So strange. The letter in DS portal has only one page, which looks to be a photocopy and the computer opened the file using Adobe Photoshop! There isn't a page 2 at all. I guess we just wait for whatever's coming in the mail? The letter is dated 1/24, but was uploaded just this morning.
AROTC- scholarship packets in mail?
- Thread starter Tebyrne
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My DS's was the same way (I believe it was a .tiff picture file). I had to convert the file to a pdf and then was able to print out both pages. For those who received the packet from the first board (e.g. Strength and Honor, Aveon, etc.), is there anything additional in the packet that needs to be sent in or something done with it (if the person is already DodMERB-qualified)? If not, we may just go ahead and sign the copy we made from the portal.
Thoughts?
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The e-mail the Army sent said "You will receive your winner's letter with all of the details within the next 7-10 business days through the U.S. Postal Service". I think what the Army is saying is not to print it off the web, not to make rush judgements, and not to start calling ROO's and PMS's.
Since it's only been 7 business days, I'm telling my kid to relax a few more days and wait for the envelope. It's not like we are waiting for a kidney or anything!
One thing I learned about the Army... When they say "This is the way we want it done", it ain't suggestion!
Since it's only been 7 business days, I'm telling my kid to relax a few more days and wait for the envelope. It's not like we are waiting for a kidney or anything!
One thing I learned about the Army... When they say "This is the way we want it done", it ain't suggestion!
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Aveon
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Correct, if you can get page 2 (where you check the school choice) to view/print there is nothing additional in packet to sign. Printing, check marking and signing the letter from the portal would work, if you have page 2 - thats exactly what DS did. My son then just uploaded the letter back to the system and it was approved rather quickly, if I recall.
Besides the same winner letter as uploaded on the portal, the only other information that comes in the snail mail packet is about 3-4 pages of general information regarding the process, the benefits, the obligations, transportation allowance, APFT standards, scholarship/school transfer info, etc.
In addition to the schools listed there is a bunch of other info in the packet. I would advise 2 things:
1) WAIT FOR THE LETTER TO ARRIVE. IF CC WANTED IT DONE ANY OTHER WAY THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.
2) I WOULD AVOID TRYING TO CONTACT THE PMS UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS TOLD YOU DIFFRENTLY. THE PMS IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO TEACHING SOME CLASSES. IN SOME CASES THE SCHOOL MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A PMS CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS AS IN THE CASE OF MY DS, HIS FORMER PMS IS NOW IN ASIA ON A DIFFERENT ASSIGMENT. UNLESS TOLD OTHERWISE YOUR POINT OF CONTACT IS THE ROO.
Opps, sorry for the all caps, not yelling just noticed it was on and no time to retype.
1) WAIT FOR THE LETTER TO ARRIVE. IF CC WANTED IT DONE ANY OTHER WAY THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.
2) I WOULD AVOID TRYING TO CONTACT THE PMS UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS TOLD YOU DIFFRENTLY. THE PMS IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO TEACHING SOME CLASSES. IN SOME CASES THE SCHOOL MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A PMS CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS AS IN THE CASE OF MY DS, HIS FORMER PMS IS NOW IN ASIA ON A DIFFERENT ASSIGMENT. UNLESS TOLD OTHERWISE YOUR POINT OF CONTACT IS THE ROO.
Opps, sorry for the all caps, not yelling just noticed it was on and no time to retype.
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In addition to the schools listed there is a bunch of other info in the packet. I would advise 2 things:
1) WAIT FOR THE LETTER TO ARRIVE. IF CC WANTED IT DONE ANY OTHER WAY THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.
2) I WOULD AVOID TRYING TO CONTACT THE PMS UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS TOLD YOU DIFFRENTLY. THE PMS IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO TEACHING SOME CLASSES. IN SOME CASES THE SCHOOL MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A PMS CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS AS IN THE CASE OF MY DS, HIS FORMER PMS IS NOW IN ASIA ON A DIFFERENT ASSIGMENT. UNLESS TOLD OTHERWISE YOUR POINT OF CONTACT IS THE ROO.
Opps, sorry for the all caps, not yelling just noticed it was on and no time to retype.
Fortunately, points 1 & 2 are good things to yell anyway!
