Missed Deadline to Accept

N

nuensis

10-Year Member
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
1,210
I missed my deadline to accept the NROTC scholarship. It was November 18.

I wasn't paying attention at all, and I sent my acceptance questionnaire to NSTC in Great Lakes, Illinois (the address on the letterhead of my acceptance letter) instead of NSTC in Pensacola, Florida (the address I SHOULD have sent it to).

Can I still send the paperwork to Pensacola by now, or have I just lost my scholarship over this bit of idiocy?
 
Don't know, but what I can tell you is that nobody on this forum can answer for you. First thing tomorrow morning you need to CALL PENSACOLA and talk with them yourself. FAST is the operative word.
 
Called this morning. They said it was fine. In fact, two warning letters are supposed to be sent out before they begin to consider rescinding the offer. They got my email, and my online status has since been updated.

*sigh of relief*

Never trying that one again.
 
Glad to hear the news. I hope that this slapped you into reality, that you need to be in control of your future.

I am sure it did. Time to make an NROTC folder...we made 2 of them. 1 with originals kept in our home, 1 with copies that DS took with him.

This would be placed into the file...name, phone number, date, time and result of the conversation.

It is called CYA. Think of the military as a Fortune 500 company. Paperwork gets lost. Not saying this is your case, absolutely not saying it. I am saying, that you never know when you may need to reference back, and by having this it may be assistance for you in the future regarding the OMG scenario.

Duplicating it so the folks have it too, will allow them the ability to FedEX if an original is required. Never take the originals with you, because college dorms IMPO are not the place to keep this paperwork, and many times the unit will accept copies. SS and birth certificate are not allowed to be copies. ~~~ We sent DS with originals and a pre-paid Fed-EX envelope to send that back as soon as he was contracted. You need originals to contract.

Good luck. Thank you for stepping up and being willing to defend this great nation!
 
Good advice Pima.

We too made multiple ROTC files. One for school, one at home.

Already this year, we have had to dip into each for something. I was surprised how many times something sent with the application needed to be produced again at the school's ROTC unit. Sometimes originals were required, sometimes copies were OK.

Also did a fair amount of emailing scanned files (pdf files). You almost need a 3rd set of copies scanned into the computer for emergencies!
 
Our computer crashed @ 18 months ago, way after DS was in ROTC. Thank G_D we had printed everything, even the emails!

In his 4 yrs in the system, there has not been one yr we have not had to dip into those files.

Understand in our files we have:
1. Scholarship letter
~~~ Including acceptance.
2. College acceptance with student ID number
3. Transcripts at college to prove classes taken.
4. Medical records ---had the doc place it on a CD-Rom for him to take and us to keep at home.
~~~ DoDMERB date, doc, results for scholarship
~~~ DoDMERB date, doc, results for SFT
~~~ Annual vision test --- DS is AFROTC, and wanted UPT as a cadet.
~~~ Dental
5. Original shot records
6. SS card
7. Original Birth Certificate
8. Monthly banking statements for STIPENDS and BOOK ALLOWANCE.

All of that being stated, understand for most colleges, and for ALL ROTC programs, once they turn 18, you can be locked out regarding discussing issues financially or medically.

ROTC will see you, or your child as an adult. ROTC will not allow you into that inner sanctum as a parent of an 18 yo.

The college may allow it if your child informs the school that they allow you to talk with them. Password is usually the key. ROTC will not accept a password. They are 18, they are an adult, you have no voice.

Understand, even if you are a HS candidate parent, as soon as they hit 18, you are locked out. So if they have an issue when the scholarship comes down, you are SOL if they are 18. You can say they are at school and must go to work before that deadline hits, thus the reason why you are calling. They are going to say...SORRY, they are 18, and legally will not discuss this with you.

I hope between USMC and myself you get why it is important to make copies and notes for all correspondence, and not only on the computer. Hard copies too!

P.S. Aglahad stated he as an MSIV had back pay owed to the tune of 2K. Our DS as an AFROTC C400 had 1250.

DS in his 200 yr., selected for SFT, required proof of shot records.

DS as a rising 400 selected for UPT went to WPAFB (500 miles away) for a 3 day DoDMERB physical. He took the CD ROM, and the docs printed it out at that time. Not saying it impacted their decision, saying they had the ability immediately to review his entire history.

I understand you are all "new" to the system. All you care about is the scholarship. I respect that. I was there a few yrs ago. I and USMC, are just trying to get you in front of the 8 ball for the JIC scenario. Hope for the best, expect the worst.

Make a file, or don't make one. It will not impact either of us, because it is not our child or our self.

Do what is best for you and your family. Throw our opinion in the circular filing cabinet.
 
YES MAKE COPIES!
We've had the same fear of misplaced documents. My kids have a copy of all paerwork in an accordian file...I have a copy in my office, and we have a pdf attached to an email in an online email account, whenever they travel for anything...incase a quick download is needed....then deleted when travel is complete.

We try to have an update during the summer so everybody has an updated file. This Christmas we'll make sure commisioning DS has everything he needs for his DoDMERB next year.

I have been pleasantly surprised that each year the kids are more and more organized and thorough, and understand the importance of all of this paperwork.

Good luck!:smile: And I am glad to hear that you acceptance was 'accepted'!
 
Thank you all for the advice. I have everything in the computer right now, with redundant backups both on the internet and on several computers at home. I use Dropbox to keep everything updated constantly and automatically.

I'll be sure to start a collection of hard copies, too. Looks to be a smart thing to do.
 
Think of it this way. They will require a hard copy when you get to the unit. Not an email with an attachment.

By doing it now you will not lose it.

Additionally, you may want to do an accordian folder(file fax), so you have quick access to that one issue.

That is what we have. It is all separated by issues, including his college bills and transcripts. So when he calls me for something, I can just pull it out as I am talking to him.

If you do just one file the folder will get big and you will rummage through all of the paperwork, DoDMERB, banking, tuition bills, to find your last semester transcript proving you completed the required foreign language for the scholarship.

You will also want to create a file for that cruise you take as an NROTC mid. Tuition, stipends and book allowance are not taxable. TDY is taxable. It is not an allowance it is pay in the eyes of the IRS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top