My son received a 4yr National Army scholarship. We have been told informally by leadership that the DODMERB was approved months ago but we still don't have the official word. Over a year has now elapsed from his award of the scholarship. He did everything asked in the DODMERB and they literally haven't processed the paperwork in months. He has performed all duties with ROTC. He continues to have excellent grades and be highly fit. We have paid for all tuition, fees etc and he has not received any funds from the Army. I have now been told that he will only be given tuition retroactively. He will not be given the stipend, monthly $ or other costs that were originally promised? I am annoyed that military recruiting functions (or fails to function) in this manner. It really seems like they are just saving money by failing to staff the review process and not paying out the benefits during THEIR delay. It feels like they are just manipulating students and families by promising something and then not working diligently to honor their commitment - and as a result, the student and family cannot obtain the promised benefit. We are lucky that were able to pay the bill, but I doubt that most families can bear that burden. Again -- we are told the DODMERB was approved internally and they just haven't processed for months. Has anyone had this experience? Any suggestions on how to move this mountain and obtain the retro pay when the military finally gets it together to process this? Thank you in advance.
4 year scholarship still pending
- Thread starter volley
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MOM/DAD: Google "DoDMERB;" Hit "Questions on the process;" Read paragraph #4.
DS : Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “volley- SAF = 4 year scholarship still pending .“ Do NOT imbed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.
DS : Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “volley- SAF = 4 year scholarship still pending .“ Do NOT imbed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.
flyovercountry_army_dad
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DS was in a similar situation. Mr. Mullen can help with the individualized status of where your DS is in the process. In his case, cadre had told him his waiver cleared, when in fact it was NOT completely cleared (all but one DQ was). Given the length of time you indicate, I suspect your DS had a mental health DQ, which our DS did as well. Again, Mr. Mullen can explain why those DQs take (much) longer to waive in Army ROTC. Tuition benefits, book allowance, and stipend will start as soon as your DS contracts. If that occurs before the semester/quarter ends, tuition benefits at least will be retroactive to the beginning of the semester quarter. Stipend is not retroactively awarded. Our DS was awarded a 4 year National, but he didn't get waived until his 2nd year had started, so we ended up covering tuition and everything else for the first year. Everything has worked out well since. Good luck!
Thank you - very helpful! I did wonder if there was another DQ that they are working on that is not discussed. I'll look into that. He had a medical DQ, they requested a test, the test showed clearly that the condition did not exist, and then we never heard anything more despite repeated follow-up -- and that was many months ago. Leadership told us it was cleared - but we never heard anything more. For them to not review and resolve timely and then turn around and say that they should not retroactively pay for the items that are included in a 4 year scholarship, like uniforms and books etc. seems wrong -- like they are just using their own delay to their own financial benefit -- and to the detriment of the students that are making a commitment. They are not awarding a 4 year scholarship if they are sitting on paperwork internally and failing to make the payments that they should be making when they finally get around to process the paperwork. That is very misleading. We had no idea that this was a possibility.
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So, let me make it crystal clear as my lengthy reputation attests to. I am DoDMERB eadership. I don't communicate with parents. Parents are too old to apply. Paragraph 4, I referenced above explains fully why. I don't mislead. I provided an option for your DS to communicate with me. I'll await his email
MOM/DAD: Google "DoDMERB;" Hit "Questions on the process;" Read paragraph #4.
DS : Send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “volley- SAF = 4 year scholarship still pending .“ Do NOT imbed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.
It took me a minute to process your response and who you are. Thank you very much for your offer for him to contact you directly. That is much more than I thought I could find here. He'll contact you directly.