[AFROTC] Study abroad while on scholarship?

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KmKid

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I am aware of summer programs like Project GO and plan to take advantage of these, however I am talking about doing a whole school semester overseas at some other college while contracted & on scholarship. If this is possible, would the Airforce also pay for it [type 1]? I would ensure it would all go towards my degree and not push back graduation.
 
I don’t believe they would. For NROTC, they recomend doing study abroad over the summer. If you do a study abroad during the year, you’d have to take a leave of absence. Typically, an LOA does require you to temporarily give up you’re scholarship entitlements. I’m sure there are exceptions and you should talk to your unit staff.
 
I know NROTC, several years back, allowed one to study abroad for a semester. I don't know is there was an LOA involved. Of course the midn had to double up and catch up on Naval Science courses, which is a bit easier to do as a Marine option.

What did you cadre say about it?
 
I can't help with AFROTC, but at least for NROTC, every year my unit has midshipmen who study abroad and get the Navy to pay for it (not guaranteed, but if you're a good student it's not too hard to get it approved).

Are you a cadet or an applicant? If you're a cadet, go ask your staff, they'll be able to provide a better answer than anyone here. If you're an applicant, reach out to your top choice school and ask if they ever have anyone study abroad and what that process is like.
 
kinnem said:
I know NROTC, several years back, allowed one to study abroad for a semester. I don't know is there was an LOA involved. Of course the midn had to double up and catch up on Naval Science courses, which is a bit easier to do as a Marine option.

What did you cadre say about it?
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I actually just heard back late today from cadre! You can go up to 1 semester abroad where you would be classified as a PNA (Period of Non-Attendance). As long as you work towards your degree requirements your scholarship stays and it can pay for the abroad opportunity as well (capped at whatever your rotc scholarship currently pays). This makes me quite happy, and I will surely keep everyone updated on any more information I find!

@nrotcmid23
@CuriousMid1001
(Pinging for update in case they're curious!)
 
KmKid said:
I actually just heard back late today from cadre! You can go up to 1 semester abroad where you would be classified as a PNA (Period of Non-Attendance). As long as you work towards your degree requirements your scholarship stays and it can pay for the abroad opportunity as well (capped at whatever your rotc scholarship currently pays). This makes me quite happy, and I will surely keep everyone updated on any more information I find!

@nrotcmid23
@CuriousMid1001
(Pinging for update in case they're curious!)
Click to expand...
There you go. The horse's mouth has the answers!
 
KmKid said:
I actually just heard back late today from cadre! You can go up to 1 semester abroad where you would be classified as a PNA (Period of Non-Attendance). As long as you work towards your degree requirements your scholarship stays and it can pay for the abroad opportunity as well (capped at whatever your rotc scholarship currently pays). This makes me quite happy, and I will surely keep everyone updated on any more information I find!

@nrotcmid23
@CuriousMid1001
(Pinging for update in case they're curious!)
Click to expand...
Thanks for shooting up the flare! Great to know, and that’s it’s a PNA not an LOA... I’ll have to see what my NROTC staff says but hopefully similar.
 
My son was told by AFROTC commander that it can be worked out. You need to talk to the detachment though since this may vary. If allowed, they'd know the answers about tuition. If you are still in high school, reach out to the detachments at the schools you are applying to and ask them.
 
In many cases, the costs of study abroad programs are actually covered by the college's tuition and fees, since our costs, generally far exceed those at foreign universities.
 
My son did a semester in Dublin. It was a solid experience (until COVID messed it up) and he got extra points for cultural experience. He was an AROTC cadet (and a Keydet).
 
My DS did Greece his 1st semester freshman year, he had a blast, but the courses were light, when he got back for spring semester the hammer dropped swifty and hard, he had make up and take two AFROTC classes, two engineering cornerstone project classes, calc & physics II plus technical writing and he had to travel to a crosstown university 3-4x a week for ROTC, he was basically roadkill after the semester, then had to take calc III and statics for the summer session to stay on his degree track. It was very nice the AF paid for his semester in Greece, but he was not prepared for the academic tsunami when he got back. Moral of the story, study aboard is a great experience, but be prepared to make up a ton of work.
 
cb7893 said:
In many cases, the costs of study abroad programs are actually covered by the college's tuition and fees, since our costs, generally far exceed those at foreign universities.
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Can echo this! The few that did study abroad (though in NROTC), got it all covered, since it is technically college, affilaited with your host school, and getting class credits!
 
Glad you got the info on this! Some recommendations about the timing specific to AFROTC:
Don't go abroad during your sophomore year. It's the most important year of AFROTC since you're competing for an EA (golden ticket to field training/commissioning)
Try to not go the first semester of your Junior year since it's your first semester as a POC and you'll miss out on a lot of crucial training.
Your summer between Sophomore and Junior year is off limits to basically everything that isn't super flexible or only half the summer due to Field Training such as internships, study abroad, and classes.
Any other semesters, go for it! I know my school has some Winter/Summer abroad programs too that make it possible to not miss out on any training classes so see if your school has those as well.
 
Last I'll say and I'll bug out. My father did "study abroad" during medical school in Munich over the summer of 1939. I did a year study abroad after college graduation. DS, AROTC, did a year in high school, a gap year before enrolling in college and Project GO after sophomore year in Kyiv. In Kyiv one of his running mates was an AFROTC Cadet from Iowa State. My advice, unsolicited as it may be, is the following:

You will probably earn little if any credit towards your degree other than electives, if you're lucky. Plan accordingly from day 1.

Don't grab the first shiny object shown in the promotional material. They will all highlight either beautiful beaches or lush beer gardens or very attractive young people or incredible historic locations or all of the above. Choose the program which guarantees the deepest cultural immersion. Ideally, if you have studied any foreign language under your belt, don't let slip by the chance to groove it. If possible, have a local roommate or live in a home where English is not spoken. Chances are you will find two or three of the four items listed above.

A good study abroad experience will keep on giving in terms of career or personal relationships. In my case, my roommate who spoke no English was Best Man at my wedding 43 years ago. We have visited over the years and go back this next fall. Our kids visit them as well.

Best of luck!
 
Interesting time and place to study abroad: 1939 Munich. I am sure he had some stories.
 
Aglahad said:
Interesting time and place to study abroad: 1939 Munich. I am sure he had some stories.
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Not as you would expect. There were few outward manifestations of a police state. Jews, while subject to the Nurnberg Laws, were not yet required to wear a yellow star for instance. Germany did not invade Poland until September of that year.

He and his buddy (they were part of a regular exchange between a hospital in Munich and Columbia Medical School) lived in the home of the neighborhood Gauleiter. After graduation, his buddy joined the Army and was part of the occupation forces that occupied Munich at the conclusion of the War. When he visited the hausfrau, she welcomed him with open arms like nothing had transpired over the previous 6 years.

I could relate similar experiences which I or my DS had in other places. One has to get out there and take advantage of opportunities, particularly when one is young. A semester abroad is a great way to do that.
 
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