ROTC options

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usmagirl118

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
152
Hi All,

I am evaluating my different plans and paths in Military specifically to Army. I am looking to apply to ROTC as well if I want to get a hybrid experience, so few questions come into my mind relating to the 2nd option of "Selected cadets may chose to serve part time...."

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HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO SERVE IN THE ARMY?
Army ROTC students who receive an Army ROTC scholarship or enter the Army ROTC Advanced Course must agree to complete an eight-year period of service with the Army.

  • You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners), with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
  • Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career.
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1. What is the basis of this selection?
2. Who makes the choice to go Reserve or Active? Cadet or Army
3. When is that choice made? when during 4 years in college
4. Can the choice be changed at some point before end of college?
5. Any other important things to consider if wanting to go Reserve?

The choice of serving part-time with US Army Reserve and having a civilian career seems to have a better fit for me at this time. I am open to exploring all options as they come.
 
My is AF, so I am only going by what I have read here on the forum

At some point during Army Rotc, they (Rotc) will decide if you are going AD or Reserve. For sure everyone who commissions through Navy and Air Force Rotc , does active duty. I dont know if this means you can also choose National Guard instead of Reserve, but that is what it seems to imply. I would assume they take the best students for active duty. You serve 3/4 years as active duty and then you are out. After you are out you go Individual Read Reserve, which means they can call you up to serve if necessary. From what you hear that almost never happens but I have to imagine during the the Afghan and Iraqi war where they couldnt get enough people to join up that they called some of these people up, but that is an assumptionon on my part and have no idea if that is true or not. I would imagine that you get to request AD or reserve during Rotc although I have to imagine the final decision is made by the Army. However, if more people want AD, then i would imagine getting reserve status wouldnt be that much of a hassle.

Again, i have no first hand knowledge, let someone who knows the answers give you the definitive answer.
 
Everyone has an 8 year commitment- USMA or ROTC.
USMA is 5 active, 3 IRR (individual ready reserve)
ROTC non scholarship going active duty is 3 and 5.
Scholarship is 4/4, unless your scholarship is >4 years. So get a 4.5 bc you are a nurse, then serve 4.5/3.5. Get 5 years of scholarship then its 5/3.
If you choose to go Reserve or National Guard then you serve 8 years in the guard.

your senior year you choose your component- there is competition to get active duty and not everyone gets it. If you pick reserve or guard you’ll generally get it.
 
@Montana State Army ROTC Isn't the AD commitment longer if Aviation is selected? Cyber too? @usmagirl118 - a drawback is if you have a civilian career that is not flexible for your commitment to weekends, annual training, or deployments. Weekends in the Guard and Reserves is not always Saturday and Sunday. Graduate school, especially toward a professional degree can be difficult in the NG or Reserves. It is really unit and mission dependent.
 
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