On campus AFROTC scholarships

[Osprey]

After reading the material online I have a pretty good handle on the national Air Force ROTC scholarship process, but haven’t found much information about on campus Air Force ROTC scholarships. How are these selections made and how difficult are they to come by? All else being equal (gpa, fitness scores, etc) would a student have a better shot at one at a Senior Military Academy over a regular university? Or are there certain schools known to award these more liberally than others?

 

[Pima]

ICSPs are the rarities when it comes to scholarships. You should think this type of scholarship like a recruitment tool for the highly ranked/competitive candidate. Typically, if offered an ICSP you will only be given a short time span to accept. If you accept the ICSP, than you must withdrawal your name from the HSSP.

I don't think you have a better shot at an SMC over a traditional university. Nor are certain schools more liberal in awarding an ICSP. As I stated earlier, ICSPs are rare.

 

[New@This]

I'm confused. I thought the ICSP was the scholarship given to current AFROTC cadets who were not on scholarship.

 

[Tbpxece]

Per AFROTCI 36-2011,

Para. 3.1.2: (ICSP) - "...designed as a recruiting and retention vehicle to help AFROTC meet officer production goals. This program is a “flexible partner” allowing AFROTC to tailor programs to meet specific officer production needs. The availability of in-college scholarships is directly linked to higher headquarters-directed budget and production considerations."

Para. 3.1.3 (AFROTC Targeted Scholarship Program) - "...designed to attract AFROTC cadets to fill specific Air Force Specialties. Targeted Scholarships are funded over and above the normal AFROTC scholarship funding line and advocated for by the sponsoring agency, i.e. MAJCOM and Air Staff. Additionally, the sponsoring agency will work with HQ AFROTC to develop criteria required for the awarding of the targeted scholarship. Targeted scholarships are designed to increase the number of high quality officer accessions into a specific Air Force specialty and are separate from other AFROTC College Scholarship boards. These scholarships are granted solely for the purpose of meeting Total Force Officer Production per fiscal year."

Pima, it sounds like ICSP is actually pretty common and the mechanism by which most non-HSSP cadets gain a scholarship. Is the TSP scholarship the one you are referring to as more rare? HSSP is closed to full-time college students, and these three are the only non-prior-E way of accession via ROTC per the instruction cited above.

 

[Pima]

ICSP is tied to the college, unlike HSSP which is tied to the cadet.

Tbpxece, I have to say in my decade here, I would say maybe 1 or 2 candidates on this site per year is offered an ICSP. I will not swear by it, but I think each det maybe allowed 1, maybe 2 ICSP for incoming freshmen. From my yrs here I will reiterate again, that the CoC at the det of that university offers it directly to the candidate. Again, it is tied to that school. It is basically a type 1.

They don't offer it willy nilly. They have to believe that they are a match for admissions to the college. A CoC does not have to offer any at all. They can opt to say that they don't want anyone they interviewed to get that scholarship.

You are looking at the ICSP for cadets that do not meet the HSSP, which is open to all cadets, not just priors. The poster in this situation is discussing the ICSP as a HS student.

In the end, the big picture is also to understand, AFROTC scholarships are 2+2. If you need the $$$ to attend your dream college re-think this aspect.

 

[Tbpxece]

Pima, thanks for the clarification. You mean to say ICSP is rarely offered to incoming freshmen-- I'm tracking 100% on that.

I misread your original post and thought you were saying ICSP is rare in general (including non-freshmen).

 

[Osprey]

You are looking at the ICSP for cadets that do not meet the HSSP, which is open to all cadets, not just priors. The poster in this situation is discussing the ICSP as a HS student.

In the end, the big picture is also to understand, AFROTC scholarships are 2+2. If you need the $$$ to attend your dream college re-think this aspect.

I was actually wondering about the relative chances for a freshman who decides to attend as a non scholarship cadet applying for ROTC scholarship their freshman year. Sounds like those are more common? Do some schools have more to give than others (SMC’s in particular)? Or is the amount proportional to the number of ROTC students?

 

[Pima]

This is like the HSSP, and the det specific scholarship. Two different pools of money. There is a national ICSP like the HSSP, but for those that have more college credits and are not qualified for the HSSP.

The national ICSP will board just like the HSSP. However, that comes back to the pot of gold. If more cadets accept and activate their HSSP for your yr group they (HQ AFROTC) than they may decide not to hold a national ICSP board because they hit their budget.
~ In the years I have been here I would say they cancelled the national ICSP board at least 2x.

There is the det. ICSP also. I would say they are still rare. You will need to really shine the fall of your freshmen year. I honestly don't know if it is proportional to the number of cadets. In the end, I would say that overall, most units have @20% on scholarship, be it HSSP or ICSP.
~ Both do have one thing in common. Not selected for SFT, it is highly likely you will be disenrolled from the program. Thus, your last 2 yrs will be on your dime, so if you are looking at the AFROTC scholarship as a way to pay for your dream college, beware.

 

[Osprey]

@Pima and @Tbpxece thanks, very helpful info.

 

[Tbpxece]

You're welcome-- happy to help.