NROTC DOR question

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busdriver

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My son will be a senior in college this September. He is currently on a 4 year NROTC scholarship. After almost a year of continuous deliberation, he has finally decided he wants to withdraw from the program.
As the parents, we will support him by paying the money back to the Navy.
He already notified his advisor but the advisor’s initial response is that it’s too late to DOR and that he would have to enlist after college and serve out his obligations.
Can we get some direction and advice on how we can help my son, now that he’s made his decision to DOR?
 
For these cases that are voluntary disenrollment requests late in the game which bring with it big paybacks or service requirements, I suggest retaining a lawyer experienced in ROTC disenrollments. There are many firms with former military JAG lawyers who specialize in these cases. They know the regulations, the process, the contacts, what’s negotiable, how to advise on writing statements, and how to achieve the best outcome for both sides.

It will be your son vs. Big Navy, and once that machine gets rolling, it’s very hard to stop. It may sound drastic to advise going straight to lawyer, but I say again, Big Navy. If they are not getting the warm officer body they traded a scholarship for, and it’s a voluntary choice, his welfare and desires are no longer their primary concern.

Use a google search string with “military JAG law firms ROTC disenrollment and recoupment.” Do your due diligence. Look for well-established firms with experience in officer commissioning programs such as ROTC and service academies. The sooner the better, before anything is signed and while there is time to devise a strategy to achieve desired outcome. I’m assuming since you are willing to pay back what is likely a six-figure loan amount you can absorb lawyer fees.
 
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The advisor is partially/mostly correct but the language should be more nuanced. Midshipmen on a scholarship have the ability to DOR prior to the start of their sophomore classes without obligation to the Navy......no payback of tuition nor enlisted service.

Anytime after that, it is not considered a DOR, but rather a disenrollment which will require a professional review board. Things will be reviewed such as overall aptitude, GPA. and fitness evaluations by the chain of command.

From there a recommendation will be made as to whether a tuition payback is required or enlisted service.

Not steering anyone toward any specific rationale, but we did have a Midshipman who lost both his grandparents in a car accident, followed by a sibling taking their own life a few months later. He felt he needed time to help hos family through a tough period and the payback option was agreed to by all.

Agree with the advice on getting at least one sit down with an attorney specializing in military scholarship issues.
 
busdriver said:
My son will be a senior in college this September. He is currently on a 4 year NROTC scholarship. After almost a year of continuous deliberation, he has finally decided he wants to withdraw from the program.
As the parents, we will support him by paying the money back to the Navy.
He already notified his advisor but the advisor’s initial response is that it’s too late to DOR and that he would have to enlist after college and serve out his obligations.
Can we get some direction and advice on how we can help my son, now that he’s made his decision to DOR?
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Be careful, as a Midn1 he has incurred three years of debt to the Navy. And without some "disqualifying" factor, ie: physical, academic, or medical, the Navy may not allow him to "pay back" since he meets Commissioning standards and basically is refusing the Commission. As others mentioned, certain "special circumstances" may allow for waiver of debt or repayment in lieu of service, but with all the services experiencing shortages in recruitment and retention, if you son meets all the criteria and is commissionable and refuses, like @Capt MJ, and @GWU PNS advise, get an attorney early in the game, don't let your son try and navigate this without legal advice.
 
GWU PNS said:
The advisor is partially/mostly correct but the language should be more nuanced. Midshipmen on a scholarship have the ability to DOR prior to the start of their sophomore classes without obligation to the Navy......no payback of tuition nor enlisted service.

Anytime after that, it is not considered a DOR, but rather a disenrollment which will require a professional review board. Things will be reviewed such as overall aptitude, GPA. and fitness evaluations by the chain of command.

From there a recommendation will be made as to whether a tuition payback is required or enlisted service.

Not steering anyone toward any specific rationale, but we did have a Midshipman who lost both his grandparents in a car accident, followed by a sibling taking their own life a few months later. He felt he needed time to help hos family through a tough period and the payback option was agreed to by all.

Agree with the advice on getting at least one sit down with an attorney specializing in military scholarship issues.
Click to expand...
I hoped you would chime in with “the process.” I thought it was a little drastic that the option was right to enlisted service, and there was no way to determine where in the process the midshipman was. I was also pretty sure “DOR” was not correct that late in the game, so having your ringside seat view is invaluable.
 
Impulsive said:
Be careful, as a Midn1 he has incurred three years of debt to the Navy. And without some "disqualifying" factor, ie: physical, academic, or medical, the Navy may not allow him to "pay back" since he meets Commissioning standards and basically is refusing the Commission. As others mentioned, certain "special circumstances" may allow for waiver of debt or repayment in lieu of service, but with all the services experiencing shortages in recruitment and retention, if you son meets all the criteria and is commissionable and refuses, like @Capt MJ, and @GWU PNS advise, get an attorney early in the game, don't let your son try and navigate this without legal advice.
Click to expand...
Many, many, many years ago, in an unnamed detachment a friend of mine "ate his way to freedom". He gained something like 100 pounds. I am not advocating that it was right or that it should ever be done, but it was an impressive commitment. Frankly, it would have been easier, safer, and better to serve his five years.
 
Update-

Spoke with the unit. According to them, since my son is within 12 months of graduating he can’t just drop out and pay it all back, he has 2 options and it must be decided by as far up as the Secretary of the Navy- recoupment or enlistment (non officer). The unit made some calls to the upper echelon and was told that 8 out of the last 10 were denied recoupment option and had to enlist after graduating. My son does not want to roll the dice on having to enlist but would still like to disenroll, if recoupment is an option.
As parents, we are willing ( and able) to pay the entire scholarship back asap.

Thoughts?
Any SPECIFIC lawyer recommendations? Someone you have experience with?
 
busdriver said:
Update-

Spoke with the unit. According to them, since my son is within 12 months of graduating he can’t just drop out and pay it all back, he has 2 options and it must be decided by as far up as the Secretary of the Navy- recoupment or enlistment (non officer). The unit made some calls to the upper echelon and was told that 8 out of the last 10 were denied recoupment option and had to enlist after graduating. My son does not want to roll the dice on having to enlist but would still like to disenroll, if recoupment is an option.
As parents, we are willing ( and able) to pay the entire scholarship back asap.

Thoughts?
Any SPECIFIC lawyer recommendations? Someone you have experience with?
Click to expand...
Perhaps someone will PM you with a lawyer recommendation. I have seen the same firms’ names for years when I run the search string I recommended. These questions, issues and problems come up every year; they do not lack for business.

Now that you know how the gears of Big Navy are grinding, your son could probably use some professional advice, earlier rather than later, before things get signed and formal review proceedings commence.
 
Capt MJ said:
Perhaps someone will PM you with a lawyer recommendation. I have seen the same firms’ names for years when I run the search string I recommended. These questions, issues and problems come up every year; they do not lack for business.

Now that you know how the gears of Big Navy are grinding, your son could probably use some professional advice, earlier rather than later, before things get signed and formal review proceedings commence.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I did do the google search, per your suggestion.
Thank you for your helpful guidance.
 
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