ROTC instead of reapplying to SA

SAHopeful2015

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
51
Hello all, my DS was medically disqualified last year for the SAs he applied for. He moved on to Plan B and is doing well. He joined ROTC (army) without scholarship. He initially intended to reapply to SAs but has decided to remain at school and apply for the ROTC scholarship and become an officer through that route. ROTC is totally foreign to me. Can someone point me to some good information so I can become better informed? I’m wondering how the scholarships work, when those decisions are made, commitment upon completion of college etc. thank you so much!
 
My DS almost followed your son's path. He was TWE'd by USNA and USMA after receiving noms for both. He declined an acceptance to The Citadel, because of the costs, and ended up as a walk-on non-scholarship Army ROTC cadet at a local State U. Within six months he had earned a campus based Army Scholarship for 3 years. By the following spring they extended it to 3.5 years and covered the Spring semester. I asked him if he wanted to reapply to the academy's and he, like your son, declined as he felt like he found a home in ROTC.

As far as campus based scholarships, your son's cadre will observe your DS's work in classes, overall GPA, APFT, and overall participation in EC's and determine a battalion OML score for him. The Battalion cadre will hold a board and eventually offer campus based scholarships on a competitive basis to the top cadets.

Even those who don't earn a scholarship must earn a contract to move past the MS-II year and enter the Advanced course (Junior and Senior year or MS-III and MS-IV). A non-scholarship contract earns a stipend but no scholarship. Nonetheless, successful completion ends with the same result: a commissioned 2LT.

Besides this forum, here are some good links to resources:
General Info:
https://www.goarmy.com/rotc.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Reserve_Officers'_Training_Corps
Curriculum:
https://arotc.duke.edu/curriculum
Summer Training:
https://www.armyrotc.iastate.edu/the-program/summer-training/
http://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/advanced.aspx
Videos;
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much! The application was just due last week and he already has an interview scheduled which I thought was super quick.... perhaps I’m just “used” to the painfully long process of the SAs. I feel as though I know a great deal about the SA process but nothing for ROTC.

Does each university have a certain number of scholarships to give each year or how does that work? So it sounds like from your response there would be a chance he could get a 3.5 year award.
 
Does each university have a certain number of scholarships to give each year or how does that work? So it sounds like from your response there would be a chance he could get a 3.5 year award.

Yes, each ROTC battalion (not the university) has a budget of money for scholarships and contracts each year. Each battalion reports to its respective brigade and the country has eight brigades. The various brigades handle the budgets differently. For example, some brigades like extended 3 years to 3.5 years. while others would rather accumulate the funds and hand out more 2 year scholarships. The mileage clearly varies, so don't "count" on a 3.5 year. Be prepared with another way to pay for college "just in case." A non-scholarship contract does include a monthly stipend, though. Cadets are also paid for summer training like Airborne, CULP, and Advanced Camp.

The fact that your DS has an interview already may bode well for him. Because the decisions are decentralized in Army ROTC, it can happen pretty quick. Four years ago my DS did not even have his grades for his frosh semester completed yet, when he was awarded the three year. The added semester had to be put on hold due to the U.S. government facing a budget shut-down.
 
Thank you again! We aren’t counting on anything and quite the opposite I was encouraging him to hold off on the scholarship until his junior year just so he can really make sure he “likes” it and wants to pursue. I will say he seems to be very involved as he is doing the PT and other activities the freshman and non contracted cadets are not required to do. Time will only tell.
 
Thank you again! We aren’t counting on anything and quite the opposite I was encouraging him to hold off on the scholarship until his junior year just so he can really make sure he “likes” it and wants to pursue. I will say he seems to be very involved as he is doing the PT and other activities the freshman and non contracted cadets are not required to do. Time will only tell.

The DA 597-3 scholarship contract allows a cadet until the first day of the sophomore year to cancel his contract with zero obligation. So there is no advantage in waiting.

Here is the contract form:
https://armypubs.army.mil/pub/eforms/DR_a/pdf/A597_3.pdf
 
Question: Did your DS tell his cadre about his previous DoDMERB DQ? ROTC will use the same DoDMERB as it is valid for two years, but will run a completely separate waiver process.
 
Question: Did your DS tell his cadre about his previous DoDMERB DQ? ROTC will use the same DoDMERB as it is valid for two years, but will run a completely separate waiver process.
I don’t know the answer to this. I knew the waiver process was different but didn’t know the exam was valid for 2 years. His medical disqualification was due to past shoulder surgery in 10th grade so it will show up again.
 
It's possible the mere passage of time might remove the DQ or at least improve the chances for a waiver, assuming he had a full recovery. Each candidate is handled on a case by case basis, so there are never any guarantees one way or another. Hoping for the best for your boy. Some people just blossom in the various ROTC programs. I know my Marine officer son did.
 
Make sure you have a letter from a physician (preferably one with a substantial military background) who can attest that your DS has fully recovered and released for full military activity. This may be of great help to the cadre when seeking a waiver.
 
Make sure you have a letter from a physician (preferably one with a substantial military background) who can attest that your DS has fully recovered and released for full military activity. This may be of great help to the cadre when seeking a waiver.

^^^THIS^^^ We went through the waiver process with both our kids and while nobody we *had* to get letters from the physicians, it turned out to be a good plan as we were ahead of the curve. It was especially important for my daughters case because she had been mis-diagnosed as as having ulcerative colitis (a guaranteed, non waiverable DQ) so the letter from the MD was a life saver/game changer. My son had broken both his ankles in 10th grade and had 4-5 concussions over the years and for him, all the letters had to state was there were no lingering effects that would make him unable to perform at 100%.

Good luck...while the interview may come fast the waiver process can be lengthy. My daughter's boyfriend waited 13 months to get the all clear but that's the longest I've ever heard. My daughter waited (2) months and my son about (2) weeks.
 
Update: DS’s DODMERB portal has been updated to read “medical waiver granted” so i guess it will become official in January when he returns to classes. It is my understanding his scholarship will start this coming semester since the medical issues have been resolved by the waiver. I’m so proud of him... although it’s still a scary thought thinking he will be in the army following the next 3.5 years of school. I will just enjoy the time he is in school and “deal with” the other stuff that is to come later!
 
SAHopeful2015 -- Congratulations to you and your DS!
 
Update: DS’s DODMERB portal has been updated to read “medical waiver granted” so i guess it will become official in January when he returns to classes. It is my understanding his scholarship will start this coming semester since the medical issues have been resolved by the waiver. I’m so proud of him... although it’s still a scary thought thinking he will be in the army following the next 3.5 years of school. I will just enjoy the time he is in school and “deal with” the other stuff that is to come later!

Awesome....now don't get ahead of yourself with concerns about what might happen after he graduates. Besides, there are plenty of jobs in the Army will he won't be in danger on a regular basis.
 
Update: DS’s DODMERB portal has been updated to read “medical waiver granted” so i guess it will become official in January when he returns to classes. It is my understanding his scholarship will start this coming semester since the medical issues have been resolved by the waiver. I’m so proud of him... although it’s still a scary thought thinking he will be in the army following the next 3.5 years of school. I will just enjoy the time he is in school and “deal with” the other stuff that is to come later!

Awesome....now don't get ahead of yourself with concerns about what might happen after he graduates. Besides, there are plenty of jobs in the Army will he won't be in danger on a regular basis.
If he goes into Finance, the worst that can happen is a papercut. I am an accoutant so I can tell you those cuts can get nasty:)
 
Back
Top