AROTC scholarship award

kinnem has answered well.

For Army ROTC, the APFT (the test of situps, pushups, 2 mile run) is given monthly. Increasingly this year, those who do not pass after three or four tries are dropped from the program, whether on Scholarship, or not on scholarship.

Total time commitment will be 10-15 hours per week, not counting homework time for the one ROTC academic class. There will be one or two weekend Field Training Exercises (FTX) per year in the nearby mountains or field somewhere, with tents, etc.. The Battalion will have a couple of fund raising events, as well as a couple of social events.

Your DS will have the opportunity to volunteer for Ranger Challenge, a physical fitness/skills contest between Battalions. That adds two mornings per week to the time commitment... let's say 5 hours add'l. The team trains for about 6-8 weeks, then joins other Battalions on a Saturday for the competition. This is repeated in Spring. To sign a Contract, a cadet must either be starting a scholarship year, or his/her MSIII year. A cadet may not enter into the Contract until the start of a Scholarship year (in your DS case, Sophomore year for an 3 Yr. AD), or before the MSIII year.

AROTC, like NROTC. doesn't care who is on scholarship, and who isn't. Everybody does the same thing. The only difference is that summer after MSI (freshman) year, your DS will not qualify for a couple fo summer programs (like CULP) b/c he hasn't signed his Contract yet.
 
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Wonderful. He will read my posts and get much more info out of these. He reads different posts, but does not post much.
Unless he gets injured, he will not have a problem with the physical stuff. He is in great sharp, working with a trainer every Friday morning before school and works out when he can between baseball season. He has great work habits and will flow in very well. I am getting excited for him too. Thank you so much for your feedback and now I must go watch his baseball game!!! Colleen
 
Total time commitment will be 10-15 hours per week, not counting homework time for the one ROTC academic class. There will be one or two weekend Field Training Exercises (FTX) per year in the nearby mountains or field somewhere, with tents, etc.. The Battalion will have a couple of fund raising events, as well as a couple of social events.

Your DS will have the opportunity to volunteer for Ranger Challenge, a physical fitness/skills contest between Battalions. That adds two mornings per week to the time commitment... let's say 5 hours add'l. The team trains for about 6-8 weeks, then joins other Battalions on a Saturday for the competition.

Well, lets see..

University catalogs usually recommend 3 hours study for each unit taken. If a student takes a normal 16 units he should plan for 48 hours a week study time. Add classroom time and we are up to 64 hours per week. Add 10-15 hours per week ROTC and we are up to 74-79 hours per week. At this point, ROTC takes up about 20% of the student's time.

I voiced my concern that ROTC may take on a life of it's own and interfere with studies, especially engineering studies to an Army ROTC Colonel. He quickly dismissed my concern, but I am not sold. I read about no SFT, no active duty commissions, and the services looking for any reason to cut cadets. This is why ROTC is looking like a bad deal to me every time I visit this site. I won't tell my kids what to do, but it's getting too easy to be the Devil's advocate against ROTC.
 
Well, lets see..

University catalogs usually recommend 3 hours study for each unit taken. If a student takes a normal 16 units he should plan for 48 hours a week study time. Add classroom time and we are up to 64 hours per week. Add 10-15 hours per week ROTC and we are up to 74-79 hours per week. At this point, ROTC takes up about 20% of the student's time.

I voiced my concern that ROTC may take on a life of it's own and interfere with studies, especially engineering studies to an Army ROTC Colonel. He quickly dismissed my concern, but I am not sold. I read about no SFT, no active duty commissions, and the services looking for any reason to cut cadets. This is why ROTC is looking like a bad deal to me every time I visit this site. I won't tell my kids what to do, but it's getting too easy to be the Devil's advocate against ROTC.

It certainly isn't for everyone and the downside during these budget cuts isn't pretty. Yet people, even engineers, do it successfully. Keep in mind that freshman get a year to try it out without incurring an obligation.
 
Well, lets see..

University catalogs usually recommend 3 hours study for each unit taken. If a student takes a normal 16 units he should plan for 48 hours a week study time. Add classroom time and we are up to 64 hours per week. Add 10-15 hours per week ROTC and we are up to 74-79 hours per week. At this point, ROTC takes up about 20% of the student's time.

I voiced my concern that ROTC may take on a life of it's own and interfere with studies, especially engineering studies to an Army ROTC Colonel. He quickly dismissed my concern, but I am not sold. I read about no SFT, no active duty commissions, and the services looking for any reason to cut cadets. This is why ROTC is looking like a bad deal to me every time I visit this site. I won't tell my kids what to do, but it's getting too easy to be the Devil's advocate against ROTC.

Kids have been doing this and making it work for decades. Mine is also a varsity athlete on top of it all (although not an engineering major). There is another varsity athlete in her unit who is a nursing major doing clinicals. These kids quickly learn how to make the most of their time. Are they tired when they come home for breaks? You bet. But they wouldn't trade it in.

