Pros and Cons of ROTC
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There are articles you can find on the web.
ROTC is a program to train officers to serve in the military while in college. The “cons” may be that the obligations of military service are not for everyone. But those are also the pros. If you are considering ROTC just as means to pay for college the military does not want you, you won’t do well in ROTC and you should explore other funding options.
The vast majoity of officers in our military services commission via ROTC. The only other ways to become an officer are to enlist and qualify for OCS or go to a service academy. So, ROTC is the most realistic way to earn a commission for most.
ROTC is a program to train officers to serve in the military while in college. The “cons” may be that the obligations of military service are not for everyone. But those are also the pros. If you are considering ROTC just as means to pay for college the military does not want you, you won’t do well in ROTC and you should explore other funding options.
The vast majoity of officers in our military services commission via ROTC. The only other ways to become an officer are to enlist and qualify for OCS or go to a service academy. So, ROTC is the most realistic way to earn a commission for most.
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+1 to @GaitherDad. The pros/cons of ROTC are very personally in the eyes of the beholder. Because in the end, ROTC cadets/mids end up in the same place four years hence as those who go the SA and OCS routes — they all have butter bars and are starting from scratch. A year after that, and every year after, it matters not from where they came.
So the real pros/cons are of personal preference for the kind of lifestyle one wants to lead over a four-year span before commissioning. And for that, there are many, many articles online.
So the real pros/cons are of personal preference for the kind of lifestyle one wants to lead over a four-year span before commissioning. And for that, there are many, many articles online.
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Plenty of my OCS peers went directly to OCS without being an enlisted person first. Actually, that is each and every one that I can think of. They didn't enlist and then qualify for OCS, they applied for OCS while they were still civilians,were accepted and then went to OCS.
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I stand corrected. What kind of numbers commission in the Navy via OCS directly from civilian these days?
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NJROTC-CC
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That is, other than MD’s or JD’s
Pro's (and I'm going to assume you are going after a scholarship)
- focus on leadership to complement your education....as one who has spent 20 years in corporate leadership roles, that is a huge advantage the military officers have versus civilians
- structure in your college life...you have to be disciplined to do ROTC and your college courses vs your civilian peers. Each unit/detachment is different, but all require more planning to fit it all in...plus there is support from the unit (read the stories in the forum) on study sessions, grade/progression checks, etc.
- minimize student loans to potentially graduating without debt....a huge advantage versus many other students
- vs the academy....you don't have to be in the military 24/7 and can enjoy other parts of college life and the freedom to leave campus whenever you want/can.
- you have a plan for what you are going to do when you graduate....you may not know exactly what you are going to do, but you don't have to worry about interviews and other things your senior year.
- for cadets on contract, you have a monthly stipend and book allowance...again, funds that can help reduce/eliminate financial concerns while in college.
- dependent upon what service and branch, you can go into the Reserves/Guard and do your service commitment that way. So you can have a civilian career and military career at the same time. Nothing is guaranteed.
- The service commitment for ROTC is less than that of the academies....you can get your scholarship and do your four years of active duty service and 4+ years of inactive service (this is service dependent I believe so know if before you sign) and move on to civilian life.
- the start in the military can definitely help your civilian career....companies love the ability to operate with discipline and lead others and yourself in all kinds of demanding environments. The same things that make you successful in the military make you successful in the civilian world.
Con's
- it demands time and discipline. While others are slacking off, you may have to get up 1-2-3 times a week for oh dark early fitness sessions. You have to maintain grooming standards, weight, uniforms, etc....and maintain your GPA. You may have to head out for a weekend field training exercise and still have to get in your studies and homework. You will have "optional" military training activities during the week and weekend...extra drill, practice, etc.
- you will have demands in your summer if on scholarship (or at the academy) - 2+ weeks for training and other opportunities each summer
- at some point after you contract, if you decide to quit, get medically disqualified, or want do something else, you will (or may) either owe Uncle Sam money or service time. If you commission, you will owe the military time and service.
