AROTC 3 year scholarship and contracting early

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Cmac154

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My DS is in his first year at a SMC and is loving his experience there. He has a 3-year AD national scholarship that would go into effect next Fall (2023). He mentioned recently the idea of contracting early. Are there any benefits to doing this? Would it impact his 3-year scholarship in any way? Is there any chance that his 3-year could be upgraded to a 3.5-year scholarship? Thanks!
 
Cmac154 said:
My DS is in his first year at a SMC and is loving his experience there. He has a 3-year AD national scholarship that would go into effect next Fall (2023). He mentioned recently the idea of contracting early. Are there any benefits to doing this? Would it impact his 3-year scholarship in any way? Is there any chance that his 3-year could be upgraded to a 3.5-year scholarship? Thanks!
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I also had the same thought but I believe your son would still be bound to a specific mission set(and graduation year, as a result) with the scholarship.
 
VisionofConflux said:
I also had the same thought but I believe your son would still be bound to a specific mission set(and graduation year, as a result) with the scholarship.
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That’s fine with him. He’s just eager to take the oath and get going.
 
The Commandant of a certain SMC of which I have an affinity to told me and my son (also on a 3yr AD scholarship) to max out on the PT test and keep up the grades and there was a chance the 3 could become a 3.5 yr scholarship.

Personally I don't see any benefit to contracting early.
 
I'm confused. Was he offered the opportunity to contract early or is he going to ask to contract early? I didn't know asking to contract early was a thing.

If he's being offered to contract early, I do see two benefits. The $420/month stipend should kick in when he contracts. Additionally, he would be eligible for a summer training opportunity for summer 2023 instead of having to wait for summer 2024.
 
Bushrod said:
I'm confused. Was he offered the opportunity to contract early or is he going to ask to contract early? I didn't know asking to contract early was a thing.

If he's being offered to contract early, I do see two benefits. The $420/month stipend should kick in when he contracts. Additionally, he would be eligible for a summer training opportunity for summer 2023 instead of having to wait for summer 2024.
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Good points! I didn't even think about the stipend.
 
Bushrod said:
I'm confused. Was he offered the opportunity to contract early or is he going to ask to contract early? I didn't know asking to contract early was a thing.

If he's being offered to contract early, I do see two benefits. The $420/month stipend should kick in when he contracts. Additionally, he would be eligible for a summer training opportunity for summer 2023 instead of having to wait for summer 2024.
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The stipend would be nice of course, but I think his interest has to do with trainings being available to him. He was asking if he could contract earlier. He’s seeing the 4 year scholarship students take their oath and he just wants to get going and not wait another year.
 
The 3 year AD scholarship itself does not kick in/ start until one completes their first year at the university, demonstrates they are meeting standards/ grades/ PT standards and then the scholarship and benefits start as a 3 year scholarship on day 1 of year 2. However, what the posts above are noting is there is some opportunity, though not a guarantee, that those knocking the cover off the ball may have their 3 year scholarship upgraded by their unit command recommendation to a 3.5 year scholarship to cover Year 1 Spring Semester costs. Overall your son should focus on excelling in his grades, learning like a sponge with a good attitude in his ROTC program, and optimizing his performance in PT - I will say it's nice once they reach a certain fitness level added PT or PT evals are low stress - they are ready.

As for contracting early, your DS should work with his academic and unit advisors on his academic plan- if he has a path that the leadership approves, he may be able to graduate a semester early. One of my children started college with a slew of AP/ dual credit courses and is taking 20 credits a semester to graduate a full year early - she could do it in 5 semesters but will take six in order to continue to compete (rock climber). Just look ahead to ensure graduate programs would not like to see those AP 5s taken at a college level - like top med schools want to see for all science/ and some math courses, generally.

There is a sequence, pyramidal in how the Army develops officers, and a part of that sequence includes progressive responsibility in 8 semesters and summer field training. If my DD or DS were going Army I would encourage them to take all 4 years in order to fully prepare to lead soldiers once they commission.

Good luck and hope that helps.
 
I know when DS brought this idea up to his MS1 instructor. He was told he had to wait until the start of his sophomore year since he was a 3yr AD. He is and was technically a semester ahead of his class. He got credit for 5 classes out of HS. He wanted to contract during the spring semester.

We had a discussion over the weekend as he wanted to hurry up and graduation. I encouraged him to dial it back. Take this chance to mature as a person. As they say there is plenty of time to grow up.
 
TBVADAD said:
I know when DS brought this idea up to his MS1 instructor. He was told he had to wait until the start of his sophomore year since he was a 3yr AD. He is and was technically a semester ahead of his class. He got credit for 5 classes out of HS. He wanted to contract during the spring semester.

We had a discussion over the weekend as he wanted to hurry up and graduation. I encouraged him to dial it back. Take this chance to mature as a person. As they say there is plenty of time to grow up.
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My son went in with a semester worth of credits so he'll be an academic sophomore at the start of the spring semester. He's not in a hurry to graduate early. He added a minor (although could probably do a double major at this point). He's on the young side of things with a late summer birthday so I'd like to see him stay for all 4 years.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
The 3 year AD scholarship itself does not kick in/ start until one completes their first year at the university, demonstrates they are meeting standards/ grades/ PT standards and then the scholarship and benefits start as a 3 year scholarship on day 1 of year 2. However, what the posts above are noting is there is some opportunity, though not a guarantee, that those knocking the cover off the ball may have their 3 year scholarship upgraded by their unit command recommendation to a 3.5 year scholarship to cover Year 1 Spring Semester costs. Overall your son should focus on excelling in his grades, learning like a sponge with a good attitude in his ROTC program, and optimizing his performance in PT - I will say it's nice once they reach a certain fitness level added PT or PT evals are low stress - they are ready.

As for contracting early, your DS should work with his academic and unit advisors on his academic plan- if he has a path that the leadership approves, he may be able to graduate a semester early. One of my children started college with a slew of AP/ dual credit courses and is taking 20 credits a semester to graduate a full year early - she could do it in 5 semesters but will take six in order to continue to compete (rock climber). Just look ahead to ensure graduate programs would not like to see those AP 5s taken at a college level - like top med schools want to see for all science/ and some math courses, generally.

There is a sequence, pyramidal in how the Army develops officers, and a part of that sequence includes progressive responsibility in 8 semesters and summer field training. If my DD or DS were going Army I would encourage them to take all 4 years in order to fully prepare to lead soldiers once they commission.

Good luck and hope that helps.
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At this point I'm assuming that we'll be paying for the spring semester and that's fine. He's got a great attitude towards ROTC and has been recognized by his cadet leadership a few times already for his work ethic. He did have to complete a degree plan for the remaining 3.5 years and turn that in and he's in no hurry to graduate early. He went in with a semester's worth of credits and we see that as just providing him the freedom to take some other courses along the way that he's interested in. Thanks for the insight!
 
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