Campus based scholarship and transfer after Sophomore year

JJJ240

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DS is a freshman at a college A and recently awarded 3-yr campus-based AROTC scholarship. It is my understanding that the scholarship kicks in on the first day of coming fall when he signs the contract. DS is excited about the opportunity. At the same time, he is having a second thought about applying transfer to college B (or C) after sophomore year (for various reasons).

His intention is to continue ROTC. Ideally, he gets accepted to college B (or C) and his AROTC scholarship gets transferred. However, it is my understanding that campus-based scholarship is tied to school A and there is no guarantee for transfer (maybe very difficult?). BTW, College B is in the same battalion with college A, while C is not.

Once accepted to college B (or C), he will transfer regardless of his scholarship gets transferred, or not.

Questions are:
1) If his scholarship is not transferred, can he still continue ROTC (w/o scholarship) at a new battalion without paying back the money he has received? if so, under the same contract or new contract?

2) If he quits ROTC at a new school, does he needs to pay back all monetary award he has compensated including monthly allowance? or just tuition portion? College education is priority, so enlist is not an option.

3) Once DS starts to apply transfer, his PMS will be informed. Would it affect negatively when he applies for summer training, i.e. CULP, CTLT, and etc.

4) There is no guarantee, but would it be fair to assume that his scholarship can be transferred easier to college B (same battalion) as long as PMS approves? (tuition at college A, B, C is comparable)

There are lots of 'if's at this time, but we'd like to be prepared to make informed decision when those 'if's are realized.
 
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1) That is a question that can only be answered by his battalion and Cadet Command.

2) If your son decides to quit ROTC then he would be obligated to pay back the tuition that has been paid, he will not be required to pay back the monthly stipend. You noted that Enlistment is not an option and that college is a priority, that is not how this works. The contract your son would sign states that obligation to the Army can be made by repayment or enlistment, the kicker is that it is not your son's choice. The Army will decide which route he will take, either repayment or enlistment. Make sure he reads the entire contract.

3) A cadet can only apply for CULP if they are contracted which means your son would need to sign the contract at the start of the year so he has everything complete in time to apply for CULP, the application process starts early in the Fall. CTLT is something that happens the summer after his Junior year. As far as his transfer effecting CULP, that all depends on when he informs the PMS and what they do with his contract once he starts the transfer process. I would imagine they would not be too happy if he doesn't tell them his plans before applying for and possibly accepting a slot for CULP. It would be best that he tell them his intensions prior to signing a contract.

4) Again this all depends on the Battalions and Cadet Command on how they would handle this.

Bottom line is that he should have this discussion with his Cadre before signing any contract and accepting the scholarship. It is better to be out in front of all of this rather then trying to deal with the issues if he signs a contract and then informs them he is planning to leave.
 
2) If your son decides to quit ROTC then he would be obligated to pay back the tuition that has been paid, he will not be required to pay back the monthly stipend. You noted that Enlistment is not an option and that college is a priority, that is not how this works. The contract your son would sign states that obligation to the Army can be made by repayment or enlistment, the kicker is that it is not your son's choice. The Army will decide which route he will take, either repayment or enlistment. Make sure he reads the entire contract.

That is good to know. I did not know it is Army's choice.

Bottom line is that he should have this discussion with his Cadre before signing any contract and accepting the scholarship. It is better to be out in front of all of this rather then trying to deal with the issues if he signs a contract and then informs them he is planning to leave.

Yes. He is fully aware of it. Additional uncertainty make things more difficult. well... this is life: compromise and try to be at a position with options.

@Jcleppe Thanks for the great answers.
 
The following is from Army Reg 145-1 (effective August 2, 2016), which "provides processes and procedures for all of the Army ROTC Incentives Programs."

The text below does not distinguish between incoming freshmen and students already in college who are requesting transfers, but I would venture that the procedure is the same.

