AROTC questions

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jebdad

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Is there a place to see how many freshman an AROTC battalion typically adds each year? Or, is this a fluid number year to year. Looking at private schools similar to Duke, ND, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Vanderbilt - how many AROTC scholarship winners do they typically take per year? At these type of schools are there way more applicants than slots?

Do females have an advantage over males in the AROTC scholarship process? (serious question, not trying to troll up an argument :) )

Does an AROTC scholarship work similarly to the SAs that have "affirmation" after their sophomore year?
 
These are great questions! It completely depends on the school, or more specifically the mission that school is given to produce officers for a specific year within their brigade. This is a great question to ask when visiting a school. (What is your mission for 2023?) For example, where my DD goes they have a mission of 17 line officers and 3 nursing officers for her year. This will usually line up with how many scholarships a school is given or “spots”. For her school for her grad year (2020), two national nurse recipients selected to go there, leaving one spot That was offered to a freshman at the end of her freshman year to start her sophomore year. There were 9 or 10 national scholarship recipients that started their freshman year and more kids have been offered scholarships campus based since then. Her school is pretty small so most (not all) have either a scholarship or are in a dual enrollment program (reserves or NG), some schools will have many more cadets than scholarship spots.

For Army ROTC there is not a guarantee for active duty if that is what you are asking. Going to Advance Camp after junior year is important, and that paves the way to commissioning. Active duty is based on National OML. I will say that my DD did learn her OML for the battalion for her class. That still does not guarantee active duty like a SA, but being on the top of bottom within a detachment might give someone a better idea how they might stack up nationally (above or below average). Another thing is every semester she has a counseling session with her ROTC instructor, and then a final one with the LTC, and they let you know if they see you as being an officer or not, and whether or not they are supporting you or not. So it should be known at all times how a cadet is performing. At least that has been my DD’s experience.
 
Usually take many as we can get.
Gender is not part of the equation for scholarships
Sophomore year is when scholarship winners no longer have the option of walking away without a payback (think that is what you are asking).
 
Could someone provide some detail of what the application for an AROTC scholarship looks like if you are seeking one upon enrolling in a college unit without one. People on this forum explain that you demonstrate you are worthy (I get that) and you "earn" it, but what actual paperwork/application do you fill out other than expressing your interest and enrolling. Or is it online? I've read some threads which suggest schools may have scholarships (slots) available to "award," but other than talking to your ROO (which we have done) and enrolling in ROTC, what is the actual process and when does it begin? Or does it differ by school? (We have started and intend to continue conversations with our specific ROO and have a meeting scheduled this summer, but just wanted to get a general idea, especially if there was something specific we needed to do to prepare, or general advice). Thanks very much in advance for any responses.
 
usslloyd said:
Could someone provide some detail of what the application for an AROTC scholarship looks like if you are seeking one upon enrolling in a college unit without one. People on this forum explain that you demonstrate you are worthy (I get that) and you "earn" it, but what actual paperwork/application do you fill out other than expressing your interest and enrolling. Or is it online? I've read some threads which suggest schools may have scholarships (slots) available to "award," but other than talking to your ROO (which we have done) and enrolling in ROTC, what is the actual process and when does it begin? Or does it differ by school? (We have started and intend to continue conversations with our specific ROO and have a meeting scheduled this summer, but just wanted to get a general idea, especially if there was something specific we needed to do to prepare, or general advice). Thanks very much in advance for any responses.
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Try this
https://m.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.m.html

It worked for DS....
 
OK, so looking at that goarmy site, please tell me if I have this right: just like you were applying from high school, you create an account and apply online. You're then in a "national" competition in which (I'm presuming) the same entity decides if you qualify for a 3-year scholarship. Except...your "competition" is not everyone applying from high school, but those now enrolled in a college AROTC unit without a scholarship? And you could get anywhere from a 3.5 year scholarship to nothing? If this is correct, just wondering what the role of your current ROO is: do they just provide guidance and some recommendation if they feel you deserve it, or do they have more influence over who receives a scholarship?
 
usslloyd said:
OK, so looking at that goarmy site, please tell me if I have this right: just like you were applying from high school, you create an account and apply online. You're then in a "national" competition in which (I'm presuming) the same entity decides if you qualify for a 3-year scholarship. Except...your "competition" is not everyone applying from high school, but those now enrolled in a college AROTC unit without a scholarship? And you could get anywhere from a 3.5 year scholarship to nothing? If this is correct, just wondering what the role of your current ROO is: do they just provide guidance and some recommendation if they feel you deserve it, or do they have more influence over who receives a scholarship?
Click to expand...

