NROTC ISR approval process

[ProudDad17]

My DS was approved for an NROTC ISR scholarship back in the first part of September, but he has not received anything officially confirming it. Since then his portal status has changed a few times. As of early last week the status reads that no decision has been made at this time and lists his address information and his college choices. I'm trying to get some clarification on the process of approving the ISR. My understanding is that it is approve and the board just has to "rubber stamp" it and assign his unit. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My DS seems to be doing better at waiting than me, but he is busy with Senior year and finishing college applications.

 

[JadeMom]

DS is in the same situation. Our regional recruiting officer thought it would work its way through school assignment by late November. On the NROTC application status, it reads something about being at the NRC or something along those lines. I'm wondering what the status messages mean if you are ISR as opposed to going through the national board process. Not much help, I am afraid. We didn't know the ISR existed until it happened.

 

[NavyNOLA]

My DS was approved for an NROTC ISR scholarship back in the first part of September, but he has not received anything officially confirming it. Since then his portal status has changed a few times. As of early last week the status reads that no decision has been made at this time and lists his address information and his college choices. I'm trying to get some clarification on the process of approving the ISR. My understanding is that it is approve and the board just has to "rubber stamp" it and assign his unit. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My DS seems to be doing better at waiting than me, but he is busy with Senior year and finishing college applications.

All scholarships, including ISR, ASR, MSISR, etc., still get reviewed by the scholarship selection board in Pensacola. Those categories get treated differently as they have already essentially been "selected" through established avenues, but they are not official until the scholarship board, which meets every few weeks, says so (they still review them just to ensure they meet all minimum requirements, there aren't any issues, etc.). Once they are then approved by the board, they'll make their way to Placement along with all the other National recipients. The Placement Office then assigns them to schools/units. At that point, official notification can be given (and the units learn of the recipient's name/contact info) and the NETFOCUS portal will reflect your selection and appropriate placement.

 

[ProudDad17]

All scholarships, including ISR, ASR, MSISR, etc., still get reviewed by the scholarship selection board in Pensacola. Those categories get treated differently as they have already essentially been "selected" through established avenues, but they are not official until the scholarship board, which meets every few weeks, says so (they still review them just to ensure they meet all minimum requirements, there aren't any issues, etc.). Once they are then approved by the board, they'll make their way to Placement along with all the other National recipients. The Placement Office then assigns them to schools/units. At that point, official notification can be given (and the units learn of the recipient's name/contact info) and the NETFOCUS portal will reflect your selection and appropriate placement.

Thank you so much Navy NOLA. From perusing the threads for the past couple months, I figured you would have the answer. I guess the message is just be patient and let the process run it's course. I was thinking everything would be ready for the first board to look at, but it looks like it didn't even get reviewed by the second board.

 

[ProudDad17]

DS is in the same situation. Our regional recruiting officer thought it would work its way through school assignment by late November. On the NROTC application status, it reads something about being at the NRC or something along those lines. I'm wondering what the status messages mean if you are ISR as opposed to going through the national board process. Not much help, I am afraid. We didn't know the ISR existed until it happened.

Neither did we. The day after DS had his officer interview for the regular scholarship and turned in his paperwork with his ACT scores, he received a call from the regional office about the ISR. Sounds like it's not something that is advertised, since you have to be invited to apply for it.

 

[JadeMom]

All scholarships, including ISR, ASR, MSISR, etc., still get reviewed by the scholarship selection board in Pensacola. Those categories get treated differently as they have already essentially been "selected" through established avenues, but they are not official until the scholarship board, which meets every few weeks, says so (they still review them just to ensure they meet all minimum requirements, there aren't any issues, etc.). Once they are then approved by the board, they'll make their way to Placement along with all the other National recipients. The Placement Office then assigns them to schools/units. At that point, official notification can be given (and the units learn of the recipient's name/contact info) and the NETFOCUS portal will reflect your selection and appropriate placement.

Thank you, NavyNOLA. The forum is so helpful for those new to ROTC. My brother commissioned through AOCS and has great information on that, but not so much on the intricacies of ROTC.

 

[JadeMom]

Neither did we. The day after DS had his officer interview for the regular scholarship and turned in his paperwork with his ACT scores, he received a call from the regional office about the ISR. Sounds like it's not something that is advertised, since you have to be invited to apply for it.

Congratulations to your DS. My husband and I are worried about getting admitted to the same school as the scholarship (DS was careful to put reasonable matches on his list with the exception of the 5th school being a reach) and completing the medical (we don't know of any disqualifiers, but until it is done, we won't rest easy) and so on. DS is absolutely passionate about earning a commission, having this goal in his mind since middle school, and if something were to go wrong, it would be an epic disappointment. So, while DS of course feels the peace of the invincible, which is a good thing, as parents, we know, things can go wrong.

