Can you be in ROTC without a scholarship?

A

armypanda_

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Jun 27, 2022
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I am kind of confused how ROTC works because ppl only ask if you’re applying for an ROTC scholarship, but I feel it would be unnecessary to apply for the “scholarship” part. Do you have to apply for an ROTC scholarship to apply to ROTC?
 
No.

Many cadets and midshipmen commission through ROTC without a scholarship and either pay the tuition themselves or receive other types of non military related financial aid.

Most ROTC programs are very restrictive about which cadets and mids are allowed into the third year of the program. The Army calls this the Advanced Course, the Navy calls it Advanced Standing and the Air Force calls it the Professional Officer Course (POC). A contract is required for this status.

Some cadets and mids receive a scholarship after beginning ROTC and this is like receiving a contract.
 
armypanda_ said:
So, the first 1-2 years are for almost anyone, and then I have to apply for the 3rd and 4th year of ROTC?
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"Generally" yes. But the mechanics and administration for each service branch are different.

For ArmyROTC: You must be granted a contract (or a scholarship) to advance to the MSIII status (junior year)
For NavyROTC and NROTC-Marine Option: You must be granted a contract to move to Advanced Standing for NROTC or NROTC-Marine Option.
For AF: You must pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) to move to the Professional Officers Course (POC).

For example, my DS failed to be accepted to USNA and USMA, and did not receive an NROTC MO scholarship back in his senior year of HS (he did not apply for Army ROTC scholarship).

He was accepted to an SMC, but chose to attend a flagship university out west and entered Army ROTC as a non-scholarship cadet.

Before the end of his freshman fall semester, he earned a 3 year campus based scholarship (these are less common now). Before the end of the year, they increased his scholarship to 3.5 year and paid for his spring semester tuition. As long as he kept his grades up, stayed fit and showed good leadership, they kept him on scholarship. However, had he dropped his grades, failed to keep fit or gotten tossed in jail, he could have lost it all and in some cases had to pay back the scholarship (or serve as an enlisted).

He is now a 1LT currently an Abrams platoon leader completing his third year in the Army. The scholarship allowed him to graduate debt-free and enabled him to buy his first house with no help from mom and dad.

Not a bad deal.
 
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You can "walk-on" if approved by the unit, as listed above. For NROTC, your unit command can then put you in for a 2 or 3 year scholarship (sideloaded scholarship), depending on what year you are, which have different commitment requirements than the 4 year national one. And then there is the "Advanced Standing" as mentioned. Those are at the needs of the branch, so they may not always award the status, even with exemplary grades. After two years as a college programmer, if you are not selected for a scholarship or advanced standing, you are out.
 
Agree with all the above posters. PLC for the USMC is also a path to commission. Not really a Scholarship per say, but you get a stipend and will commission at graduation- assuming you complete the summer training and other requirements.
Many pathways to a commission. Good luck
 
EEBTTF said:
Agree with all the above posters. PLC for the USMC is also a path to commission. Not really a Scholarship per say, but you get a stipend and will commission at graduation- assuming you complete the summer training and other requirements.
Many pathways to a commission. Good luck
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Thanks!
 
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