Clarksonarmy can give you the most accurate information but my understanding is at my DD’s school they have a “board” at school where the cadet goes before the cadre for an interview as far as what paperwork they have to do. Doing well at that first year is going to be the bets bet. I know a freshman my daughters year did not get it in fall of her freshman year but did in the spring and it started her sophomore year. Yes communicating it’s the ROO is good, but once a cadet is on campus they have a military science instructor for their year and that person is also the adviser to the cadet. Their recommendation is important.
 
OK...everybody stop. Once you are in college there is no more online national process...

It is program specific how Campus based scholarships are allocated. Your Cadet should be asking his program how their process works. Here at Clarkson the ROO (that's me) invites all the non scholarship enrolled Cadets to participate in a board each semester. Some enrolled NS Cadets take me up and some don't. Once the board is held we establish an Order of Merit List and that list is used if/when scholarship money becomes available and our Brigade asks for nominees. Please don't go on the website and reapply for the national scholarship. Please have your Cadet (there are no We's in this process) speak to his ROTC instructor or ROO or whoever will listen to him/her about their interest in competing for a scholarship.

Some programs may just hold an internal Cadre board based on observed performance. Some do paper boards, some have the Cadets actually face a panel.

And remember that not every Cadet gets a scholarship, and you don't need to be on scholarship to earn a commission and become a second lieutenant.
 
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clarksonarmy said:
OK...everybody stop. Once you are in college there is no more online national process...

It is program specific how Campus based scholarships are allocated. Your Cadet should be asking his program how their process works. Here at Clarkson the ROO (that's me) invites all the non scholarship enrolled Cadets to participate in a board each semester. Some enrolled NS Cadets take me up and some don't. Once the board is held we establish an Order of Merit List and that list is used if/when scholarship money becomes available and our Brigade asks for nominees. Please don't go on the website and reapply for the national scholarship. Please have your Cadet (there are no We's in this process) speak to his ROTC instructor or ROO or whoever will listen to him/her about their interest in competing for a scholarship.

Some programs may just hold an internal Cadre board based on observed performance. Some do paper boards, some have the Cadets actually face a panel.

And remember that not every Cadet gets a scholarship, and you don't need to be on scholarship to earn a commission and become a second lieutenant.
Click to expand...

Great answer here. At the University of Idaho we hold a cadre board to determine an order of merit list (OML) for scholarships. There is a separate list for each graduation year, i.e. freshman are generally competing against other freshmen and sophomores against other sophomores as we receive campus-based scholarships from our brigade in that same manner. Anytime there is a new cadet to join the program we reevaluate the OML. All non-contracted cadets are highly recommended to stay involved with the ROO to ensure he or she has everything in / completed to be ready to contract / accept a scholarship when they come available. How OMLs are created/weighted is certainly program specific, but will certainly include academic performance, physical performance, commitment, and demonstrated talent and effort.

An important thing for anyone participating in, or considering participating in, an ROTC program is that there are multiple paths to contracting and commissioning and the ROO generally helps you determine which path is best for you. When I conduct interviews I always want to make sure the student and the parents understand that winning a 3 year national scholarship out of highschool is in effect the same scholarship as if the student were to be awarded a campus-based scholarship over the summer before they start school, first semester of their freshman year, second semester of their freshman year, or even first semester of the sophomore year. All of those scholarships and times they were awarded end up paying for your sophomore year onward. So not winning a national scholarship, or not having a 'scholarship in hand' when you arrive on campus, should really not discourage anyone who is interested in commissioning as an Army Lieutenant. Join the program at your chosen school, see if it is right for you, and work your tail off in the classroom and on the PT field and your chances of getting a scholarship to help you pay for 3 or more years of college is quite good.
 
U Idaho Army ROTC said:
clarksonarmy said:
OK...everybody stop. Once you are in college there is no more online national process...

It is program specific how Campus based scholarships are allocated. Your Cadet should be asking his program how their process works. Here at Clarkson the ROO (that's me) invites all the non scholarship enrolled Cadets to participate in a board each semester. Some enrolled NS Cadets take me up and some don't. Once the board is held we establish an Order of Merit List and that list is used if/when scholarship money becomes available and our Brigade asks for nominees. Please don't go on the website and reapply for the national scholarship. Please have your Cadet (there are no We's in this process) speak to his ROTC instructor or ROO or whoever will listen to him/her about their interest in competing for a scholarship.

Some programs may just hold an internal Cadre board based on observed performance. Some do paper boards, some have the Cadets actually face a panel.

And remember that not every Cadet gets a scholarship, and you don't need to be on scholarship to earn a commission and become a second lieutenant.
Click to expand...

Great answer here. At the University of Idaho we hold a cadre board to determine an order of merit list (OML) for scholarships. There is a separate list for each graduation year, i.e. freshman are generally competing against other freshmen and sophomores against other sophomores as we receive campus-based scholarships from our brigade in that same manner. Anytime there is a new cadet to join the program we reevaluate the OML. All non-contracted cadets are highly recommended to stay involved with the ROO to ensure he or she has everything in / completed to be ready to contract / accept a scholarship when they come available. How OMLs are created/weighted is certainly program specific, but will certainly include academic performance, physical performance, commitment, and demonstrated talent and effort.

