AFROTC vs AROTC

[NPS31]

Hello,

I was recently not selected for either an AROTC or AFROTC scholarship. However, I am still very interested in the programs and what they have to offer. I am in need of some guidance on how I should proceed at this point. I am currently a senior in high school who is graduating in about two months. I am paying for all of my college tuition and am hoping to minimize my debt as much as possible. With that being said, I am interested in attending Michigan State University. I believe they have a very highly ranked ROTC program as well. I am hoping to compete while in college to hopefully achieve a 3/2.5/2 year scholarship from good performance. I was wondering if anyone had any information regarding how hard this is to do and if I should even attempt it, or if I should choose to attend a different college with an ROTC program that has cheaper tuition.

Next, I was considering enlisting for two years and then reapplying for a scholarship as I have two years of active duty. Then, I would hopefully win a scholarship for the ROTC programs and be able to attend college while in the military and get my bachelor's degree, and graduate as an officer. Again, any information regarding these pathways or other possible paths would be incredibly helpful. Thanks.

 

[franknd]

Questions:

1) Have you been accepted to Michigan State?
2) Are you a Michigan resident?
3) If you aren't a Michigan resident, are you the child of a veteran?

Aside from my questions, I will say generally that my distinct impression is that obtaining a campus-based scholarship is significantly easier with Army ROTC than Air Force ROTC. In addition, the likelihood of commissioning is substantially higher with AROTC than AFROTC.

 

[NPS31]

Questions:

1) Have you been accepted to Michigan State?
2) Are you a Michigan resident?
3) If you aren't a Michigan resident, are you the child of a veteran?

Aside from my questions, I will say generally that my distinct impression is that obtaining a campus-based scholarship is significantly easier with Army ROTC than Air Force ROTC. In addition, the likelihood of commissioning is substantially higher with AROTC than AFROTC.

1. I have been accepted
2. I am a Michigan resident.
3. I am not a child of a veteran.

So you would recommend army rotc over air force rotc? I am planning majoring in computer science if this impacts that decision as well.

 

[MidCakePa]

Be careful that you don’t try to “game” this decision. Most important thing to ask yourself is: In which branch do I want to serve as a commissioned officer?

In other words, which branch has the mission you most see yourself serving? Which branch’s culture best fits you? Which branch offers the most jobs that you can see yourself doing after graduation?

Figure that out and you’ll maximize your chances of landing a campus-based scholarship and earning a commission. If you buy fully into a branch, you’ll be that much more likely to succeed. If you don’t buy fully into one, you might very well fall short of your goal.

 

[NPS31]

Be careful that you don’t try to “game” this decision. Most important thing to ask yourself is: In which branch do I want to serve as a commissioned officer?

In other words, which branch has the mission you most see yourself serving? Which branch’s culture best fits you? Which branch offers the most jobs that you can see yourself doing after graduation?

Figure that out and you’ll maximize your chances of landing a campus-based scholarship and earning a commission. If you buy fully into a branch, you’ll be that much more likely to succeed. If you don’t buy fully into one, you might very well fall short of your goal.

I appreciate your reply. I am just trying to optimize the best of both worlds. I am very passionate about ROTC, but I also want to be in as little debt as possible coming out of college. It is a very tough decision as I believe I can make a good career out of both branches.

 

[1SF]

Hello,

I was recently not selected for either an AROTC or AFROTC scholarship. However, I am still very interested in the programs and what they have to offer. I am in need of some guidance on how I should proceed at this point. I am currently a senior in high school who is graduating in about two months. I am paying for all of my college tuition and am hoping to minimize my debt as much as possible. With that being said, I am interested in attending Michigan State University. I believe they have a very highly ranked ROTC program as well. I am hoping to compete while in college to hopefully achieve a 3/2.5/2 year scholarship from good performance. I was wondering if anyone had any information regarding how hard this is to do and if I should even attempt it, or if I should choose to attend a different college with an ROTC program that has cheaper tuition.

Next, I was considering enlisting for two years and then reapplying for a scholarship as I have two years of active duty. Then, I would hopefully win a scholarship for the ROTC programs and be able to attend college while in the military and get my bachelor's degree, and graduate as an officer. Again, any information regarding these pathways or other possible paths would be incredibly helpful. Thanks.

Join the MSU Ranger 1 Team. Manage credit hours to 18 ensuring a GPA of 4.0.
Reward yourself monthly by splurging on a large pizza and a soda with the meager monthly stipend.

 

[NPS31]

Join the MSU Ranger 1 Team. Manage credit hours to 18 ensuring a GPA of 4.0.
Reward yourself monthly by splurging on a large pizza and a soda with the meager monthly stipend.

Sounds pretty easy!

 

[franknd]

1. I have been accepted
2. I am a Michigan resident.
3. I am not a child of a veteran.

So you would recommend army rotc over air force rotc? I am planning majoring in computer science if this impacts that decision as well.

Alright, if you are a MI resident, then the child of a veteran question isn't relevant. You qualify for in-state tuition, meaning that tuition at MSU is relatively low. I'm not sure how many schools would have cheaper tuition for you that have ROTC, but there aren't many. So I'd say MSU is your best choice. And, yes, in terms of AROTC vs AFROTC and the prospect for an on-campus scholarship and commissioning, AROTC is a better choice.

I also agree with MidCakePa that "gaming" the decision has its downsides, but I didn't get that from your question. AFROTC has one distinct advantage over AROTC, and that is if you want to be a fixed-wing pilot. If that's what you want to do more than anything else, than go AFROTC and take your chances. Otherwise, if you would be equally happy (as far as you know) in either service, than I stand by my recommendation that AROTC is the way to go for scholarship and commissioning purposes.

 

[NPS31]

Alright, if you are a MI resident, then the child of a veteran question isn't relevant. You qualify for in-state tuition, meaning that tuition at MSU is relatively low. I'm not sure how many schools would have cheaper tuition for you that have ROTC, but there aren't many. So I'd say MSU is your best choice. And, yes, in terms of AROTC vs AFROTC and the prospect for an on-campus scholarship and commissioning, AROTC is a better choice.

I also agree with MidCakePa that "gaming" the decision has its downsides, but I didn't get that from your question. AFROTC has one distinct advantage over AROTC, and that is if you want to be a fixed-wing pilot. If that's what you want to do more than anything else, than go AFROTC and take your chances. Otherwise, if you would be equally happy (as far as you know) in either service, than I stand by my recommendation that AROTC is the way to go for scholarship and commissioning purposes.

Thank you! I am also looking into the ECP as I may be interested in attending one of those colleges for two years before going to MSU and joining their ROTC program.

 

[franknd]

Thank you! I am also looking into the ECP as I may be interested in attending one of those colleges for two years before going to MSU and joining their ROTC program.

You may want to consult prior posts by "Montana State Army ROTC" about the pros and cons of ECP. He is the now-retired PMS there and, as I recall, had thoughts and insights into ECP that he shared here.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

If goals are to participate in ROTC to compete for a scholarship and avoid debt, find ROTC detachments that also have participation from community colleges (like Michigan state does with Lansing community college). Compare all acceptances/ merit/ financial aid packages you now have to find where you could live at home, attend for the least cost to compete for a scholarship. I'll also recommend you consider NROTC too as a path to be a college programmer who competes for and "picks up" or reapplies for the national scholarship while in school.

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