semester learning about both.

GWU PNS (emeritus) said:

If you don't mind answering this......when did you submit your NROTC Application? I ask because if you are a Tier 2 major, but have not yet heard back, then you likely sitting on the alternate list for NROTC. And assuming that is true, you have a better than average shot at getting a 3 year sideload scholarship for NROTC. If you wanted to hedge your bets, try considering a college with both AF and Navy ROTC units, and you can spend your first semester learning about both.

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I submitted my application and completed my interview in January. I didn't know that 3 year sideloads could be awarded through the HS scholarship portal! Thank you for the info.

The schools that I can go to both have AFROTC and NROTC each

dirtyflaco said:

I didn't know that 3 year sideloads could be awarded through the HS scholarship portal!

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I believe GWU PNS is more speaking of going for a 3 year side load next year in college. You could hold off joining a unit the first semester, but learn about both in your 1st semester. Join one in the 2nd semester, and then go for a 3 year. Atleast that is how I read it.

Your situation is close to my DS in high school. He went all the way to end of April before he got turned down for NROTC. It was a eye opener for him. He decided to go for a shot at a side load with the NROTC as a college programmer. He's finishing up with the year now, and it looking very good for a side load right now, but he will not know until early August. My point is I would recommend figuring out which branch you want in the next month or so and going for that rather than figuring it out next year.

Just remember you could still get a scholarship, so you could get one or both. If you got both scholarships to the same school right now, which would you chose? Whichever it is is the one I would lean towards if you don't get it and go for college programmer.

dirtyflaco said:

@Ihavenoidea , @Herman_Snerd

Thank you for both of your inputs. I am actually interested in being on boats/ submarines for long periods and I think the Navy is a good pick for me. Also, I want to do cyber or possibly RPA, so the AF also fits with my interests.

As far as scholarships are concerned, is it true that highly qualified, enthusiastic and involved candidates get denied frequently? I've heard that if a candidate gets good grades, qualifies well for PT, and shows enthusiasm and commitment to the program, they have a high chance of making it to commission.

The thing is that I really just do not want to go to community college. I only get this time of my life once, and I simply do not want to spend it at home. My nearest Det is at UCLA if I were to take the CC Crosstown route.

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Yes, highly qualified, enthusiastic, and involved candidates from top schools with top fitness performance and top grades are sometimes are not invited to advance/ continue in AFROTC toward commissioning. recommend you read this published article / official source from a couple years back, which affirms that to a varying percentage, each year, AFROTC does not extend an offer for participants (both scholarship recipients and college programmers) to move forward on a scholarship, and to commission. For sure, some of that is performance driven- but-not-all.
Typically the AF cuts a varying amount somewhere near 25-30% which has been higher in some years. For all branches you have to meet/exceed standards but the stuff you mentioned for being engaged, performing, improving, participating top grades, top fitness trending toward staying in applies for Navy and Army more consistently than it does for those 3.9 GPA Yalee/MIT/ Cornell etc. young adults who were thinking their performance made them safe in AF - and yet, it didn't. People do scrub from all SA and ROTC programs - scholarship and college programmers alike - it happens, but that's usually a DOR quit, medical, or specific standard not being met.

On not wanting CC - I get it. We all make choices - but if you're not blessed with money out the wazoo, sometimes it's just a means to an end so don't be too quick to dismiss that option - these aren't absolute choices - meaning you could save money for 2-4 semesters at CC and working a job, then have 2 or 3 years at, and graduate from, your dream school. Interest accrual sometimes starts on day 1 of college (depending on your FAFSA result) so when you graduate you may owe much more than you borrowed. Your choice to drive off that debt cliff but just know it can be steep long challenging climb to dig out. Said another way - you don't want to continue to live with your folks at 18-19. Well if you have 280k in debt after college, you might end up back in your old room and living with your parents until your 40s since most of your income will go to college loan repayment, car insurance, car payment, gas, some food etc. It's pretty common for young people to take on this debt and be saddled with it for many years - if you do that, if misery loves company, just know you won't be alone.

Alright - good luck.

Herman_Snerd said:

Yes, highly qualified, enthusiastic, and involved candidates from top schools with top fitness performance and top grades are sometimes are not invited to advance/ continue in AFROTC toward commissioning. recommend you read this published article / official source from a couple years back, which affirms that to a varying percentage, each year, AFROTC does not extend an offer for participants (both scholarship recipients and college programmers) to move forward on a scholarship, and to commission. For sure, some of that is performance driven- but-not-all.
Typically the AF cuts a varying amount somewhere near 25-30% which has been higher in some years. For all branches you have to meet/exceed standards but the stuff you mentioned for being engaged, performing, improving, participating top grades, top fitness trending toward staying in applies for Navy and Army more consistently than it does for those 3.9 GPA Yalee/MIT/ Cornell etc. young adults who were thinking their performance made them safe in AF - and yet, it didn't. People do scrub from all SA and ROTC programs - scholarship and college programmers alike - it happens, but that's usually a DOR quit, medical, or specific standard not being met.

On not wanting CC - I get it. We all make choices - but if you're not blessed with money out the wazoo, sometimes it's just a means to an end so don't be too quick to dismiss that option - these aren't absolute choices - meaning you could save money for 2-4 semesters at CC and working a job, then have 2 or 3 years at, and graduate from, your dream school. Interest accrual sometimes starts on day 1 of college (depending on your FAFSA result) so when you graduate you may owe much more than you borrowed. Your choice to drive off that debt cliff but just know it can be steep long challenging climb to dig out. Said another way - you don't want to continue to live with your folks at 18-19. Well if you have 280k in debt after college, you might end up back in your old room and living with your parents until your 40s since most of your income will go to college loan repayment, car insurance, car payment, gas, some food etc. It's pretty common for young people to take on this debt and be saddled with it for many years - if you do that, if misery loves company, just know you won't be alone.

Alright - good luck.

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Thanks for this response. I will have to rethink it over before I make a decision.


But for now, let's hope I get an appointment to USAFA and don't have to deal with any of it.