Wondering if anyone has experience with ISRs for NROTC. Our recruiter mentioned that my DS would likely be a good candidate but that "submission for ISRs aren't looked at till Dec and that would cause him to miss the first few regular NROTC boards as you can't be in competition for both." I was under the impression that the Regional recruiting commanders had a certainly number of ISRs to give to candidates of their selection and that it was essentially a "spot" scholarship with no further screening or waiting. Perhaps I am misinterpreting or misunderstanding the process. She is a brand new recruiter also. Appreciate any feedback on these ISRs.
Navy ISR
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ProudDad17
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I believe we talked a little about ISRs last year when your other DS was applying. My DS received an ISR back in 2016. He applied for the regular 4 year national scholarship. His application was flagged for a possible ISR by someone along the way. I believe it was the officer who conducted his interview, since he was contacted about the ISR the day after this interview. This was prior to interviews having to be at an NROTC unit. He met with an enlisted recruiter who worked at the regional recruiting office to sign some additional paperwork, then had an interview with the CO of the regional recruiting command. The CO of the regional command has to personally interview everyone they offer an ISR to. The ISR was offered to him in September. You are correct in the info that each regional CO has a set number of ISRs to award. The CO can award them how they choose, so long as the candidate meets the qualifications. Some COs offer the ISR directly to candidates they have already selected (my DS' experience). Some COs make it a competition and interview a number of candidates before selecting who to offer the ISR. Once the ISR is awarded, the candidate package goes to Pensacola for review, just to be sure all requirements are met, and unit assignment. This took a couple months to complete. DS application was not reviewed by the regular selection boards during this time, because he had already been awarded the ISR.
It sounds like the CO in your region may wait until December to decide how he/she will award the ISRs. I do not believe there is anything that would prevent your DS from submitting his application for the regular scholarship prior to being reviewed for an ISR. If an ISR is awarded to him, his application would just be pulled from that pool after the selection.
Hopefully @Go Dores! will come along and confirm or correct this, but I am fairly certain of this, based on my DS' own experience and what others have posted of their experiences.
Interestingly enough (at least to me) the CO of the recruiting region who awarded my DS his ISR has been promoted and is now stationed at the same base where my DS will be reporting to his first ship in a couple months.
It sounds like the CO in your region may wait until December to decide how he/she will award the ISRs. I do not believe there is anything that would prevent your DS from submitting his application for the regular scholarship prior to being reviewed for an ISR. If an ISR is awarded to him, his application would just be pulled from that pool after the selection.
Hopefully @Go Dores! will come along and confirm or correct this, but I am fairly certain of this, based on my DS' own experience and what others have posted of their experiences.
Interestingly enough (at least to me) the CO of the recruiting region who awarded my DS his ISR has been promoted and is now stationed at the same base where my DS will be reporting to his first ship in a couple months.
DS received ISR in 2017. He simply went through the regular application process-submitted app in September The ISR found DS-we didn’t even know it existed until DS woke us up really late one night and told us he and an interview with the Regional CO the next day and needed us to sign off because he was only 17. Then, as with @ProudDad17, he got his award letter in December after the CO sent it to Pensacola. So what is my point-I think put in a strong app as soon as you can when the portal opens. After that, with luck, the ISR perhaps will find you.
ProudDad17
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Yes, that is a good point I forgot to mention, you do not apply for an ISR; it has to be offered to you based off your regular application.
Go Dores!
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Only clarification I would offer is that the folks at the NRD/NTAGs are the ones who transmit your completed application to NSTC in Pensacola. If OP's DS is a candidate within that specific NRD, they are going to hold his application until after the CO selects ISR recipients. It won't have a chance to be reviewed by the National board prior to Dec as it will never have been transmitted.
@NavyUMO, after ISR selection there is a further screening. Maybe it's better to call it a validation. After the CO of the NRD awards the ISR, the application is still transmitted to NSTC simply to validate that the selected candidate meets program standards (SAT/ACT). Just a final check.