NROTC Advanced Standing ADSO

[navyperson1]

Hey everyone, I'm considering joining my school's NROTC program for my sophomore year next year, but I just had a couple of questions about advanced standing.

Academically, I should be fine (3.9+ GPA). I'm pretty sure that I want to do advanced standing if I join, and hopefully join SWO, but I know that I'd sign a 3 year commitment. Does anyone know how this 3 year commitment plays out // what any major differences are in ADSO? Also, I've seen conflicting things on when ADSO actually starts, so if anyone know when it starts that'd be great. Also, does anyone know how many tours are required and how that would fit in to the 3 years? Thanks!

 

[Usnavy2019]

College Program (CP) requires a 3 year ADSO. The main difference between CP and Scholarship MIDN is the fact that the Navy is paying for their school. It has been identified that a 5 year ADSO is a sufficient ROI for scholarship MIDN (and USNA MIDN). CP MIDN pay their own way, so that is why it is less. The Navy has still invested money and resources into CP MIDN, but not to the extent of Scholarship MIDN. Keep in mind the 3 and 5 years are minimums. If you do something like Pilot, your new ADSO is Wings+8 Years. NFOs are Wings+6 Years.

Also, those numbers are simply your required AD time. Each contract is 8 years. So if you do your 3 years on AD, you still owe 5 years in the USNR. However, there are multiple ways to do it. People either choose SELRES (weekend warriors - one weekend a month, 2 weeks of active duty training a year) or IRR (You are able to get recalled to service, but you are a civilian for all intents and purposes).

Beyond that, I'll hand it over to the NROTC crowd on here. @GWU PNS (emeritus) is the resident NROTC expert on SAF. I'll also defer to the SWO types for specific career trajectory information as I'm over on the air side of the Navy.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

Hey everyone, I'm considering joining my school's NROTC program for my sophomore year next year, but I just had a couple of questions about advanced standing.

Academically, I should be fine (3.9+ GPA). I'm pretty sure that I want to do advanced standing if I join, and hopefully join SWO, but I know that I'd sign a 3 year commitment. Does anyone know how this 3 year commitment plays out // what any major differences are in ADSO? Also, I've seen conflicting things on when ADSO actually starts, so if anyone know when it starts that'd be great. Also, does anyone know how many tours are required and how that would fit in to the 3 years? Thanks!

Have you reached out to your particular NROTC unit yet?

 

[navyperson1]

Thanks! I was just wondering if anyone also knew if there was any difference in how the ADSO is structured (in terms of training/tours), and I have reached out to NROTC unit.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

Thanks! I was just wondering if anyone also knew if there was any difference in how the ADSO is structured (in terms of training/tours), and I have reached out to NROTC unit.

The training you receive at the unit is the same as all the other Midshipmen. Your active duty training as a SWO will also be identical. One difference for advanced standing is that you are not obligated to take calculus and physics.

 

[navyperson1]

Thank you very much! and sorry, as another follow-up, I've seen different information on how SWO training/tours work. First, does ADSO start during BDOC or when you arrive at your ship? I've read different things. I've also read that the SWO expectation is 2 tours, but do people usually just do 1 with the 3 year ADSO of Advanced Standing, and then shore for the rest? No worries if there's not a clear answer there, just wondering.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

First, does ADSO start during BDOC or when you arrive at your ship? I've read different things.

Your first day of ADSO will be the day you commission. You do not have to be in your accession school (BDOC) or assigned to your ship.

I've also read that the SWO expectation is 2 tours, but do people usually just do 1 with the 3 year ADSO of Advanced Standing, and then shore for the rest?

You will get a SWO brief prior to you receiving a commission. They will explain the standard career path for Surface Officers. Basically, you do an Ensign tour as Division Officer and a LTJG tour. It doesn't line up perfectly like that but it is an easy way to remember. Your first combined set of division officer tours will take you somewhere around 36 months.

But through all of this, the fact that you went advanced standing does not change your Training track.

Focus on getting your sideload application in first. You have plenty of time to map out the future Navy career from there.