Army ROTC/SA Timeline

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Ohiomom28

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Dec 12, 2023
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My DS has been accepted to one SA and last week received the Army ROTC Scholarship. He hasn’t heard from his #1 SA. If he accepts the Army ROTC scholarship before March 9 (the deadline) what happens if he then gets accepted into his #1 SA?
 
Nothing. He can accept his appointment and keep the ROTC scholarship in his back pocket as backup, just in case anything happens between now and I Day.
 
He’s still waiting to hear from his first choice SA. Is the Army ROTC scholarship non-binding?
 
Ohiomom28 said:
He’s still waiting to hear from his first choice SA. Is the Army ROTC scholarship non-binding?
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He won't be obligated to Army ROTC until he signs his contracting paperwork which doesn't happen until they report for school in the fall. Even then, if it's the 4 year (unless something has changed) they have until the day before their second year starts to withdraw with no pay back. 3 year winners won't contract until before the 2nd year.
 
It's not uncommon for plebes/doolies to show up at I-Day/R-Day with an ROTC scholarship in their back pocket, just in case. If they successfully navigate plebe/doolie summer and don't show up for day one at civilian school, the scholarship is cancelled.

The military is well aware of this and bakes it into their scholarship distribution math. They can estimate the yield so that everyone whom they deem deserving of a scholarship gets one.
 
EJF said:
He won't be obligated to Army ROTC until he signs his contracting paperwork which doesn't happen until they report for school in the fall. Even then, if it's the 4 year (unless something has changed) they have until the day before their second year starts to withdraw with no pay back. 3 year winners won't contract until before the 2nd year.
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Can't 3-year winners contract freshman year (if medically qualified and pass ACFT) and receive the monthly stipend and annual book allowance, even though tuition benefits don't kick in until sophomore year?
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
Can't 3-year winners contract freshman year (if medically qualified and pass ACFT) and receive the monthly stipend and annual book allowance, even though tuition benefits don't kick in until sophomore year?
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Can’t say for sure, but my son did not have the option of contracting until sophomore year when his 3 year scholarship kicked in.
 
Getting a little out of focus, but there is a path for advanced standing upperclass cadets who remain not on scholarship, but are approved to carry on after Advanced camp to complete their training and commission/ serve. those students do receive a monthly stipend. I believe the book stipend is tied to the scholarship award so no scholarship, no book stipend, but others can correct me if they know of exceptions.

Back in focus, 3 year scholarship benefits kick in after the student covers two full semesters without any relief. Often someone will ask - but what if I come in with 32 credits from AP/ dual credit, can't I just complete my studies in 3 years and have it all covered? No, it only kicks in on year 2 at that school.

As others noted, check with each school to confirm what if any additional merit/ monies toward room/ board or even tuition support may be provided for those who are college programmers or a 3 year recipient's freshman year (as scholarship kicks in after the student completes one full year of schooling on their own dime. My DS had buddies who were offered pretty nice scholarships to supplement their first year from a combination of the unit or the university itself. As others noted some schools offer room and board, taxable but that's not a huge impact, to all ROTC participants while others simply do not. Also, it's branch specific, at some schools, AFROTC detachments do not offer the same room/board coverage that Navy/ Army at the same school may provide.
 
My daughter is in a similar boat. Just received a NROTC Prep Program Scholarship but still waiting on USNA and USMMA. The deadline to accept NROTC Scholarship is Feb. 26. I do not want her to accept and turn it down in April if she is offered a spot at an academy. Wouldn't want it to affect another student that was a finalist for the scholarship but did not get it because she accepted it the spot but turned it down.
 
foamspoon said:
My daughter is in a similar boat. Just received a NROTC Prep Program Scholarship but still waiting on USNA and USMMA. The deadline to accept NROTC Scholarship is Feb. 26. I do not want her to accept and turn it down in April if she is offered a spot at an academy. Wouldn't want it to affect another student that was a finalist for the scholarship but did not get it because she accepted it the spot but turned it down.
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That's not how it works. Accept your scholarship.
 
foamspoon said:
My daughter is in a similar boat. Just received a NROTC Prep Program Scholarship but still waiting on USNA and USMMA. The deadline to accept NROTC Scholarship is Feb. 26. I do not want her to accept and turn it down in April if she is offered a spot at an academy. Wouldn't want it to affect another student that was a finalist for the scholarship but did not get it because she accepted it the spot but turned it down.
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It won't affect some one else. NROTC has alot of data on this situation. She was awarded it, and can accept it and then reject it later with no penalty.
 
There is some discussion on this under the "additional information" tab in the AROTC scholarship portal. I can't recall the specifics, but it mentions some of these scenarios like reporting for summer at a service academy and being a scholarship winner.
 
This is one of the parts bolded on the scholarship instructions under additional information:
Army ROTC scholarship recipients may NOT attend any other educational institution, to include Service Academies, and retain their scholarship. This includes Service Academy summer training conducted prior to the start of the freshman or first year.

Someone else might be able to speak to this if they had a situation during summer training...
 
airforce_brat said:
This is one of the parts bolded on the scholarship instructions under additional information:
Army ROTC scholarship recipients may NOT attend any other educational institution, to include Service Academies, and retain their scholarship. This includes Service Academy summer training conducted prior to the start of the freshman or first year.