And for the cadets, ROTC is doing things they enjoy with people of a like mind. This is their recreation, their social lives, their release. And while it may not be your cuppa tea, there are a lot worse things for them to do with the ~100 hours a week they aren't in class or studying.
 
Jodie -- I worked 16 hours per week while in college. So I simply think of ROTC as a part time job. So I didn't allow my DD to work at all since she's doing ROTC. If she weren't in ROTC, I would expect her to pull her weight financially by workin 16 hours per week as I did.
 
Well, lets see..

University catalogs usually recommend 3 hours study for each unit taken. If a student takes a normal 16 units he should plan for 48 hours a week study time. Add classroom time and we are up to 64 hours per week. Add 10-15 hours per week ROTC and we are up to 74-79 hours per week. At this point, ROTC takes up about 20% of the student's time.

I voiced my concern that ROTC may take on a life of it's own and interfere with studies, especially engineering studies to an Army ROTC Colonel. He quickly dismissed my concern, but I am not sold. I read about no SFT, no active duty commissions, and the services looking for any reason to cut cadets. This is why ROTC is looking like a bad deal to me every time I visit this site. I won't tell my kids what to do, but it's getting too easy to be the Devil's advocate against ROTC.

Jodie,

I have played Devil's advocate openly against AROTC for years -- if only to prove to myself that my DS had a clue what he was really signing up for with this program. He defended his choice throughout my rants and tears. HOWEVER, the day he raised his right hand to join the National Guard and refused his full ride merit scholarship to pursue his dream of AROTC at his chosen school I became his biggest supporter. He's a SMP MS1 cadet and fighting his hardest to become one of 16 contracted cadets next fall. I will be there to watch him sign those papers and shake his hand afterwards.

Be the voice of reason with your DD/DS, I've never sugar coated anything for my kids either, but when they put themselves into the mix ROTC programs are facing we need to be their biggest cheerleader, sounding board and all those other things Moms and Dads are to support future leaders.

I wish your family the best as you proceed thru the decisions ahead:smile:
 
Jodie --... I simply think of ROTC as a part time job.

In my day as an AFROTC cadet, we had plenty of extra-curricular programs. But, doing extra was never a CAREER make or break requirement. Our mission was to excel as students above all. ROTC was never thought of as job or an unofficial minor. Many cadets did make ROTC an important part of their student life and did many extra activities, including myself. I just have serious concerns about the efficacy of a high stress ROTC during the school year. Some of the general staff, and you know who you are, needs to back off a bit. We don't need a hollow Air Force filled in with super soldiers.
 
Rotc is a vacation compared to west point. Both my son and husband read "absolutely american" which talks about their daily routine. Unfortunately he was not accepted there, but awarded a rotc scholarship . The hours he will put into the program is very workable and fulfilling.
 
Forgot to ask you. Did she get a 3 year scholarship? OR a 4 year?

It has been a long day so I'm a bit late in replying.

My DD received a 4-year scholarship 2 years ago.

CP does PT 3 days a week and they do their field training on Thursday afternoons in the canyon behind the school. They do a Fall and Spring Field Training Exercise with several other schools at Camp SLO, which is only a few miles away. They wear their uniforms on Thursdays (the field training day).

I agree with the comments several have made that the cadets form a tight bond. They are very supportive of each other.

Many/most of the cadets are not on scholarship. It appears CP only gives out 2-3 per year. As others have said, no one seems to be very aware of who is and is not on a scholarship.

I'm envious that you live only a couple of hours from SLO. We love it there but live up in Washington, which is also nice but does not have the same weather!
 
My former husband and I lived in Washington State near Fort Lewis as he was in the army. Had my first daughter there at the hospital(36 years ago). When the sun was out, it was beautiful!! But it did rain more than I was used to here in California.
Thank you so much for sharing this valuable info as we read these posts and learn from you. As I type, my son is ordering a Cal Poly SLO sweatshirt !!
 
DS is on 4 yr scholarship this year at college....eye opener for his first semester and yes he is a Mechanical and Aerospace eng. major..... Had a hard time learning how to actually study since he's never had to and made straight As since I think 6Th grade.... Did squeak by academically and this semester and is retaking 1 class to up his GPA to one that he is happier with and has signed up for 3 summer classes. Enginerring majors are A LOT MORE WORK especially if your university has an Enginerring program that starts them in that major the first semester and ROTC does take up a lot of his time but DS says he loves it and is getting into a grove. I think it's hard to live with freshman who aren't in the ROTC program with all of the commitments. My DS also thought he was in good shape but didn't contract until the last possible PFT test in Dec. but did pull it out.... He has reapplied to West POint and AFA and is still waiting but is happy with his choice of ROTC and the college he was assigned to even though it was not his first or second choice schools. Even over winter break he thought he might ask for a major change since Enginerring only gets u one more point at the end at LDAC so a high GPA is really important. Also just a word of advice for whatever it's worth...working as a freshman in college is and would never be something we as parents would ever suggest our son doing. Adjusting to college and a heavy major as our DS has would not be a good thing to do.Wait and see how college goes first and then decide....MHO
 
Well my DS just started his freshman year at Cal Poly SLO and I wanted to tell you some very awesome news. As I posted back in February, he received a 4 year scholarship or as they also worded it, a 3 year AD. His first day of school, Sept. 18th, Cadet Command ended up having more money to offer cadets and upgraded his scholarship from 3 year to a 4 year! How often does that happen? We are so very thankful for the Brigade to select our DS.
 
