Advanced Standing?

[RancidRancid]

After visiting norwich university this summer, and speaking with the CO of NROTC marine corps option, I am a little confused.

Im not activily seeking an ROTC schoalarship because Im not 100% certain that is the path I wish to take just yet, and he said something about achieving "advanced standing" if I wish to commission without scholarship.

What does this mean? Is it hard to achieve?

I know I can apply for scholarship for later on during my college career but he said that its difficult because there are so few scholarships, especially for the Marine Corps.

Thanks for your time

 

[kinnem]

After visiting norwich university this summer, and speaking with the CO of NROTC marine corps option, I am a little confused.

Im not activily seeking an ROTC schoalarship because Im not 100% certain that is the path I wish to take just yet, and he said something about achieving "advanced standing" if I wish to commission without scholarship.

What does this mean? Is it hard to achieve?

I know I can apply for scholarship for later on during my college career but he said that its difficult because there are so few scholarships, especially for the Marine Corps.

Thanks for your time

Advanced Standing is something awarded to an NROTC midshipman who is not on scholarship. The only happens at the beginning of junior year. This entitles the person on advanced standing to recieve the normal stipend that is recieved by students on scholarship, but they recieve NO monies for tuition etc. I don't know how difficult it is to achieve Advanced Standing but given forthcoming budget cuts it will be harder, whatever the difficulty level is. Advanced Standing MUST be achieved by junior year or the midshipman is dropped from the program.

Hope this clarifies it for you.

 

[RancidRancid]

Thanks for your prompt reply. Does one need advanced standing to commission? Or can you be sent to PLC with out it?

Thanks

 

[dunninla]

ROTC (both Navy and Army) are divided into "Basic Course", the first two years, and "Advanced Course", the final two years.

Basic Course is open to all students, whether in the ROTC program or not. Any student may enroll in an ROTC Basic Course class. Basic course is used as a tool to 1) expose non-contracted students to the possibility of serving their country as an Officer, and 2) train already committed students to whom a scholarship was not awarded.

Advanced Course is for CONTRACTED cadets/mids. Contracting is the officer equivalent of enlisting. The moment a student Contracts, he/she has signed a contract obligating themself to 5 years of Active Duty service (Navy) or 4 years of AD or Reserves or Guard (Army). In both cases there iis an eight year total (combined AD+IRR, or Reserves, or Guard) Service Obligation.

So no, one cannot (within the ROTC program) commission without having Contracted within ROTC, and Contracting is a prerequisite to participating in the ROTC Advance Course = Advanced Standing. HOWEVER, a student that did not want to, or was not awarded Advanced Standing may still graduate no being in the ROTC program, and then attempt to commission as an Officer through Army OCS, a three month Program for college graduates. I don't know if the Navy has a similar college graduate, fast track officer accession program.

 

[kinnem]

Thanks for your prompt reply. Does one need advanced standing to commission? Or can you be sent to PLC with out it?

Thanks

Since you mention PLC I'll assume you're after a Marine slot. ROTC and PLC are two entirely different programs and Advanced Standing has no relationship whatsoever to PLC. Aside from ROTC, your two commissioning options are OCS at Quantico after college, or PLC over two summers while you are in college. PLC would provide you with some earnings and also some contribution towards your college expenses as I recall.

 

[RancidRancid]

Thanks again for all of your replies.

@kinnem I am looking to possibly commission into the Marine Corps

While at Norwich, the CO mentioned that because Im a woman, I may have a better chance then my male counterparts at receiving a Scholarship, If i meet the requirements of course.

Is that true? Is that the same case for Advanced standing?

 

[dunninla]

^ it always helps to be a woman -- well, that is unless you're in AROTC and want Combat Arms -- sorry! Or Navy and want Subs ... Sorry, oops, I mean sorry until last year, now it's OK. Helps even more if you are also Latina, Asian, or Black. It's that Congressional Mandate thingy.

 

[goaliedad]

Thanks again for all of your replies.

@kinnem I am looking to possibly commission into the Marine Corps

While at Norwich, the CO mentioned that because Im a woman, I may have a better chance then my male counterparts at receiving a Scholarship, If i meet the requirements of course.

Is that true? Is that the same case for Advanced standing?

I think (you will want to confirm) that the CO was referring to Norwich school scholarships (I'm not sure they have campus-based ROTC scholarships as very few schools seem to have them these days). Norwich is an overwhelmingly male school primarily because of the CoC. They may use school scholarships to attract student attributes (geographic, sociological, and yes even gender) that may make the student population more diverse.

A Norwich school (as opposed to campus-based ROTC) scholarship has no bearing on your achievement of Advance Standing in ROTC.

 

[kinnem]

Thanks again for all of your replies.

@kinnem I am looking to possibly commission into the Marine Corps

While at Norwich, the CO mentioned that because Im a woman, I may have a better chance then my male counterparts at receiving a Scholarship, If i meet the requirements of course.

Is that true? Is that the same case for Advanced standing?

My guess would be yes, but It's really just a guess. In any case, if you don't try your chances would be 0%.

 

[gonavy2015]

Does your major (tier 1, tier 2 etc) weigh in on obtaining advanced standing?
Thanks-

 

[kinnem]

I honestly don't know but I don't think it does directly. However the needs of the navy akwaya come into play. It may also make a difference in whatever scoring system is used. Again, nothing ventured, nothing gained.