Difficult Decision Between AROTC and NROTC MO

KDon

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May 19, 2019
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Hello everyone, this past year I applied for both the Army ROTC Scholarship and the Marine Corps National Scholarship. I'll be attending Norwich University in the Fall.
My original goal was to work for the Marine Corps National Scholarship only, but I was convinced by my parents that it'd be a good idea to apply for the Army as well.
By April 2019, I was informed that the Marine Corps did not select me for the National Scholarship. However, the Army awarded me a 3 Year Scholarship to Norwich.

Understand that my original goal was the Marine Corps. I love the ethos, the culture, and the history of the branch, and it was the first and only office I walked into when I initially considered enlistment. Now I have to decide between going a completely different route from what my original goal was, or sticking to the effort of commissioning in the Marine Corps. If I decide to decline Army and attend Norwich as a college programmer for NROTC MO, I'm taking an extreme financial risk. My family can only fund two complete years of school for me before we have to take out significant loans. If I fail to attain a scholarship for the Marine Corps, I have incredible debt on my hands for the next few years of my life.

I've been seeking help from a number of sources including calling officers at Norwich for their opinion, but this is an incredibly difficult decision for me.
 
Honestly my recommendation is to go to Norwich on the Army scholarship and explore the Marine Program. If it ultimately comes that is a better fit, then move to the Marine Side and compete for a scholarship.
 
The Army has an ethos, culture and History too. Why would the Marine Corps be better? I love the Corps. My son is a Marine Officer, but the soldiers and sailors in my family serve with equal distinction and honor. I'd say give the Army a shot. You're serving this nation and leading warriors in either case.

EDIT: I would also add that no one joins the Marine Corps they think they're joining. Nothing ever lives up to our high ideals. The same is true of Army and Navy as well.
 
@KDon - I assume you have already committed to Norwich? If so, I recommend you pursue an army commissioning. As Kinnem notes, the Army also has an ethos, culture and storied history. The Army board saw your potential, the USMC board did not. (that is not to say that they might have in the future but "a bird in the hand...")

I can't see taking on the tremendous financial burden (and risk) by giving up the Army scholarship for an uncertain path towards the Marine Corps. Go Army, go hard. If that doesn't work out, drop out prior to your commitment and pursue Marine PLC and/or OCS.
 
Give the army a shot; you don’t know till you try and you could regret giving up a nice 3 yr scholarship if you decline now
 
It was interesting to read that your parents insisted on helping you explore more college scholarship options. Your #1 choice, the Corp, reviewed your application and said no thank you. On the other hand, the Army also reviewed your application and said yes, we believe you would make a great soldier and we are willing to spend ~$150,000 on your education, uniforms & equipment. Of course, as a member of the Army ROTC program, Norwich University is happy to house you and feed you while you work toward your bachelor's degree.

Would you rather your parents spend well over $100K for your first 2 years at Norwich?
 
One big advantage of AROTC vs NROTC is you have the option of AD, National Guard, or Reserves.

That might not be a big deal to you now but it could be in 4 years.
(Job offers, grad school, girls, babies, etc.)
 
Norwich. Excellent choice. That 3 year Army scholarship is worth roughly 4 years of your salary as a newly commissioned officer. In addition the I.D. White benefit for those bringing an ROTC scholarship pays your room and board at Norwich. These are enormous financial rewards given you by an organization that sees great value in you and has a future for you. The Army has a legacy of its own. Not the same as the USMC, but just as storied. Do some research. Chesty Puller is a fine American legend as are many others. Bet then again, Patton, Marshall, and Eisenhower hold their own places in the history of the American military.

Best of luck!
Go Army!
 
Plus I heard that even if you have a 3 year scholarship to Norwich, Norwich will pay for your first year as well
 
Plus I heard that even if you have a 3 year scholarship to Norwich, Norwich will pay for your first year as well
Not true.

If we're talking about upgrades from the AROTC department, I've never heard of someone being upgraded. Typically the funds go towards campus-based scholarships.
 
Hello everyone, this past year I applied for both the Army ROTC Scholarship and the Marine Corps National Scholarship. I'll be attending Norwich University in the Fall.
My original goal was to work for the Marine Corps National Scholarship only, but I was convinced by my parents that it'd be a good idea to apply for the Army as well.
By April 2019, I was informed that the Marine Corps did not select me for the National Scholarship. However, the Army awarded me a 3 Year Scholarship to Norwich.