Someone else might be able to speak to this if they had a situation during summer training...
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Yeah, but at that point you've obviously committed to the SA and the ROTC scholarship will just lapse/go away. There is no penalty, and it's not going to create any issues for you at the SA. You'll just forfeit the ROTC scholarship at that point.

There's no reason you cannot keep Cadet Command informed of your plans throughout the process. Once you are ready to report to the SA, whether that be a summer session or regular reporting in the fall, just let them know.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
It won't affect some one else. NROTC has alot of data on this situation. She was awarded it, and can accept it and then reject it later with no penalty.
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I’m not sure this is 100% accurate as the poster was referring to the NROTC Prep Program which is provided by the school, not the Navy/DoD. Once the individual completes that first year successfully then they are awarded the 4-year NROTC scholarship. There are a limited # of these Prep scholarships awarded each year (approximately 200) & each school has a specific quota (approximately 22 schools participate). Now….. I’m not saying don’t accept it. That decision is up to the individual but the first year of the Prep program is different than someone winning a 4-year national scholarship. These Prep students are figured into the #s for the next NROTC class (not current class). My guess is there is some attrition from the Prep program but I have no idea what that # is.
 
Boymomof3 said:
I’m not sure this is 100% accurate as the poster was referring to the NROTC Prep Program which is provided by the school, not the Navy/DoD. Once the individual completes that first year successfully then they are awarded the 4-year NROTC scholarship. There are a limited # of these Prep scholarships awarded each year (approximately 200) & each school has a specific quota (approximately 22 schools participate). Now….. I’m not saying don’t accept it. That decision is up to the individual but the first year of the Prep program is different than someone winning a 4-year national scholarship. These Prep students are figured into the #s for the next NROTC class (not current class). My guess is there is some attrition from the Prep program but I have no idea what that # is.
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That is a good point as this scholarship is a little different than usual 4 year NROTC. Thay holder of the prep scholarship might want to inform the unit that they will be going to the SA rather than using the Prep scholarship after getting an appointment.

Holding the ROTC scholarship in the back pocket is not a insurance policy. The reasons a candidate cannot go to the first day of a SA can also be a disqualifier for a ROTC scholarship. If it is a injury, you have to disclose it to DoDMERB and it can also potentially disqualify you for the scholarship. NROTC requires all scholarship candidates to go to NSI, so a candidates holding that scholarship in the back pocket really loose it once they don't sign up for NSI.

I'm not saying that a awarded scholarship candidate should not hold on to the scholarship. They earned it and can keep it, but don't assume that a ROTC unit will drop everything to take you for any reason. It is a possible option, and not a sure thing.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
That is a good point as this scholarship is a little different than usual 4 year NROTC. Thay holder of the prep scholarship might want to inform the unit that they will be going to the SA rather than using the Prep scholarship after getting an appointment.

Holding the ROTC scholarship in the back pocket is not a insurance policy. The reasons a candidate cannot go to the first day of a SA can also be a disqualifier for a ROTC scholarship. If it is a injury, you have to disclose it to DoDMERB and it can also potentially disqualify you for the scholarship. NROTC requires all scholarship candidates to go to NSI, so a candidates holding that scholarship in the back pocket really loose it once they don't sign up for NSI.

I'm not saying that a awarded scholarship candidate should not hold on to the scholarship. They earned it and can keep it, but don't assume that a ROTC unit will drop everything to take you for any reason. It is a possible option, and not a sure thing.
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👍🏻 - I just wanted to clarify the small nuance as my DS has applied for a Prep scholarship as well & was asked to let the school know if he makes a final decision to go elsewhere 😉.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
Getting a little out of focus, but there is a path for advanced standing upperclass cadets who remain not on scholarship, but are approved to carry on after Advanced camp to complete their training and commission/ serve. those students do receive a monthly stipend. I believe the book stipend is tied to the scholarship award so no scholarship, no book stipend, but others can correct me if they know of exceptions.

Back in focus, 3 year scholarship benefits kick in after the student covers two full semesters without any relief. Often someone will ask - but what if I come in with 32 credits from AP/ dual credit, can't I just complete my studies in 3 years and have it all covered? No, it only kicks in on year 2 at that school.

As others noted, check with each school to confirm what if any additional merit/ monies toward room/ board or even tuition support may be provided for those who are college programmers or a 3 year recipient's freshman year (as scholarship kicks in after the student completes one full year of schooling on their own dime. My DS had buddies who were offered pretty nice scholarships to supplement their first year from a combination of the unit or the university itself. As others noted some schools offer room and board, taxable but that's not a huge impact, to all ROTC participants while others simply do not. Also, it's branch specific, at some schools, AFROTC detachments do not offer the same room/board coverage that Navy/ Army at the same school may provide.
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Question: if you currently are a second semester freshman at a junior college and was awarded a 3 year AROTC scholarship that you wish to use at a 4 year university beginning sophomore year, you would have to pay out-of-pocket for full tuition and room & board for sophomore year? Then the scholarship would effectively only be a two year scholarship paying for the last two years tuition and/or room & board depending on the school? Thanks.
 
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