Aveon
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Again, the other information that was included in DS's packet was 4 pages of general boilerplate information. It wasn't complicated, or rocket science material- just general overview information.
For those interested, here's a quick overview of the various sections taken directly from the additional forms:
-requests for transfer, selection status, change in status (medical, arrest, etc), scholarship benefits (tuition, stipend, etc) 3 year benefit info, scholarship obligations, medical examination info, security clearance info, APFT, ineligibility, and transportation/travel benefit.
The only verbiage in the additional information that directly applies to signing the Notification of Intent is as follows:
"Notification Of Intent:
The enclosed Notification of Intent form must be returned to this headquarters by the date indicated in your announcement letter, even though you may not know your final medical status or admission to your selected institution.
Choice Of College:
Your scholarship benefit package is tied to the college or university you select on your Notification of Intent form. Army ROTC scholarship recipients may not attend any other educational institution and retain their scholarship unless a request for a transfer of the scholarship has been approved by this headquarters. You must first return the Notification of Intent form accepting your scholarship offer before making any request to transfer the scholarship. You must enroll both academically and in ROTC in the Fall 2014 semester. It is your responsibility to apply and be accepted for enrollment at the College or University where your scholarship is offered.
Reminder: No scholarship award is final until you have met all medical, physical and administrative requirements, such as attained a passing APFT score and received notification from DoDMERB that you are medically qualified or received waiver approval from this headquarters for the medical civil or moral disqualifications".
Now, for my DS, nothing in the packet was new information because he had studied up on the scholarship that he had applied for and knew what the AROTC scholarship was all about.
So my two cents, for whatever it's worth... if you are comfortable with signing and sending the intent choice back without waiting for snail mail, that is your choice.
If not, wait for your packet to come in the mail, review the information and then send your choice in. And, because it's so easy just to upload or fax the documents to CC, there is really no harm in waiting until closer to your deadline date.
For those interested, here's a quick overview of the various sections taken directly from the additional forms:
-requests for transfer, selection status, change in status (medical, arrest, etc), scholarship benefits (tuition, stipend, etc) 3 year benefit info, scholarship obligations, medical examination info, security clearance info, APFT, ineligibility, and transportation/travel benefit.
The only verbiage in the additional information that directly applies to signing the Notification of Intent is as follows:
"Notification Of Intent:
The enclosed Notification of Intent form must be returned to this headquarters by the date indicated in your announcement letter, even though you may not know your final medical status or admission to your selected institution.
Choice Of College:
Your scholarship benefit package is tied to the college or university you select on your Notification of Intent form. Army ROTC scholarship recipients may not attend any other educational institution and retain their scholarship unless a request for a transfer of the scholarship has been approved by this headquarters. You must first return the Notification of Intent form accepting your scholarship offer before making any request to transfer the scholarship. You must enroll both academically and in ROTC in the Fall 2014 semester. It is your responsibility to apply and be accepted for enrollment at the College or University where your scholarship is offered.
Reminder: No scholarship award is final until you have met all medical, physical and administrative requirements, such as attained a passing APFT score and received notification from DoDMERB that you are medically qualified or received waiver approval from this headquarters for the medical civil or moral disqualifications".
Now, for my DS, nothing in the packet was new information because he had studied up on the scholarship that he had applied for and knew what the AROTC scholarship was all about.
So my two cents, for whatever it's worth... if you are comfortable with signing and sending the intent choice back without waiting for snail mail, that is your choice.
If not, wait for your packet to come in the mail, review the information and then send your choice in. And, because it's so easy just to upload or fax the documents to CC, there is really no harm in waiting until closer to your deadline date.
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Just make sure you send your Notification of Intent form in at least a couple days before the deadline. Check what day your deadline falls, if it's on a Friday give yourself a couple extra days. There are not a large number of people at CC just waiting for these letters, it's a small number doing a lot of different things and they are very busy.
Paperwork can get lost or placed in the wrong pile. I know things have changed a lot since my older son received his scholarship. When my son sent in his application he called CC the day before the deadline just to confirm it would be seen by the board, the woman on the phone could not find his application, she looked and found it under a stack of papers on another desk, he ended up getting the scholarship that board, was always glad he called to confirm.