Understand that my original goal was the Marine Corps. I love the ethos, the culture, and the history of the branch, and it was the first and only office I walked into when I initially considered enlistment. Now I have to decide between going a completely different route from what my original goal was, or sticking to the effort of commissioning in the Marine Corps. If I decide to decline Army and attend Norwich as a college programmer for NROTC MO, I'm taking an extreme financial risk. My family can only fund two complete years of school for me before we have to take out significant loans. If I fail to attain a scholarship for the Marine Corps, I have incredible debt on my hands for the next few years of my life.

I've been seeking help from a number of sources including calling officers at Norwich for their opinion, but this is an incredibly difficult decision for me.

First of congrats on choosing to attend Norwich, great choice!

Generally at Norwich if you are a very high achiever in your first year (3.5+ GPA, Super high PFT, involved in extracurriculars) the NROTC Dept hands out a handful of MO 3 year scholarships. They also hand out 2 year scholarships as well if you keep up the performance into your second year. The Army ROTC Dept on the other hand hands out expontentially more due to money they have. Since you already have a 3 year scholarship, if you are a high achiever in your first year it would not suprise me if they extended your scholarship to a 3.5 or even 4 year scholarship. I had some rook buddies in my platoon freshman year that worked their tails off in the above areas and they had their scholarships extended to a 3.5 year from a 3 year.
 
Hello everyone, this past year I applied for both the Army ROTC Scholarship and the Marine Corps National Scholarship. I'll be attending Norwich University in the Fall.
My original goal was to work for the Marine Corps National Scholarship only, but I was convinced by my parents that it'd be a good idea to apply for the Army as well.
By April 2019, I was informed that the Marine Corps did not select me for the National Scholarship. However, the Army awarded me a 3 Year Scholarship to Norwich.

Understand that my original goal was the Marine Corps. I love the ethos, the culture, and the history of the branch, and it was the first and only office I walked into when I initially considered enlistment. Now I have to decide between going a completely different route from what my original goal was, or sticking to the effort of commissioning in the Marine Corps. If I decide to decline Army and attend Norwich as a college programmer for NROTC MO, I'm taking an extreme financial risk. My family can only fund two complete years of school for me before we have to take out significant loans. If I fail to attain a scholarship for the Marine Corps, I have incredible debt on my hands for the next few years of my life.

I've been seeking help from a number of sources including calling officers at Norwich for their opinion, but this is an incredibly difficult decision for me.

Go Army.

Do yourself & your family a favor.

I'm sure you'll be a fine officer.
 
Here is the deal, I know very little about the different branches. My daughter is an Army ROTC cadet and will be a senior this fall.

Your ideas will change over the next few years, dependent on what you learn and are exposed to. You have focused your mind on the Marines, so that literally blocks out other opportunities in your head (we all do this, we are human). But what you will learn as an Army cadet is that the opportunities and career paths in the Army are vast. As well as AD, NG and Reserves are all options to you.

My advice is which ever you do, focus on school, killing the physical fitness and be as involved as your time allows. The better you do, the more control you have in choosing which career path within the Army (or Marines). This is a difficult choice, and you have to make it, just remember that you only know an like an idea about each service, being apart of one or the other will be what shapes you into an officer and you will still only have an idea of the other the service you didn’t choose. Meaning, I doubt you will regret your decision if you are all in.
 
It was interesting to read that your parents insisted on helping you explore more college scholarship options. Your #1 choice, the Corp, reviewed your application and said no thank you. On the other hand, the Army also reviewed your application and said yes, we believe you would make a great soldier and we are willing to spend ~$150,000 on your education, uniforms & equipment. Of course, as a member of the Army ROTC program, Norwich University is happy to house you and feed you while you work toward your bachelor's degree.

Would you rather your parents spend well over $100K for your first 2 years at Norwich?
Norwich has graciously awarded me a scholarship that brings tuition price down to just about $30,000 a year coming out of state. If I went NROTC MO, we'd be covered for about two years of schooling until we'd have to take out loans for the final two years.
I've been talking to a bunch of folks and keeping my options open, I spoke to a Colonel at Norwich that enlisted as a Marine and then transferred to the Army as an Officer. The Marine Corps appealed to me because I've been wrestling for about 13 years now and majority of the friends I've wrestled with all went the route of the Marine Corps. I think that gave me an underlying idea that the branch had parallels similar to what wrestling provided me, a dichotomy between personal growth and a combat skill set. I liked being part of a close group of strong and smart wrestlers that fought for each other each tournament and dual, and that emotion was blown out of proportion when we won states as a team this year. The Colonel mentioned how the Army has more opportunities than the Marine Corps is regards to flexibility. He also said if I was seeking the emotion and comradery I felt from wrestling, I could seek out Special Forces once I'm out of university.

