I Can't Contact ROTC Representive Due to Family Issues... Need Help Please

Arya100

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I do not want to be too open, but I will say as much to frame my situation. My parents did not grow up in America and they cannot see a woman serving her country in any way. If they found out, I can honestly and purely say I do not know what will happen to me. For this reason, even though this has been in my sight since sophomore year, I have not made any contact with this forum, a recruiter, or representative.

Since I turn 18 in 3 months, I believe I can bury this email till then. I have been accepted into UCONN and plan on attending. Because I have known I want to do ROTC for years, I have been looking into the AFROTC at UCONN.

My biggest question is: What would be the recommended course of action be from here?

From my research, I am aware that I can start off as a non-contracted cadet. If I were to get in contact with the UCONN detachment now and express my interest for the program and a scholarship, how would the process go from there? Would I register now at the end of my senior year and starts a few weeks before college actually starts.

My biggest question is how would I secure a scholarship and how should I approach this task?
How early could I get a scholarship in college?I am aware that there is a recommendation required and that it depends on availability.
Does anyone know how competitive it is at UCONN. As of now in highschool I have a 2290 SAT and 4.66 W (3.8UW). Would this count for a getting a scholarship in college, if not, what is the basis of qualification in freshman year.?
 
Can't speak to ROTC scholarships for UConn. But your sats are very much in scholarship range for many of the colleges I know of.

You can usually find the various Merit Scholarships on the financial aid page of most college web sites. Most of the ones I'm familiar with all have tier based Merit Scholarships based on sats and gpas, plus others that are more subjective.

You can also usually talk to a financial aid representative by telephone and they will explain their offerings.

Good luck with your quest, and thank you for your desire to serve.
 
My biggest question is: What would be the recommended course of action be from here?
You already have taken the first step. Post here on ServiceAcademyForums and ask for advice. :)

You have probably already done this, but go the UCONN AFROTC site http://airforce.uconn.edu/ and study it. There seems to be useful information for new students on their site. Also read up on AFROTC College Program. The college program is where non scholarship students join a AFROTC Detachment.

After you have an understanding of the program from the information available on the web site, call the Detachment. Let them know you are interested in joining as a college programmer and find out what you need to do.

Others can provide better information on getting a scholarship, but If you perform well you could qualify for a 3 year AFROTC scholarship. In addition UCONN is now providing scholarship money to cover some of the Room and Board costs.

Although in 3 months you will be 18 and you will be able to make your own life decisions, you need to figure out how you are going to explain to your family why you want to serve your country as a military officer. They deserve that respect, you cannot just sneak behind their back because at some point they are going to find out. If would be much better if you did that and they didn't find out some other way. It will probably be a difficult conversation, but if you do not have it you will regret it in the future.

Best of Luck
 
Thank you so much for your advice. I do have a few more questions. I should probably just ask someone from ROTC, but I would like to know as much as I can before I make a call.

As I was researching online, I came across something that said ROTC gets on campus a week before everyone else for training etc. Is this accurate information? If I were to get in contact with the detachment before senior year is finished, do you think I would be able to participate in this?

Also, what is the possibility of getting a scholarship? Grades and performance aside, according to todays economy, positions available etc.
If I were not to get a three year scholarship, what is the chance of contracting? Do many people get contracted(%)?

And yes, family is definitely a complicated issue. It only gets more complicated when you are only seen as an object of marriage. I sat down to have this conversation with my parents 5 months ago I cannot repeat what came of it. I was warned not to pursue this track or that I would be sent back to India (which trust me is like going back to a living hell for women). I believe that some cultural boundaries cannot be breached with a conversation. I am simply trying to take my life and my goals into my own hands.
I have been told by my counselors and everyone I talk to, to have a conversation with my parents. I have tired and the advice really is great. I just know that my parents were raised in such a way that conversation over this topic will only lead to a dead end.

This is something I have wanted to do for the majority of high school. This goal is something that allowed me to weather through family politics and everything in between. It would make me beyond happy to finally get there.
 
