AROTC vs. NUPOC or Service Academy

[Gravy1235]

Hello all,

I feel as if I'm at sort of at a cross roads and was hoping for some clarity and advice on my situation, if anyone is willing to lend it. Hopefully this is the right section for this thread.

I'm an incoming freshman for ERAU's class of '23 in Aerospace Engineering, and will be coming on campus with an AROTC "pre-contract" scholarship. This basically means I will receive financial aid for the 1st year alone through Riddle, in the hopes that I get a 2-3 yr Army scholarship to pay for the following years I am enrolled. I had previously applied to the USAFA but was denied a nomination from my sources, and was subsequently denied entry, mainly due to my low SAT scores, or so I believe. While I was considering AFROTC and NROTC, my SAT scores (1200) were too low to compete for an AFROTC scholarship, and I had missed the NROTC deadline, so I decided to stick with my AROTC application instead.

My initial goal with applying to the USAFA was to eventually be commissioned as a pilot, with an engineering focus for my education. The same would have stood with NROTC, though surface/sub warfare has always been very intriguing to me. I did, however, recently learn of the NUPOC program the navy offers, and have been considering applying after I complete my 1st year as it seems very enticing, especially with an engineering focus in mind. I have also been considering reapplying to the USAFA and filing an application for the USNA as well, in the hopes of continuing my original aviation goal.

While my goals were to shoot for aviation in either of the three branches, I am fully considering other options in all, as my ultimate dream no matter what is to serve as an officer, and there are other positions I can see myself being very happy with, especially in the navy/army.

To anyone who has gone through any of the mentioned routes, or to anyone who has been in a similar situation, what might your advice be as to what path is best? I understand it's ultimately up to me, but would it be frowned upon to be using AROTC as a "stepping stone", if I decide to go elsewhere like NUPOC or service academy? Can anyone offer personal experiences with switching between ROTC/OCS programs/branches?

I will appreciate any and all advice, and I thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post.

 

[Tbpxece]

I will appreciate any and all advice, and I thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post.

A few things:

• The most important milestone right now is for you to commission-- go the branch/route that is easiest and fastest to that goal (it is very easy to get snagged up later by life and miss that opportunity).
• You will have several opportunities early in your career to switch jobs or branches if you like.
• If you don't finish the path you begin, you will never get there. Navy officer training is different from Army, which is different from AF. Pick one path and walk down it to completion.
• OCS/OTS is very difficult to enter as a civilian. If you are thinking of going this route, then you should enlist first.
• You can fly in the Army, but if you do it as anything but a warrant officer (different thing than regular officer), you won't be flying for very long. To go warrant, you are looking at applying to WOCS, not ROTC or OCS.
• Starting a commissioning program and then voluntarily stopping it to try and switch to another is HIGHLY discouraged and frowned-upon by all branches. Finish the one you start.

Pick a course, start walking down it, and stop second-guessing your decision-- be decisive!

Good luck.

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello all,

I feel as if I'm at sort of at a cross roads and was hoping for some clarity and advice on my situation, if anyone is willing to lend it. Hopefully this is the right section for this thread.

I'm an incoming freshman for ERAU's class of '23 in Aerospace Engineering, and will be coming on campus with an AROTC "pre-contract" scholarship. This basically means I will receive financial aid for the 1st year alone through Riddle, in the hopes that I get a 2-3 yr Army scholarship to pay for the following years I am enrolled. I had previously applied to the USAFA but was denied a nomination from my sources, and was subsequently denied entry, mainly due to my low SAT scores, or so I believe. While I was considering AFROTC and NROTC, my SAT scores (1200) were too low to compete for an AFROTC scholarship, and I had missed the NROTC deadline, so I decided to stick with my AROTC application instead.

My initial goal with applying to the USAFA was to eventually be commissioned as a pilot, with an engineering focus for my education. The same would have stood with NROTC, though surface/sub warfare has always been very intriguing to me. I did, however, recently learn of the NUPOC program the navy offers, and have been considering applying after I complete my 1st year as it seems very enticing, especially with an engineering focus in mind. I have also been considering reapplying to the USAFA and filing an application for the USNA as well, in the hopes of continuing my original aviation goal.

While my goals were to shoot for aviation in either of the three branches, I am fully considering other options in all, as my ultimate dream no matter what is to serve as an officer, and there are other positions I can see myself being very happy with, especially in the navy/army.

To anyone who has gone through any of the mentioned routes, or to anyone who has been in a similar situation, what might your advice be as to what path is best? I understand it's ultimately up to me, but would it be frowned upon to be using AROTC as a "stepping stone", if I decide to go elsewhere like NUPOC or service academy? Can anyone offer personal experiences with switching between ROTC/OCS programs/branches?

I will appreciate any and all advice, and I thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post.

The first thing that occurred to me is whether you have a plan for if you do not get the 3-year AROTC, don’t get an offer of appointment for an SA, don’t get selected for NUPOC or other programs. ERAU, and congratulations on getting in, is not inexpensive. You should have a contingency plan for worst case scenario. Do you have the funds to continue at ERAU? Will massive student loans be needed?

Next thought. Thrive where you are planted. You will have to work hard this coming year to earn that AROTC scholarship, as well as lay the foundation for a try at any other programs.

There are some who truly don’t care in which branch they serve. If that is the case for you, it will eventually become clear which dreams you are willing to let go. You need to do some hard thinking about which service calls you more, and make a decision somewhere along this path, while not giving less than 100% to the Army path you are on.

NUPOC is highly selective and competitive. It allows the Navy to cherry pick proven performers to fill its need for nuclear officers. Note I said “proven.” You noted your SATs were not stellar. You will have to deliver top-notch grades in your first year at ERAU. No matter the path to commission, the Navy and Air Force are fond of STEM performers.

OCS/OTS, as noted above, is also a challenging path. These programs are used by services to manage their annual intake of new junior officers, with class seats available based on the needs of the Service. If they get the numbers they need from their SA and ROTC programs, fewer OCS/OTS slots are open. Here too, the Services can cherry pick for all kinds of factors in candidates, to meet larger recruiting goals. It is a highly competitive and narrow path. Prior enlisted who have been excellent performers in uniform and have gained their degree, are right at the front of the line.

Lastly, don’t overlook Army aviation, if aviation is the dream that lingers in your mind. They have some cool missions and birds. From discussions here on SAF, I know there are warrant officer and regular officer programs, but not much more than that. Do the research on what is available out of AROTC.

You say you’re at a crossroads. Don’t spend so much time looking in every direction further down the roads around you, that you neglect to look down and see where your feet are standing right now. Work your tail off on the path you are on, see how you do, do the comparative analysis thinking you need to do.

Keep us posted. We really love it when someone starts to get traction on a path and succeeds, finds their way and returns to share lessons learned and best practices.