- while you request your duty location and military skill/job when you graduate, there is no guarantee you will get it.
- in between graduation and your report to initial duty, you may have weeks or months dependent upon the military needs and timing.
The decision to enter the military thru ROTC does not lock you into a 25 year career. And while many would say don't do ROTC for financial reasons, getting college costs covered can play a big part. You just have to have some desire to serve to help push thru the sacrifices (both personal and professional) that you will have to make....and you have to always have an alternative path in case you decide you don't like it or become medically DQ'd.
I had a 4 year scholarship in the USAF and planned on doing just my 4 year commitment after graduating....I enjoyed my first 4 years so much I stayed for 10 years. The USAF paid for my graduate degree as well (went full time on active duty)...when I got married, that is when the equation changed as I had to balance the needs of my young family and the demands of the military - decided to exit at that point. Either way, I would do it all over again as I really enjoyed serving and met some of my best friends in the military (both enlisted and officers).
Cheers!
- focus on leadership to complement your education....as one who has spent 20 years in corporate leadership roles, that is a huge advantage the military officers have versus civilians
- structure in your college life...you have to be disciplined to do ROTC and your college courses vs your civilian peers. Each unit/detachment is different, but all require more planning to fit it all in...plus there is support from the unit (read the stories in the forum) on study sessions, grade/progression checks, etc.
- minimize student loans to potentially graduating without debt....a huge advantage versus many other students
- vs the academy....you don't have to be in the military 24/7 and can enjoy other parts of college life and the freedom to leave campus whenever you want/can.
- you have a plan for what you are going to do when you graduate....you may not know exactly what you are going to do, but you don't have to worry about interviews and other things your senior year.
- for cadets on contract, you have a monthly stipend and book allowance...again, funds that can help reduce/eliminate financial concerns while in college.
- dependent upon what service and branch, you can go into the Reserves/Guard and do your service commitment that way. So you can have a civilian career and military career at the same time. Nothing is guaranteed.
- The service commitment for ROTC is less than that of the academies....you can get your scholarship and do your four years of active duty service and 4+ years of inactive service (this is service dependent I believe so know if before you sign) and move on to civilian life.
- the start in the military can definitely help your civilian career....companies love the ability to operate with discipline and lead others and yourself in all kinds of demanding environments. The same things that make you successful in the military make you successful in the civilian world.
Con's
- it demands time and discipline. While others are slacking off, you may have to get up 1-2-3 times a week for oh dark early fitness sessions. You have to maintain grooming standards, weight, uniforms, etc....and maintain your GPA. You may have to head out for a weekend field training exercise and still have to get in your studies and homework. You will have "optional" military training activities during the week and weekend...extra drill, practice, etc.
- you will have demands in your summer if on scholarship (or at the academy) - 2+ weeks for training and other opportunities each summer
- at some point after you contract, if you decide to quit, get medically disqualified, or want do something else, you will (or may) either owe Uncle Sam money or service time. If you commission, you will owe the military time and service.
- while you request your duty location and military skill/job when you graduate, there is no guarantee you will get it.
- in between graduation and your report to initial duty, you may have weeks or months dependent upon the military needs and timing.
The decision to enter the military thru ROTC does not lock you into a 25 year career. And while many would say don't do ROTC for financial reasons, getting college costs covered can play a big part. You just have to have some desire to serve to help push thru the sacrifices (both personal and professional) that you will have to make....and you have to always have an alternative path in case you decide you don't like it or become medically DQ'd.
I had a 4 year scholarship in the USAF and planned on doing just my 4 year commitment after graduating....I enjoyed my first 4 years so much I stayed for 10 years. The USAF paid for my graduate degree as well (went full time on active duty)...when I got married, that is when the equation changed as I had to balance the needs of my young family and the demands of the military - decided to exit at that point. Either way, I would do it all over again as I really enjoyed serving and met some of my best friends in the military (both enlisted and officers).
Cheers!