An important thing for anyone participating in, or considering participating in, an ROTC program is that there are multiple paths to contracting and commissioning and the ROO generally helps you determine which path is best for you. When I conduct interviews I always want to make sure the student and the parents understand that winning a 3 year national scholarship out of highschool is in effect the same scholarship as if the student were to be awarded a campus-based scholarship over the summer before they start school, first semester of their freshman year, second semester of their freshman year, or even first semester of the sophomore year. All of those scholarships and times they were awarded end up paying for your sophomore year onward. So not winning a national scholarship, or not having a 'scholarship in hand' when you arrive on campus, should really not discourage anyone who is interested in commissioning as an Army Lieutenant. Join the program at your chosen school, see if it is right for you, and work your tail off in the classroom and on the PT field and your chances of getting a scholarship to help you pay for 3 or more years of college is quite good.
Click to expand...


Do you see the chances of getting a campus-based scholarship are a lot less if you go to an expensive vs a state school? For example, I'm thinking UNC-Chapel Hill will have more campus-based scholarships allocated to them by brigade than to Duke? You can give a scholarship to 4-5 UNC-CH students for the same amount that you can give to 1 Duke student.
 
GoCubbies said:
U Idaho Army ROTC said:
clarksonarmy said:
OK...everybody stop. Once you are in college there is no more online national process...

It is program specific how Campus based scholarships are allocated. Your Cadet should be asking his program how their process works. Here at Clarkson the ROO (that's me) invites all the non scholarship enrolled Cadets to participate in a board each semester. Some enrolled NS Cadets take me up and some don't. Once the board is held we establish an Order of Merit List and that list is used if/when scholarship money becomes available and our Brigade asks for nominees. Please don't go on the website and reapply for the national scholarship. Please have your Cadet (there are no We's in this process) speak to his ROTC instructor or ROO or whoever will listen to him/her about their interest in competing for a scholarship.

Some programs may just hold an internal Cadre board based on observed performance. Some do paper boards, some have the Cadets actually face a panel.

And remember that not every Cadet gets a scholarship, and you don't need to be on scholarship to earn a commission and become a second lieutenant.
Click to expand...

Great answer here. At the University of Idaho we hold a cadre board to determine an order of merit list (OML) for scholarships. There is a separate list for each graduation year, i.e. freshman are generally competing against other freshmen and sophomores against other sophomores as we receive campus-based scholarships from our brigade in that same manner. Anytime there is a new cadet to join the program we reevaluate the OML. All non-contracted cadets are highly recommended to stay involved with the ROO to ensure he or she has everything in / completed to be ready to contract / accept a scholarship when they come available. How OMLs are created/weighted is certainly program specific, but will certainly include academic performance, physical performance, commitment, and demonstrated talent and effort.

An important thing for anyone participating in, or considering participating in, an ROTC program is that there are multiple paths to contracting and commissioning and the ROO generally helps you determine which path is best for you. When I conduct interviews I always want to make sure the student and the parents understand that winning a 3 year national scholarship out of highschool is in effect the same scholarship as if the student were to be awarded a campus-based scholarship over the summer before they start school, first semester of their freshman year, second semester of their freshman year, or even first semester of the sophomore year. All of those scholarships and times they were awarded end up paying for your sophomore year onward. So not winning a national scholarship, or not having a 'scholarship in hand' when you arrive on campus, should really not discourage anyone who is interested in commissioning as an Army Lieutenant. Join the program at your chosen school, see if it is right for you, and work your tail off in the classroom and on the PT field and your chances of getting a scholarship to help you pay for 3 or more years of college is quite good.
Click to expand...


Do you see the chances of getting a campus-based scholarship are a lot less if you go to an expensive vs a state school? For example, I'm thinking UNC-Chapel Hill will have more campus-based scholarships allocated to them by brigade than to Duke? You can give a scholarship to 4-5 UNC-CH students for the same amount that you can give to 1 Duke student.
Click to expand...

It's definitely part of the calculus, and each ROTC brigade may manage their scholarship budgets a little differently. Ultimately the brigade has a mission to commission a certain number of new 2LTs each year and they divide that mission up amongst their senior ROTC programs. Out here in 8th Brigade an in-state scholarship at University of Idaho is a lot more economical than a scholarship to many of the other universities on the west coast, but ultimately we want to commission the best and brightest future leaders of our Army, so if there is an outstanding cadet that a PMS at a high-cost school wants a scholarship for it's not just a math problem to decide if we want to contract that one outstanding candidate or multiple candidates at a lower cost university. I just saw our 8th Brigade ROO post in a separate thread, he will likely have a much more informed answer.
 