One suggestion, when your ready to send the Notice of intent, Fax it, Mail it and scan and email it. The next thing you do is contact the ROO at the school you selected by phone or email (or both) and let them know you sent the form and have officially selected their school The ROO will be able to double check and confirm your paperwork has arrived.
Bottom line, don't leave anything to chance, Military Bureaucracy is not always a well oiled machine.
Paperwork can get lost or placed in the wrong pile. I know things have changed a lot since my older son received his scholarship. When my son sent in his application he called CC the day before the deadline just to confirm it would be seen by the board, the woman on the phone could not find his application, she looked and found it under a stack of papers on another desk, he ended up getting the scholarship that board, was always glad he called to confirm.
One suggestion, when your ready to send the Notice of intent, Fax it, Mail it and scan and email it. The next thing you do is contact the ROO at the school you selected by phone or email (or both) and let them know you sent the form and have officially selected their school The ROO will be able to double check and confirm your paperwork has arrived.
Bottom line, don't leave anything to chance, Military Bureaucracy is not always a well oiled machine.
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I like this advice, but I can't believe anyone faxes anything these days. I would imagine you can also upload your scanned letter to your app.
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They're here!!!
AROTC letter/packet just arrived in today's mail! Envelope was postmarked 02/04/2014. Start checking your mailboxes...
AROTC letter/packet just arrived in today's mail! Envelope was postmarked 02/04/2014. Start checking your mailboxes...
**** Pet Peave warning ****
The most important document your cadet will be asked to sign is apparently, STILL not included in the award packet. It is DA Form 597-3 "AROTC Scholarship Cadet Contract". http://www.rotc.pitt.edu/forms/da597_3.pdf Within this Contract one finds the fine print regarding the financial payback obligation should the cadet be separated from AROTC after day 1 of 2nd year. It doesn't say so, but I believe separation due to medical changes is exempt from the payback obligation. What is not exempt is low grades, low APFT scores, transferring to a school that doesn't offer ROTC, cadet deciding they don't want to commission after all, exceeding the Body Mass Index approximations (Table, Tape), poor Attitude, getting arrested for drinking or driving recklessly, failing LDAC (usually), and so on.
The reason I think this form should be carefully reviewed by the future cadet and his/her advisors is that, unless the cadet is under 18 at the time of signing, the advisors (family, etc.) never see this contract. The cadets generally don't study it carefully before signing it either, based on multiple reports here on this forum. This means when a cadet's advisors, or the cadet unilaterally, based upon changes of circumstances or life goals, decide it's time to separate from ROTC, they might realize for the first time that this decision incurs a large amount of debt that cannot be disposed of through bankruptcy laws. In other words, it cannot be forgiven. Or worse, the cadet is forced to separate because of grades, drinking, overweight, etc. When a cadet finds out about the financial obligation *after* they are already being out-processed, that can be a shock to both cadet and advisors/family. This shock is totally unnecessary if all parties would simply review DA Form 597 before the cadet ever leaves for college.
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Both my sons received a copy of the contract with their paperwork. The first letter that was sent outlined the restrictions and requirements....GPA, Height/Weight, APFT, and warnings about staying out of trouble.
When they signed the contract the HR person went over each line to make sure they understood what they were signing. For my younger son I was sitting outside the office when he was doing the paperwork and could hear her reviewing the contract. During their first couple MS1 classes the instructor told them all the things that could result in losing the scholarship or being disenrolled from the program.
Unless a cadet is totally asleep at the wheel I can't see how they are not aware of the consequences their actions can have. I haven't read anything on these threads about a cadet being disenrolled because they didn't know the rules ahead of time.
Maybe some Battalions are different and don't explain the system, that seems unlikely but I guess it could happen.
My DS was reading the contract outside the PMS's office prior to being sworn in. The PMS walked up to him and said " are you actually reading that"? I would advise all scholarship winners to read and ask questions. You are now 18-19 years old and considered an adult. This document can have serious and life changing implications. Now go have fun, just not too much fun...
mfleisher1
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When you receive the official winner's letter by mail, there will be page specifically for accepting the offer. It will include the schools for which you have been offered a scholarship and you will simply check the box next to school to which you intend to accept the scholarship. At that point, you can either send it back CC by mail or fax it in. I did both just to make sure, but it was updated within hours of sending the fax.