I don't understand your comment would you explain further why you are amazed and how they were impacted by the schools trying to fill the ECP at the schools. Is there something wrong with the Ecp program? Just questions not looking to fight just trying to educate myself.
There is nothing wrong with the ECP program if you understand the Army commitment to you and your obligation that results. When the need was high for AD Officers, ECP officers could get their NG/Reserve commitment revoked allowing them to compete for AD. In recent years however, the ECP commitment requires NG/Reserve service with no/limited options for AD. A HS senior should not be limited to NG/Reserves without fully understanding the options - ECP essentially takes AD off the table as an option.
This is the first year I have observed the National Scholarship process to offer Ike Skelton ECP scholarships and Wentworth misrepresented the scholarship offer indicating the recipients would not be considered for subsequent 3/4 year national scholarships. However, the letter that accompanied the offer to applicants indicated they could decline the Ike Skelton and be considered by the second and third board for a 3/4 year national scholarship.
From the linked threads I found Wentworth's (a JMC) facebook page that clearly attempted to get Ike Skelton scholarship 'offerees' to believe no further offers would be made from subsequent boards.
If you read the linked threads - AR145-1 requires each JMC to contract 22 Ike Skelton recipients - this is likely in US Code Title 10 somewhere. It is a way to fund these JMC's with these scholarships. The SMC's too have successfully kept their ROTC scholarship numbers high (govt $$$) by law in US Code Title 10 requiring all SMC ROTC graduates to be granted AD if requested and with PMS recommendation rather than competing in the national accessions process.
The ECP program provides training for two years prior to the reserve commission. When they transfer to their university they do not participate in ROTC, only with their Reserve/NG unit. As a prior service officer, it is not a program I would encourage my children to participate. The options and preparation are more expansive in a prior service to ROTC/SA, four year ROTC, or Academy program.