ROTC 2024 timing

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chaphillmom

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Hi-

I've done a search and didn't find quite what I was looking for, so please be patient with me if this is something that comes up often. :)

DS is a junior, and will be applying for NROTC, AFROTC, AROTC, and USNA. I've seen in a number of threads that it is best to get his application in as soon as possible for the ROTC programs to maximize the number of selection boards he will be considered at. He already had a decent amount of the NROTC application completed. My question is this- is there a point where it is too early? If he gets his ACT scores, esaays. LORs in within the next couple of months does it help in any way? He is juggling a heavy class load, SAT subject tests, and AP prep- so resource management and prioritization is important for the next few months.
 
There is no too early as long as the application is open, in my opinion. Doing enough to get the teacher recommendations done before the summer is always a good idea. Starting doesn't mean completing, so he could hold off on sending SAT scores until he is fairly happy with them, while still trying to achieve a fairly early completion. Nevertheless, putting together the best package possible is more important than getting the application in early, so don't rush it unnecessarily.

You and your son might want to look through this blog for a lot of good info on the AROTC application process. I believe you can subscribe and get updates as well. https://goldenknightbattalion.com/

As I recall some ROTC program superscore and others take best sitting. You might want to understand which is which before sending SAT scores in. It should be documented at their web sites.
 
chaphillmom said:
Hi-

I've done a search and didn't find quite what I was looking for, so please be patient with me if this is something that comes up often. :)

DS is a junior, and will be applying for NROTC, AFROTC, AROTC, and USNA. I've seen in a number of threads that it is best to get his application in as soon as possible for the ROTC programs to maximize the number of selection boards he will be considered at. He already had a decent amount of the NROTC application completed. My question is this- is there a point where it is too early? If he gets his ACT scores, esaays. LORs in within the next couple of months does it help in any way? He is juggling a heavy class load, SAT subject tests, and AP prep- so resource management and prioritization is important for the next few months.
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If I recall correctly, the AROTC scholarship open in June after my DD's junior year. I don't think there were LORs required for it either, so that's good in terms of less requirements.

I completely agree with @kinnem. The best package possible is better than early in my opinion.

My DD's goal was to have her app in time for the 1st AROTC board. The deadline to get all the requirements in was early- probably 1 Oct.

Develop a relationship with the ROO at one of the top choices of your DS early on. That ROO can answer a lot of your questions. If that ROO is at a school nearby or one that you will visit in the late summer/early fall, then maybe the required PMS interview that be arranged also.

So that brings us to the PMS interview. I recommended to my DD to get this one knocked out ASAP.

A couple points here...

1) Almost all PMS are out of the net during the summer because they are at Ft. Knox running Advanced Camp. So for expectation purposes, do not expect the PMS to be available during the summer to interview. Advanced Camp ends in late July/early Aug, so some will take leave prior to the start of the academic year. If you ask for an interview in Sept (for that Oct board), then you may or may not be high priority. The PMS are busy getting their new MS1 started off on the right foot.

I think your DS will have to be persistent (not to the annoying level though) and flexible for interviews. I would suspect the prime time for interviews is August- if you want to be considered for the 1st board.

My DD was fortunate. She was able to get her PMS interview in early July. For some reason, he wasn't tasked to support Advanced Camp last summer. The PMS didn't fill out the interview form until late August though, so she was red with that requirement for a while.

2) If i recall on this forum, some parents/applicants said the PMS wouldn't interview unless a majority (or at least the PFA) of the application was done. This requirement is AROTC unit specific. As I mentioned above, the ROO will be able to tell you what will be needed to interview with his PMS. A couple AROTC units offered to conduct the PFA for my DD the same day of the interview. I guess my point is the PFA seems to be a key requirement to get an interview knocked out. Again, if you read the application requirements, there is no mention of a PFA to be done prior to an interview. However, some units will require it anyway. My DD knocked it out a couple weeks after she got back from USMA SLE, so she had it completed prior to her PMS interview in July.

The ROO who was helping her (remember I mentioned developing a good working relationship with a ROO who can guide you through the process) said her stats were "1st board stats." I was fairly confident she'd get at least a 3-year award somewhere along the line.
 
@GoCubbies - thanks, that's all very helpful to know. He wasn't sure when the PFA needed to be complete; if it was before the interview, or after. DS has been including situps/ pushups and running into his other fitness activities, so it is helpful to know that element will potentially be earlier in the process. It's funny, it seems like it should be pretty straightforward, but the variations of dates/ requirements was making our heads swim a bit. Thanks again for the detailed and helpful info.
 
At least for Army, the PMS interview is typically the last thing, so if everything else is ready over the summer and he does his PMS interview in September, he will still be ready for the first board. And the PFT can be done by a high school PT teacher, so that can be done again when school starts sos he can take the score card with him, and gives lots of time to get ready during the summer.

Good luck to your son and keep us posted!
 