Overall, I'm never gonna know how I'll feel in the future. So I think my best bet is to keep my options open and roll with the Army my first year and see how I feel about my decision in school. The Colonel said that if I still wanted to do NROTC MO by the end of Freshman year, they could transfer me as a college programmer and I'd then continue competing for another scholarship. Thanks to everyone for their input on my question. I haven't had an incredible amount of folks to express my interests with, other than my parents, so I thought it'd be a good idea to post here.
 
You stated that "Norwich has graciously awarded me a scholarship that brings tuition price down to just about $30,000 a year coming out of state." Once you add $14,352 for room & board, $1,500 for books, as well as another $5,000 for miscellaneous items & supplies, each year would cost your parents savings account over $50K.

I hope you give Army a try and perhaps you can impress the NROTC MO with your college grades and PT enough to offer you their scholarship. Good Luck.
 
So I think my best bet is to keep my options open and roll with the Army my first year and see how I feel about my decision in school.

I've been lurking and hoping you would come to this conclusion - you have the proverbial "bird in hand" - a 3 year scholarship. Sounds like you're also a seasoned athlete and as a former wrestler myself, I appreciate your interest in that team/ community feel. My recommendations would be to:
1. Love the one you're with - commit to the Army for your freshman year. Go all in.
2. No issue in keeping an open dialogue with the Navy team, but honestly 99% of your energy should be in excelling at school and in the Army in your first semester. Do that and you'll only be in a stronger/ now proven at the college level position - I'd table most discussions with Navy until you you can sit down with them in January from your position of having earned a 4.0 and top battalion performance in the Army - which at Norwich won't be easy - but it is do-able.
2. Show up ready to max out your PFT scores when you arrive. Norwich has some "gung ho" cadets - you will not be alone in being prepared, but still a great way to separate yourself.
3. Do some research on how to rise to the top 10% on the OML at Norwich - Excel in academics, PT, great attitude, on-time/prepared. What else? Organize a volunteer activity in helping the veterans home in the area? Volunteer at recruitment nights? IDK - ask specific question and find out and be aggressive in making a plan.
4. related to number 3, additionally, open a dialogue with the AROTC ROO at Norwich to ask simply how you can exceed their expectations. Ask if there is a path for them to consider upping your scholarship to a 3.5 year (from a 3 year).
5. Choose your courses carefully for your first semester, and don't overload. Better to start out college with a 4.0 than a 3.2 with the toughest courses. It's a big adjustment.
6. Learn more about the Army special forces community - very impressive community, tough (persons). And if you're looking for a like-minded "family" of warriors, well, again find a way to get to know them and I think you may have a home. As long as you can handle the pain, the grind, etc.
7. Do more research on what the mission of the Army is - my Dad was Army, and they engage long-term with communities globally. They build relationships, and a small team of rangers/ a small unit can have an incredible effect on the people in the area they serve. From what you describe, and the strong impression that you want to make a difference and serve with a like minded core team, I think being a Ranger just might be a great fit for you. Put a 70 pound pack on, and walk a marathon for a few days in a row, and sleep on the dirt in your backyard - that'll be a good test (ah, my attempt at humor)!

Seriously, best of luck to you young man. You come across as thoughtful, and I appreciate that you want to understand the mission and want a great team around you - that's great. Good luck/ hope this helps.
 
One more thing I will add, as I think you are approaching this very wisely, is that be as "all in: as your studies allow. I don't know how a SMC works, but I know when my daughter was a 3 year scholarship recipient, she jumped in her freshman year at her university and tried out for Ranger challenge, participated in the color guard, volunteered for career fairs and other events on campus, and she immediately bonded with other cadets and cadre because she was so present and engaged. Now that being said, she ended up struggling in her science studies and changed majors, but I think this would have happened anyway and given it happened the way it did, she had a lot of great support in ROTC and her cadre supported her to not only to change majors but scholarship types (which she was first told "whoah, that is tough to do). So just be "all in" (and study hard) and you will find that Army ROTC is just like any place else on earth, you will have those that take it seriously and those that don't. Find your people and you will do great!
 
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