 

[ProudDad17]

Congratulations to your DS. My husband and I are worried about getting admitted to the same school as the scholarship (DS was careful to put reasonable matches on his list with the exception of the 5th school being a reach) and completing the medical (we don't know of any disqualifiers, but until it is done, we won't rest easy) and so on. DS is absolutely passionate about earning a commission, having this goal in his mind since middle school, and if something were to go wrong, it would be an epic disappointment. So, while DS of course feels the peace of the invincible, which is a good thing, as parents, we know, things can go wrong.

And congratulations to yours. I am in the same position, while my wife is able to take a more Zen approach (maybe she just knows I will worry enough for both of us). DS's first choice school is also the most competitive. Funny thing is it sounds like his first ACT scores are what earned him the ISR, but they were not high enough for him to feel comfortable getting into #1 choice, so he retook the ACT and improved his score. At this point we feel confident he will get into either #1 or #2 choice school. I have heard that it is not too hard to get the scholarship transferred to another school, as long as that unit has room. Like you, I won't breathe easy until all is said and done and he is delivered to his future university.

 

[informe]

@ProudDad17 @JadeMom
Be patient. If the CO says he got it, then he got it, except some times it takes several months [after the board] before you hear back. In my son's case he was told they will let him know after they have interviewed all the candidates. Then we never heard back. When my son checked with the regional rep, he said my son got the ISR but it has to go through the board. It did not go through the first board and we had to wait several months for the second board because apparently the paper work did not make it to the first available board.

We then assumed that he did not get the ISR and got the regular scholarship. Only now he was told in college by his adviser that he did get the ISR. So be patient, it will come. Congrats.

 

[ProudDad17]

@ProudDad17 @JadeMom
Be patient. If the CO says he got it, then he got it, except some times it takes several months [after the board] before you hear back. In my son's case he was told they will let him know after they have interviewed all the candidates. Then we never heard back. When my son checked with the regional rep, he said my son got the ISR but it has to go through the board. It did not go through the first board and we had to wait several months for the second board because apparently the paper work did not make it to the first available board.

We then assumed that he did not get the ISR and got the regular scholarship. Only now he was told in college by his adviser that he did get the ISR. So be patient, it will come. Congrats.

Thank you informe. The waiting is the hardest part. From what the Petty Officer told him it sounds like his paperwork did not make it in time for the first board. And from watching the portal status changes, it looks like he may have missed the second board as well. I believe NavyNOLA said in another thread that the third board is the week of Nov 21, so crossing fingers for word after that.

 

[NavyNOLA]

The next board starts 15 NOV.

 

[futremil54]

@ProudDad17 @JadeMom
Be patient. If the CO says he got it, then he got it, except some times it takes several months [after the board] before you hear back. In my son's case he was told they will let him know after they have interviewed all the candidates. Then we never heard back. When my son checked with the regional rep, he said my son got the ISR but it has to go through the board. It did not go through the first board and we had to wait several months for the second board because apparently the paper work did not make it to the first available board.

We then assumed that he did not get the ISR and got the regular scholarship. Only now he was told in college by his adviser that he did get the ISR. So be patient, it will come. Congrats.

I am in the same situation as your DS was and I'll be honest, it has driven me up the wall for the past couple of months and I thought that I should just forget about the ISR some weeks after I was interviewed by the CO. Not fun... Considering that your DS contacted his NROTC recruiter/regional rep, do you advise for me to do the same or no because I don't really want to get on my recruiter after several months from the interview and all and I just want the facts, plain and simple no nonsense.

 

[informe]

@futremil54
I know it is frustrating. You can definitely contact your regional NROTC contact. Our regional coordinator [I am not using the correct terminology] was very helpful, including the local University CO. I suggest you contact them both [if you have a Uni. CO/recruiter] asking for a status update. It is my impression they are there to help you, to recruit you and to keep your interest still active until you sign up.

When my son contacted them [at my suggestion] they replied back with the information that his ISR was approved but his file was waiting to go through the board approval process. We were under the mistaken impression that if you are approved for ISR you do not have to go through the board. It looks like the ISR interview pre-selects the candidates for the scholarship but it still has to go through the board, which will be just a formality.

Good luck. Be patient. Forget the ISR and go ahead with your backup plans. The ISR will materialize in the next few months, no point in waiting anxiously to hear back.