Questions about Army ROTC

ps92

5-Year Member
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May 26, 2010
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I'll be attending UGA in the fall and I recently decided to do ROTC. In Georgia there is the Hope scholarship which pays for all of my tuition, so I don't really have to worry about an army scholarship. I talked to the army rotc reps at my orientation and I've enrolled in MILS1010 and MILS1010L, but since I don't have a scholarship or anything does that make me less of an army rotc cadet than anybody else? I want to be as involved in the program as possible. Also, without scholarship or commitment I will not receive the monthly stipend right?

The plan was to attend the Coast Guard Academy this year but unfortunately I was waitlisted, then cut. It's still my dream to go and I will be reapplying to join the class of 2015, so I am doing ROTC in the meanwhile in order to get that taste of military lifestyle and to have it on my application.

However, if I end up being denied by the Coast Guard again, the plan is to attend UGA for the four years then go to law school. The question I have in this circumstance is: if I stay in Army ROTC and give my commitment after sophomore year, how much of a chance will I have to get in to the JAG program and have the army pay for my law school?

My goal is to save lives, not take them. That is why I chose the Coast Guard and would not stick with army for all four years unless it would put me in a position where I could help the army the way they could possibly help me, and in a way that is acceptable to me (being a JAG).

Sorry for the long post and all the questions but I am dying to know the answers! Thanks in advance!
 
This is educated speculation, but given the state of the legal market, I understand that the services are being swamped with interest in the JAG Corps from highly qualified law students and lawyers who've paid their own tuition. I'd say if, if, the Army were to pay for your law school education, chances are you'd have to perform as an undergraduate, and on the LSAT, well enough to get into a top tier law school.
 
I'll be attending UGA in the fall and I recently decided to do ROTC. In Georgia there is the Hope scholarship which pays for all of my tuition, so I don't really have to worry about an army scholarship. I talked to the army rotc reps at my orientation and I've enrolled in MILS1010 and MILS1010L, but since I don't have a scholarship or anything does that make me less of an army rotc cadet than anybody else? I want to be as involved in the program as possible. Also, without scholarship or commitment I will not receive the monthly stipend right?

The plan was to attend the Coast Guard Academy this year but unfortunately I was waitlisted, then cut. It's still my dream to go and I will be reapplying to join the class of 2015, so I am doing ROTC in the meanwhile in order to get that taste of military lifestyle and to have it on my application.

However, if I end up being denied by the Coast Guard again, the plan is to attend UGA for the four years then go to law school. The question I have in this circumstance is: if I stay in Army ROTC and give my commitment after sophomore year, how much of a chance will I have to get in to the JAG program and have the army pay for my law school?

My goal is to save lives, not take them. That is why I chose the Coast Guard and would not stick with army for all four years unless it would put me in a position where I could help the army the way they could possibly help me, and in a way that is acceptable to me (being a JAG).

Sorry for the long post and all the questions but I am dying to know the answers! Thanks in advance!

I think you should seriously reconsider joining ROTC looking at your hesitancy to engage in a critical element of military life. While you do not have an obligation to serve until you start your Junior year as a non-scholarship cadet, once you do commit, you must realize that you have ZERO control over your duties once you commission (i.e. no guarantee of JAG which is one of the most competitive assignments BTW). Furthermore, I believe when you sign the papers (at the Junior year without the scholarship) you acknowledge that you are willing to do those things that you seem to not want to do.

Finally, I don't know the details, but AROTC first year classes don't translate to CGA curriculum too well (I'm sure someone here will confirm), so the skill transfer will be minimal.

That being said, the ROTC experience may very well help you decide if any contracted life is right for you. And to answer your question, no you won't be treated any differently as a non-scholarship cadet, except that your cadre may be talking to you about scholarship opportunities in future years.

Most importantly, understand that serving your country is something you do without regard to how you contribute (specific duties). You may be asked to do any assignment necessary within the service you sign up for. So you may not even get a desireable assignment in the Coast Guard out of the academy. Don't sign up for anything not knowing the potential outcomes.
 
I think you should seriously reconsider joining ROTC looking at your hesitancy to engage in a critical element of military life. While you do not have an obligation to serve until you start your Junior year as a non-scholarship cadet, once you do commit, you must realize that you have ZERO control over your duties once you commission (i.e. no guarantee of JAG which is one of the most competitive assignments BTW). Furthermore, I believe when you sign the papers (at the Junior year without the scholarship) you acknowledge that you are willing to do those things that you seem to not want to do.

Finally, I don't know the details, but AROTC first year classes don't translate to CGA curriculum too well (I'm sure someone here will confirm), so the skill transfer will be minimal.

That being said, the ROTC experience may very well help you decide if any contracted life is right for you. And to answer your question, no you won't be treated any differently as a non-scholarship cadet, except that your cadre may be talking to you about scholarship opportunities in future years.

Most importantly, understand that serving your country is something you do without regard to how you contribute (specific duties). You may be asked to do any assignment necessary within the service you sign up for. So you may not even get a desireable assignment in the Coast Guard out of the academy. Don't sign up for anything not knowing the potential outcomes.

I did AIM at CGA and I know the military lifestyle is for me. I have no reservations about that. My goal in doing ROTC is to hopefully get a recommendation attesting to my skill, devotion, and genuine interest in the military. So I see no reason to reconsider participating my freshman year. About the skill transfer, I wasn't expecting AROTC to make me "super swab." But doing it, along with a recommendation from a cadre or higher rank, would make me look a lot better than if I didn't do it. Right?

I want to be a CG aviator, and I am fine with being put on a separate assignment for a few years while I wait for a spot in flight school. But you are correct about the army and its various deeds, and that if I sign I should be willing to do whatever they ask me to do. That is something I will have to think about until the time comes. It is a big decision.

Thank you for your response.
 
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