2-9. Transfer of Scholarship Cadets.
a. The PMS ensures that the transferring student is properly recorded in the CCIMM Student/Cadet Information module. The losing school initiates the transfer request.
b. Funding.
(1) If a request for transfer is required due to lack of funds at Battalion level, the request to transfer must be worked at the Brigade level. (2) Transfer requests of scholarship Cadets when the Battalion and Brigade do not have funding or when the transfer is to a different Brigade are sent via email to your appropriate Scholarship Program Manager at HQCC.
c. Documentation. For a transfer request to be considered by HQCC, the transfer must include the following documentation:
(1) Cadet Command Form 131-R (CCF 131-R) from losing PMS.
(2) Memo from Cadet explaining reason for request if not available to sign 131R.
(3) Current transcripts and Current 104-R.
(4) Memo or Concurrence from Losing Bde.
(5) Difference in costs of losing and gaining schools (include FICE codes).
(6) Memo or Concurrence from gaining PMS.
(7) New 104R from gaining PMS.
(8) Letter of acceptance from gaining University or College.
 
The following is from Army Reg 145-1 (effective August 2, 2016), which "provides processes and procedures for all of the Army ROTC Incentives Programs."

The text below does not distinguish between incoming freshmen and students already in college who are requesting transfers, but I would venture that the procedure is the same.

I have read from somewhere stating that national awardee and campus-based awardee are treated differently when it comes to transfer. is it a misunderstanding?

(8) Letter of acceptance from gaining University or College.

This is the pre-req. for everything which is not a gimme for competitive schools.
 
The following is from Army Reg 145-1 (effective August 2, 2016), which "provides processes and procedures for all of the Army ROTC Incentives Programs."

The text below does not distinguish between incoming freshmen and students already in college who are requesting transfers, but I would venture that the procedure is the same.

I have read from somewhere stating that national awardee and campus-based awardee are treated differently when it comes to transfer. is it a misunderstanding?

(8) Letter of acceptance from gaining University or College.

This is the pre-req. for everything which is not a gimme for competitive schools.

In the time I've been following SAF, I don't recall any anecdotes about cadets already in school transferring their scholarships to another school. That's not to say it doesn't happen, just that it probably doesn't happen frequently. We've seen a number of cadets already in school renounce ROTC scholarships without penalty after being admitted to a service academy, but that's not the same thing your son is contemplating. The best I can do is speculate. If you read something somewhere, feel free to go with that.

Not sure what your comment on #8 above means, but this requirement indicates your son's academic transfer has to be approved before Cadet Command will consider a scholarship transfer request.

Your son may be a trailblazer. Best wishes and please let us know how things turn out
 
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First of all, congrats to your son for earning a 3 year scholarship, that is a great accomplishment! I would suggest for him to investigate the answer to these questions prior to signing the contract in the Fall. I know that can be a sticky situation, but this is a legally binding contract, and any of the things that he does not want, like enlisting, honestly could be a reality, and as mentioned above, it is the Army's choice. Since he will be a sophomore, his obligation starts as soon as he signs the contract. If a cadet signs as a freshman, they have the remainder of that year to decide if they want to continue, however, since he is will be a sophomore, he won't have that buffer. He will contract after passing his APFT and cleared by DoDERB if he has not done that already.

We have been through a "what if" situation with my DD her sophomore year going from a nursing AROTC scholarship, to dropping nursing and having to wait almost six months to find out if that change was approved and if her scholarship was transferred from nursing to a line scholarship. She did everything she was asked to do, was in regular communication with each step with her cadre, got support from her cadre and there were still a lot of if's to figure out. She finally got approval after her junior year started, and it included a one semester suspension of scholarship as was per her contract, so we had to pay for that semester once the decision was given to her. So I totally empathize with the unknowns and how unsettling that can be. She is now a rising senior and will graduate and commission next year, so we are on the other side of it now, but I remember how stressful it was for all of us, but especially for her. I am not sure why your son wants to stay another year at this school and transfer, maybe for a better academic school or a different major not allowed at this school? Whatever it is, I wish you both the best and hope it all works out for him. I am sure he won't be the last cadet that has the desire to change schools after contracting on a school based scholarship, even if rare, so please let us all know how it turns out.
 