As I was researching online, I came across something that said ROTC gets on campus a week before everyone else for training etc. Is this accurate information? If I were to get in contact with the detachment before senior year is finished, do you think I would be able to participate in this?
If they have an orientation program it is my belief that you would be more than welcome. (I am much more familiar with NROTC where all Battalions have a new student orientation, I am not sure if AFROTC has the same)
Also, what is the possibility of getting a scholarship? Grades and performance aside, according to todays economy, positions available etc.
If I were not to get a three year scholarship, what is the chance of contracting? Do many people get contracted(%)?
Getting ROTC scholarships is getting harder, not easier, but it is all about performance. Do well in school and in your unit, and win that scholarship.
It only gets more complicated when you are only seen as an object of marriage.
Last night I attended the Alice Paul Equality Awards Banquet http://www.alicepaul.org/. Totally opposite vibe you are getting from your family. There mission to empower women and teach leadership to young women is admirable. It is great that you have already tried to get your parents to listen, that is all you can do, and you should have a clear conscious. Hopefully your outstanding performance will make them proud and they will come around to see it your way.
 
It is great that you have already tried to get your parents to listen, that is all you can do, and you should have a clear conscious.

Thank you and it means a lot to me that you have said that. I constantly question whether I am doing the right thing in all this mess. To finally hear from someone else that I should "have a clear conscious", It makes me feel more relived than rationally acceptable.
 
One thing you could do if you plan on going to school and joining ROTC without a scholarship (you will be 18 by then) is to train for the PFT.
If you have a good 1st semester GPA (3.5 per better) and do very well on the PFT you will put yourself in a very good position to win a campus scholarship.
In fact with your stats, being female and, possibly, an under represented minority, if you were to max your PFT I am sure they would take notice.
Do you speak an other languages?
 
I speak Telugu. Its one of the languages in India. Hindi or Urdu would have been more beneficial in term of the needs of any branch.
 
I have a close friend that goes to the Coast Guard academy across the street from UCONN, she too has foreign vietnamese parents who didn't want her,their daughter in the military, (if you consider coast guard) yet they came around. It's your life, live it. Your parents will come around they probably don't know a lot about US military. They are just worried for you, its just what parents do. Foreign military is very different from US military. Perhaps one of your first leadership tasks is to go on despite what others may think, you know whats best, keep pursing your dream, not theirs. They also can't send you back to India, you're an adult. People try scare tactics to get people to change their minds, they're just worried parents. Take them to meet the colonel in charge of the detachment or the new cadet orientation. And since you want nursing and speak a foreign language the army will probably give you more scholarship money, but if you want the air force, they like languages and nursing too, it will just be more difficult to win.Good luck
 
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The Coast Guard Academy is across the street from Connecticut College, not UCONN.

And you should consider the Coast Guard "military" (heck, they don't even give up the ship....)
 
It looks like you have the grades to get a scholarship but beyond that I dont know what your odds of getting one are. I dont know you or your family but from what I read, they arent going to accept you going to ROTC. Yes, you owe it to your family to let them know but sometimes honesty doesnt always work and somethings what they dont know wont hurt them. You can do ROTC without a scholarship and I think the Air Force only gives scholarships on technical majors so even if you qualified for one your major may not qualify. Here is the thing, if your parents are going to pay for college and you secretly do ROTC behind their back, my guess is the first thing they are going to do is stop paying your tuition if they find out. Its going to be hard to hide it if they are going to want to see your grades as your AFROTC classes will be on your report card (or whatever they call it college) If you get a scholarship, you will have freedom to do what you want but I dont think that would still cover everything you need to attend college if your parents cut u off. ROTC doesnt pay for room and food although you will receive along with the scholarship, a monthly stipend. Dont know what it is for the first two years of school, but its $450 per month during your junior year. If you still manage to do this with or without their knowledge, I would think you are going to break your relationship with your family. So you have two things you need to do. One, figure out how to pay for college assuming your parents stop paying for it and secondly figure out if you are willing to be cut of from your family. Only you can figure out the answers to these two questions. My wife hates that my son is in AFROTC but accepts it as she has no other choice and knows that he loves flying. All I can say is good luck.
 
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