Academy application and rotc scholarship

[Dielast]

My DS is finishing his USMA application and is also applying for a ROTC scholarship as well. Does anyone know if the application information is shared or do scores and recommendations have to be sent all over again? Thanks for any information.

 

[AROTC-dad]

They are completely separate applications. Treat them accordingly.

The only thing that is "automatically" shared is DoDMERB, so long as the applications are within two years of the examination date.

The CFA results are shared amongst the Service Academies, but is not used by Army ROTC. A separate PFT (1-1-1) or APFT (2-2-2) is used for the Army ROTC scholarship application.

 

[FaiM13]

If a person is to not apply for an ROTC scholarship, but they are applying to a SA will this impact their chance for admission to the academy?

 

[jl123]

If a person is to not apply for an ROTC scholarship, but they are applying to a SA will this impact their chance for admission to the academy?

Directly: No. For the most part, USMA admissions is about the WCS score and there are no WCS points awarded for ROTC applications. However, for a college applicant participation in ROTC is a plus (assuming candidate performs well in ROTC).

Indirectly: Possibly. Nominating committees may inquire about ROTC and consider that as an indication of desire to serve.

 

[jebdad]

There are plenty of "all or nothing candidates." Both of my kids were such. They had no desire to go the ROTC route. They simply indicated to anyone that inquired about ROTC that they only desired the SA path and if they did not get it, they would reapply.

 

[AROTC-dad]

My oldest DS was nominated to West Point but had a pitching injury that kept him from passing DoDMERB that year. He ended up going to UCLA and not pursuing ROTC. I think in hindsight that he was more enamored with the allure of West Point than serving as an officer.

In contrast, my youngest DS was more motivated to serve as an officer and really didn't care which program he went through. He was turned down by both USMA and USNA, and once he began ROTC, he had no interest in reapplying to a Service Academy as he thought it would just delay his commissioning by one year.

 

[jl123]

I've met a couple of interviewers that expressed concern that a candidate not interested in ROTC at least as a backup to the SA may not be serious about a military career. A candidate has no way of knowing who will be on a nominating committee or FFR/BGO/ALO and what their opinions may be.

Important to be able to explain why you are not considering ROTC should the question come up. There are good reasons and a candidate should prepare a clear, concise answer that alleviates any doubts and moves the interview forward. A poor answer probably will not derail a strong candidate, but it won't help.

 

[FaiM13]

I've met a couple of interviewers that expressed concern that a candidate not interested in ROTC at least as a backup to the SA may not be serious about a military career. A candidate has no way of knowing who will be on a nominating committee or FFR/BGO/ALO and what their opinions may be.

Important to be able to explain why you are not considering ROTC should the question come up. There are good reasons and a candidate should prepare a clear, concise answer that alleviates any doubts and moves the interview forward. A poor answer probably will not derail a strong candidate, but it won't help.

Thank you for replying and giving advice, everyone!

 

[txfwindian]

Is there a difference between officers from SA or ROTC? I understand they both start as 2nd LT, but as far as choice of branch, promotions, other prospect.. are they same?

 

[Casey]

Is there a difference between officers from SA or ROTC? I understand they both start as 2nd LT, but as far as choice of branch, promotions, other prospect.. are they same?

Once you’re on active duty, there is no difference. The army doesn’t care about where you came from, just how well you’re performing and your potential for continued contributions.

For everything leading up to it, there’s definitely differences between the programs and both have their pros and cons. Coming from a SA, you have much more control over your destiny for branching because of how branching is structured as best needs of the Army combined with competition only against your classmates. Additionally, West Point has to commission a certain percentage of combat arms officers every year. There’s a lot less left to chance if you do well at a SA about knowing what branch you’re going to come out as.

Second, you’re guaranteed active duty coming out of a SA. ROTC will be the first commissioning source always to be cut for active duty slots, and it can be competitive to get active duty depending on the political climate of accessions at the time.

For everything else, it’s user preference. West Point has a ton of money to send cadets to schools and provide summer training most ROTC programs won’t have a shot at, but you’re living at a military academy for four years. Academically, West Point stands it’s own for broadening experiences that bright side, will be fully funded by the school. ROTC has some neat programs for cultural immersion as well. For day to day life, there’s a lot to be said for going to a normal school/doing ROTC and figuring out how to be an adult in the real world many SA graduates don’t seem to figure out until after graduation (flight school was an interesting time for many of my classmates). Some of my peers would not have done well at all in a SA environment but they’re good officers now and vice versa, for many of my classmates, the structure provided by a SA was what we needed to develop into the officers we are today.

At the end of the day, there will be great officers that excel coming from ROTC and OCS as well as USMA. There will also be bad ones. Your soldiers don’t care. They just care about what you’re doing for them now.

 

[jaglvr]

at a different SA breifing the officer said this and i believe it would cross all branches:
SA grads know the military aspect but less life skills coming active duty, the ROTC/OCS officers are a little slower adapting to the military protocols but are leagues ahead in regular skills (laundry, shopping, budgeting, etc) but both are well prepared to lead