The following is from Army Reg 145-1 (effective August 2, 2016), which "provides processes and procedures for all of the Army ROTC Incentives Programs."

The text below does not distinguish between incoming freshmen and students already in college who are requesting transfers, but I would venture that the procedure is the same.

I have read from somewhere stating that national awardee and campus-based awardee are treated differently when it comes to transfer. is it a misunderstanding?

(8) Letter of acceptance from gaining University or College.

This is the pre-req. for everything which is not a gimme for competitive schools.


Not sure what your comment on #8 above means, but this requirement indicates your son's academic transfer has to be approved before Cadet Command will consider a scholarship transfer request.

That's exactly my point. Basically, everything becomes moot point unless DS is accepted at college B (or C). This is the biggest uncertainty to move forward.
 
...

I am not sure why your son wants to stay another year at this school and transfer, maybe for a better academic school or a different major not allowed at this school? Whatever it is, I wish you both the best and hope it all works out for him. I am sure he won't be the last cadet that has the desire to change schools after contracting on a school based scholarship, even if rare, so please let us all know how it turns out.

First and foremost, thanks for the informative comments and constructive feedback.

DS is not just staying for another year. Transfer application process takes time and some college takes fall transfer only. He just started to contemplate. Without elaborating, he felt college A does not provide adequate resources for him to pursue his goal.
 
...

I am not sure why your son wants to stay another year at this school and transfer, maybe for a better academic school or a different major not allowed at this school? Whatever it is, I wish you both the best and hope it all works out for him. I am sure he won't be the last cadet that has the desire to change schools after contracting on a school based scholarship, even if rare, so please let us all know how it turns out.

First and foremost, thanks for the informative comments and constructive feedback.

DS is not just staying for another year. Transfer application process takes time and some college takes fall transfer only. He just started to contemplate. Without elaborating, he felt college A does not provide adequate resources for him to pursue his goal.

Got it, definitely know how it works. What I meant is it will make matriculating on time according to his ROTC contract more difficult, not impossible but difficult. I have a rising junior that is in the process of transferring and she is having to really fight to get credit for classes that seem like obvious transfer classes.

One thing to prepare him on, while we don’t need the whole story, the whole story will be very important to the cadre he asks to support him in the transfer. He may see that he needs to leave to support his goals, the cadre may or may not agree. Without support, the process won’t even get started.

These decisions are really tough. It is a great adulting exercise, he is going to learn that staying or leaving will include compromise on his part, and you get to help guide him make the best decision. These journeys are hard, but always valuable. Again, best of all luck to both of you.
 
I read the above thread with interest because my son is in similar situation, but I don't think I see an answer to his question/situation. Could you review his situation and address the questions I have?

Situation: My son is currently a freshman at College A (a private school). He was awarded a 3-year Campus Based AROTC Scholarship and is currently an non-contracted Cadet in the school's battalion. He is scheduled to contract next fall although he is not happy with College A and is considering transferring to College B (a state school). College A and College B are in the same Brigade, but not the same battalion. College B has a lower tuition.

Questions:

1. Is the 3-year campus based scholarship transferable?
2. If the answer to #1 is "Maybe" or "It depends", do the facts that the schools are in the same brigade and College B is cheaper help the possibilities?
3. How should my son approach the cadre at his current battalion with this question?
 
1. Yes, if both PMS's agree. (No guarantees)
2. Both factors help.
3 . Be honest and start with the the ROO at college A. Don't approach B first! They do talk to each other!
 
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Thanks AROTC-dad. My son was going to approach his SSG Cadre this week to discuss. You think its better for him to talk to the recruiter first?
 
My son was going to approach his SSG Cadre this week to discuss. You think its better for him to talk to the recruiter first?

He should definitely follow the chain of command in his battalion. If that begins with the SSG, then he should start there. He will then likely be referred to the ROO and or PMS.
 
He should definitely follow the chain of command in his battalion. If that begins with the SSG, then he should start there. He will then likely be referred to the ROO and or PMS.

His SSG is where he'll start. Thanks again.
 
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