Can someone provide or provide a good resource to better understand the process for going into the Guard or Reserves as an option to pay back your AROTC commitment? I have heard lots of bits/pieces but trying to better understand how that works. My DS recently received a 4 Year HS National Scholarship and is potentially interested in serving in the Guard or Reserves. Looking into process and pros/cons to doing that versus Active Duty.
AROTC Guard and Reserve
- Thread starter NavyUMO
- Start date
I can’t really speak to the exact process because my daughter really navigated it herself, but I can tell you that it did work out for her. she had a four year army ROTC scholarship and really had a good experience with her ROTC battalion. she was also a finance major at her university’s business school. she was fortunate enough to get
really good summer internships with a major financial firm in New York City and decided she wanted to work for them full-time after she graduated. This led to her
exploring the reserve option to pay back her army scholarship. so now she is working as a
wealth management analyst in New York, and she is serving in the army reserves.
I know that she definitely had to do some of the legwork on her own to find a slot in the reserves near where she was working. however, her ROTC battalion was very supportive of her whenever she needed anything. I will also say that the firm she is working for is also very veteran friendly and allows for her to do her two week annual training, and also will allow her the time to do her initial Lieutenant officer training course.
(BOLC) . she trains one weekend a month with her reserve unit, which is not too far from where she lives .
I think probably the hardest part
was initially finding a reserve slot in the geographic area she wanted to work. she also had friends who joined the National Guard so that is definitely an option as well.
Also she was able to do advanced camp and air assault school while she was still a student. not sure if this helps at all but I just want to let you know that it is a real option.
really good summer internships with a major financial firm in New York City and decided she wanted to work for them full-time after she graduated. This led to her
exploring the reserve option to pay back her army scholarship. so now she is working as a
wealth management analyst in New York, and she is serving in the army reserves.
I know that she definitely had to do some of the legwork on her own to find a slot in the reserves near where she was working. however, her ROTC battalion was very supportive of her whenever she needed anything. I will also say that the firm she is working for is also very veteran friendly and allows for her to do her two week annual training, and also will allow her the time to do her initial Lieutenant officer training course.
(BOLC) . she trains one weekend a month with her reserve unit, which is not too far from where she lives .
I think probably the hardest part
was initially finding a reserve slot in the geographic area she wanted to work. she also had friends who joined the National Guard so that is definitely an option as well.
Also she was able to do advanced camp and air assault school while she was still a student. not sure if this helps at all but I just want to let you know that it is a real option.
BJD16
Army 95-05, Marquette AROTC, Sea Cadet Volunteer
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2022
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- 138
With all the recruiting issues the military is having right now, I wouldn't bank on getting out of the 4 years of active duty. I commissioned in 1995, and since there was a drawdown after Persian Gulf I, we had well over 90% of scholarship cadets assigned to active duty. Every situation is different, but if I was a cadet I wouldn't get my hopes up.
Thanks so much.. This is exactly what I was looking for. He is looking to go to Princeton and study economics/finance very analogous to your DS and would like to have the flexibility to do both. He is not averse to doing the AD option if that is required but thinks the guard and reserve would be a good option to strongly consider if it is available. Do you mind if I ask what school she attended? and if you would be amendable to contact info by PM and perhaps they could discuss further
Sorry
So sorry.. I meant to say DD (daughter!)