I am guessing that your question @GoCubbies is for a future applicantion? If so, my recommendations would be to list schools that cover a wide range. That stretch dream school that you may or may not get into and is selective and therefore their slots go fast and also some schools that you would be very competitive at. Listing all the Ivies for example is too limiting (you actually cannot so that as some need to be public). And before that even happens reach out the too the ROO at each school or if it is for your son or daughter have them do it. Try to visit if possible. My daughter started emailing ROO’s in her sophomore year, and visiting schools and ROTC on campus her junior year before deciding what to list on her application. She gained valuable knowledge and access to the best resources (the ROO’s themselves). By the time she earned the scholarship and had to select one of theee schools, she talked to all the schools one more time and made her decision. Honestly didn’t think she would get the choices she got, which just goes to show you cannot predict the process or “game” it. Do your homework and research, pick a selection of realistic and stretch schools, and have a plan B and C in place. Trying to figure out the best statistical chance of a scholarship spot will just drive yourself nuts!
 
Dckc88 said:
I am guessing that your question @GoCubbies is for a future applicantion? If so, my recommendations would be to list schools that cover a wide range. That stretch dream school that you may or may not get into and is selective and therefore their slots go fast and also some schools that you would be very competitive at. Listing all the Ivies for example is too limiting (you actually cannot so that as some need to be public). And before that even happens reach out the too the ROO at each school or if it is for your son or daughter have them do it. Try to visit if possible. My daughter started emailing ROO’s in her sophomore year, and visiting schools and ROTC on campus her junior year before deciding what to list on her application. She gained valuable knowledge and access to the best resources (the ROO’s themselves). By the time she earned the scholarship and had to select one of theee schools, she talked to all the schools one more time and made her decision. Honestly didn’t think she would get the choices she got, which just goes to show you cannot predict the process or “game” it. Do your homework and research, pick a selection of realistic and stretch schools, and have a plan B and C in place. Trying to figure out the best statistical chance of a scholarship spot will just drive yourself nuts!
Click to expand...

Yes. My DD will be applying for an AROTC scholarship when the app opens this summer. Hopefully, she’ll get a scholarship out of HS so she won’t have to worry about applying for a campus-based one during her freshman year.
 
GoCubbies said:
Dckc88 said:
I am guessing that your question @GoCubbies is for a future applicantion? If so, my recommendations would be to list schools that cover a wide range. That stretch dream school that you may or may not get into and is selective and therefore their slots go fast and also some schools that you would be very competitive at. Listing all the Ivies for example is too limiting (you actually cannot so that as some need to be public). And before that even happens reach out the too the ROO at each school or if it is for your son or daughter have them do it. Try to visit if possible. My daughter started emailing ROO’s in her sophomore year, and visiting schools and ROTC on campus her junior year before deciding what to list on her application. She gained valuable knowledge and access to the best resources (the ROO’s themselves). By the time she earned the scholarship and had to select one of theee schools, she talked to all the schools one more time and made her decision. Honestly didn’t think she would get the choices she got, which just goes to show you cannot predict the process or “game” it. Do your homework and research, pick a selection of realistic and stretch schools, and have a plan B and C in place. Trying to figure out the best statistical chance of a scholarship spot will just drive yourself nuts!
Click to expand...

Yes. My DD will be applying for an AROTC scholarship when the app opens this summer. Hopefully, she’ll get a scholarship out of HS so she won’t have to worry about applying for a campus-based one during her freshman year.
Click to expand...
My daughter will be a junior in college next year, good luck to your daughter! This board has been super valuable over the years, I look forward to hearing about her journey!
 
usslloyd said:
Could someone provide some detail of what the application for an AROTC scholarship looks like if you are seeking one upon enrolling in a college unit without one. People on this forum explain that you demonstrate you are worthy (I get that) and you "earn" it, but what actual paperwork/application do you fill out other than expressing your interest and enrolling. Or is it online? I've read some threads which suggest schools may have scholarships (slots) available to "award," but other than talking to your ROO (which we have done) and enrolling in ROTC, what is the actual process and when does it begin? Or does it differ by school? (We have started and intend to continue conversations with our specific ROO and have a meeting scheduled this summer, but just wanted to get a general idea, especially if there was something specific we needed to do to prepare, or general advice). Thanks very much in advance for any responses.
Click to expand...

Depends on the BDE, year, and budget. But last several years EVERYONE we sent to Brigade received a campus based scholarship. We have a board with PMS, SMI, and a campus rep (keeps us honest and a good Info Ops campaign to tout high quality of ROTC cadets). This year 18 came to the board, 14 received nominations for scholarships. PT scores, motivation, and basically "good person" were the criteria.
 
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