AFROTC is totally different than the other branches for the scholarship in many ways. In some ways it is the same.
1. They do not superscore. They only take the best sitting.
~ If he has strong SAT/ACT scores currently than move forward impo. Strong means best sitting needs to be at least 33. The avg ACT score for a type 7 is close to 30. SAT scores also avg best sitting in the 1300 range for most recipients.
~ This is the only thing that the scholarship board will update for the board when he is a sr. IOWS, if he takes it in Sept and his best sitting is better than the one he took in May, than they will replace the old best sitting with the new one.
2. Nothing they do academically or EC wise in their sr yr will be part of the selection review. They only take into account until the end of their junior yr.
~ Caveat: Let's say he is elected in the Spring to be class President or Captain of FB team for his sr. yr. He can place on his EC those items because it occurred in his junior yr. , but it gets placed in his JR. yr as elected President class of 2024 June JR. yr.
3. AFROTC is like NROTC regarding intended major. 80%+ of scholarships are awarded to tech (STEM) degrees.
~ Beware, do not try to game the system. This means, don't say your intended major is engineering with the idea once in school with the scholarship, a semester or 2 later they will allow you to switch to a business major and keep the scholarship, regardless of how great of a cadet you are within the unit. This is slim to no chance. You can stay in AFROTC and commission as a business major, but it is more than likely they will pull the scholarship. If you pull up old threads you will see every yr an AFROTC cadet addressing this subject. They get there, they academically can't handle it, or hate the subject matter. They want to switch and now are being told they can request to do so, but be prepared for a NO from HQ AFROTC. For many this becomes a huge issue. They love AFROTC and want to commission, and love the school too. However, without a scholarship you can't afford to stay at their university.
4. AFROTC and NROTC are tied to the cadet/mid, not the school. This is a new change for NROTC. AROTC is tied to the cadet AND school.
~ HQ AFROTC could not care less if det 123 has 100% cadets on scholarship and det 234 has 0%. They just will go and award to the top X number of candidates from a national level. In that way, it is also different than an SA appointment. SA start at a geocentric demography. (MOC slates) and move out to the national pool. For ROTC it starts and ends from a national pool. Again, they could not care less if 0 candidates from Nebraska are awarded, while 75% come from just 4 states.
5. The interview will be the last thing to meet the board just like the other branches.
~ I don't know if it is still common, but I know for our DS, his ALO (USAFA) did his interview for AFROTC too. He did not need to interview with a PMS. Thus, for him, everything, including his nom. applications were put to bed by mid-Sept. He got picked up on the 1st AFROTC board.

I agree with others submit the best application, BUT try your best to meet all of the boards. In essence, get it ready to submit sometime between Aug and Sept. to meet the 1st board.

Spend this summer training for the PFT. You cannot use the CFA score for an SA for ROTC. It is a different test. Thus, you want to inform the administer of the test that you need them 2x. You don't want to do the CFA, and than turn around and do the PFA. Or vise a verse.

His DoDMERB exam will be accepted by all commissioning sources. He will not have to re-do it. However, each commissioning source has their own requirements. He maybe Q'd for AROTC and DQ'd for USNA. Get your DS's medical records in order now. ROTC only candidates will not be sent for an exam until they are awarded the scholarship.

Hope all of this helps. Good luck, and thank your son and your family for wanting to defend this great nation.
 
Thanks again everyone. I'm thinking he is in good shape to remain in 'make steady progress, no need for sudden panic' mode. For academics, he is at 35 ACT and a 4.0 unweighted, with challenging AP course loads for Calc, chem, physics etc. With ECs, he will have Eagle Scout, and martial arts (Krav Maga and SAMBO), but not varsity sports. One factor he will need to incorporate into his application is the fact that he has family obligations (caring for a disabled sibling before and after school) which has impacted the amount of time he has for sports and other activities. So- he is working on putting his best foot forward and developing a strong application. (funny aside, he is going through his physical activity routine as I'm typing- push-ups, sit-ups etc). This is something he strongly wants to do, so I'm trying to support without turning into helicopter Mom.
 
Your DS sounds like an amazing kid, and you should be very proud whether he wins a scholarship or not! (I am sure you are!) If it helps at all, my DS was awarded both AROTC and NROTC scholarships this year. His GPA and ACT scores are a bit lower than your DS (ACT-32, not sure of exact GPA), 3 AP's Jr. year, 4 Senior year. He also does and teaches martial arts, and did not have much in the way of sports (some participation, but no Varsity letters). He was active with community service and was in the NJROTC at his high school. His application was completed for the first board for the AROTC, and he was awarded the scholarship at the second board. For NROTC, it was a last minute decision to apply, encouraged by his NJROTC Lt. Commnader, and that was a late night completion and a rushed PFA. I DO NOT recommend that course!! The wait was longer for AROTC, but the stress was much lower. In the end, both worked out. Sounds like your son is on the right track! Good luck!!!
 
I would highly recommend he lock down the recommendations from his teachers before school gets out if possible. Trying to communicate with them over the summer may be difficult and lots of applicants have reported issues with teachers getting recommendations uploaded. Depending on when his school starts back in hte fall, he may be wanting to have everything submitted right around the time school starts. Also, without any sports team captain positions, be sure your DS emphasizes his leadership experience in other areas. I see he will be an Eagle Scout, so he definitely has it, just be sure he emphasizes how he demonstrated leadership. Good luck to him!
 
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