Well my DS just started his freshman year at Cal Poly SLO and I wanted to tell you some very awesome news. As I posted back in February, he received a 4 year scholarship or as they also worded it, a 3 year AD. His first day of school, Sept. 18th, Cadet Command ended up having more money to offer cadets and upgraded his scholarship from 3 year to a 4 year! How often does that happen? We are so very thankful for the Brigade to select our DS.

Awesome news! Congratulations! What are you going to buy with that extra tuition money you won't be spending? Or will it go to room and board! :eek:
 
Awesome news! Congratulations! What are you going to buy with that extra tuition money you won't be spending? Or will it go to room and board! :eek:

I think my parents are glad that:

1) I`m going to apply to USNA and NROTC-MO, so then they`ll have a good chance of notpaying anything (Of course, that`s not the only reason :wink:)

2) My brother and I are 6 years apart, so if I can`t get one or another, or if I get a 3 year scholarship, the finances of college will have time to recuperate! :biggrin:
 
I think my parents are glad that:

1) I`m going to apply to NROTC-MO, so then they`ll have a good chance of notpaying anything (Of course, that`s not the only reason :wink:)
well, actually NROTC-MO only pays tuition+fees and books, not room and board. So your parents would still be out an average of $12,000 per year (R&B ranges form as low as $9,000 to a high of about $13,500, depending on the college) unless the school that hosts your NROTC-MO Battalion kicks in R&B assistance for mids... but only about 5-7 do out of the 70+ host units.
 
His first day of school Cadet Command upgraded his scholarship from 3 year to a 4 year! .
That's great. If you are an Out of State Tuition payer at Cal Poly, I guess that means you just saved $20,000 give or take a few dollars, unless you have substantial financial aid in which case the tuition might have been a lot less. If in-State that means you saved $9,000.

Actually, this is off-topic, but I just realized that Out of State students at Cal Poly only have Tuition+Fees+Room+Board of about $30,000, vs. an Out of State student at UC-Santa Barbara, UC Davis, etc. who have Tuition+Fees+Room+Board of about $50,000. That's a $20,000 list price (before Financial Aid) difference for Out of State Students I wasn't aware of between CSU and UC.
 
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Concur with dunninla.

The ROTC scholarships are always for tuition, not R&B. Note Kinnem asking if it will be going to R & B.

Also as dunninla stated the MAJORITY of cadets/mids are NOT on scholarship.

It is good to plan, but be realistic in your planning. That means pay attention now in hs, especially if you are a soph or jr. and fill in those areas where your resume is weak.

ECs, sports, course curriculum, take the SAT and ACT, etc.

You'd be amazed at the stats of the candidates, not one of them are schleppes, but many of them receive the "At this time..." letter.

OBTW something 1st time parents and candidates don't think about is the fact college costs increase alot over 4 yrs. DS entered in 08, it was 28K total...4 yrs later it was over 41K when you include R & B. DD at another college IS has seen in 2 yrs go @10% per yr.

Talk to the folks before you start making your college list for NROTC. I hate to keep bringing Gojira back up, but they are an NROTC poster that will tell you to think about it alot before you sign on the dotted line as a scholarship recipient.

I wish you the very best, and thank you for wanting to defend this great nation for all of us!
 
well, actually NROTC-MO only pays tuition+fees and books, not room and board. So your parents would still be out an average of $12,000 per year (R&B ranges form as low as $9,000 to a high of about $13,500, depending on the college) unless the school that hosts your NROTC-MO Battalion kicks in R&B assistance for mids... but only about 5-7 do out of the 70+ host units.

Even if the school kicks in R&B, mom and pop will be paying tax on that. :eek:
 
We do live only 2 hours away from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, so it is much cheaper for us. WestPoint didn't want him, but this is truly great to still have him so close and we can visit more. Didn't know that room and board was cheaper. I know Cal Poly is hard to get into and Santa Barbara was easier to be accepted. More bucks in Santa Barbara!
DS just took his test morning ( 2 mile run, push- ups and sit-ups) and passed, so now, with all the paper work in order, we will find out what will be paid. I thought our DS said they will be paying for room and board as he got grants for tuition. So, we will need to put that on our income tax? He is still a dependent and we do claim him, so this is new to us.
Thank you all for this information and the congrats too! :thumb:
 
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