ROTC scholarship dropped for grades - considering enlistment

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sidha21

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My son is a sophomore at Norwich University on a 4 year ROTC scholarship. The first year went very well, however, he struggled with grades in his first semester of Sophomore year. So much so, that he fell below the required GPA and received a letter indicating that his semester would not be covered by the scholarship. Prior to this, he expressed increasing interest in dropping out of school and enlisting (probably because he knew he was struggling academically). He loves Norwich and is still intent on serving. That said, this latest blow is challenging him and us. The fact that we need to cover his tuition now came as a financial surprise. We could encourage him to stay (as we have), but now we're just building debt we can't payback. So here's the question. What would happen if he spoke to the Army and decided to enlist, rather than finish his degree? (he knows the consequences psychologically, financially and career-wise - so this is more of a logistics question). Does anyone know if he has to pay back his ARMY ROTC scholarship from his Freshman year?
 
Yes he wold be required to pay back the freshman year scholarship. Sometimes, but not often, they allow the pay back to be through enlistment. One can try but it's not very likely. These days they are more interested in getting the cash back.

Is there any understanding of why he is struggling academically? Has he sought out tutoring. Is he asking questions in class or during professor's office hours? Is he simply not studying enough? If you all decide to stick it out this will need to be addressed, and I further assume if it can be addressed he would rather press on and commission.
 
If your son drops the ROTC program as a sophomore that had received a 4 year scholarship, he will be required to payback the tuition for his freshman year as well as pay the tuition for his first semester of his sophomore year when he did not make grades. If he decided to drop the program he can request enlistment as a payback option, the caveat with that is that it is not his decision to make, he can make the request but the Army will decide what he does, enlist or payback the scholarship, it is their decision. If your son is considering dropping he needs to talk with his cadre soon to understand how the process works. Make sure he, as well as you, read through the contract he signed so you have a clear picture of how this works.

Best of luck to your son.
 
Another alternative would be consider a transfer to a less expensive college with AROTC.

It may be worth it to contact an ROTC unit at such a school. This way he could continue his college courses, at a more affordable tuition, and maybe reinstate his scholarship. He also would have less pressure from a non-SMC college. I believe that it would have to be approved by both PMS's though.
 
Just curious, what would happen if someone had to drop from AROTC and the army due to injury sustained after a year or two, hypothetically an injury sustained in rotc activity?
 
NJDadofDSUSMA2024Hopeful said:
Just curious, what would happen if someone had to drop from AROTC and the army due to injury sustained after a year or two, hypothetically an injury sustained in rotc activity?
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There is generally no payback for an injury or illness related disenrollment for Army ROTC, so long as the injuries were accidental and not due to illegal or immoral activities.

Payback is usually required for any non-medical related breach of the Army ROTC scholarship contract. Such breaches include criminal or immoral conduct, and failure to maintain sufficient grades, or fitness standards.

For full details, refer to DA 597-3 and AR 145-1
https://armypubs.army.mil/pub/eforms/DR_a/pdf/A597_3.pdf
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r145_1.pdf
 
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Interested in this thread - If I understand the question, this is a 2d year ROTC scholarship student, and the Army has notified him he will not receive his tuition grant, for failure to meet academic grade requirements. I was under the impression there is a probation period and students can be reinstated. Perhaps switching to a less rigorous major will fix the issue, especially if his interest is in serving as an officer and he loves Norwich. Changing schools or dropping out and enlisting raises the chances he will not finish any degree. Also, for those responding do you have actual case examples of the Army actually requiring a sophmore who is dropped from scholarship for academic reasons being required to pay back his scholarship money? I have heard from WP and USNA Academy reps that cadets or midshipmen who request to leave the academy at the end of their sophmore year, and who do not take the oath of affirmation their Junior year are able to leave without penalty. Would be interested in hearing from an ROTC PMS on this subject. Thanks
 
glen said:
Interested in this thread - If I understand the question, this is a 2d year ROTC scholarship student, and the Army has notified him he will not receive his tuition grant, for failure to meet academic grade requirements. I was under the impression there is a probation period and students can be reinstated. Perhaps switching to a less rigorous major will fix the issue, especially if his interest is in serving as an officer and he loves Norwich. Changing schools or dropping out and enlisting raises the chances he will not finish any degree. Also, for those responding do you have actual case examples of the Army actually requiring a sophmore who is dropped from scholarship for academic reasons being required to pay back his scholarship money? I have heard from WP and USNA Academy reps that cadets or midshipmen who request to leave the academy at the end of their sophmore year, and who do not take the oath of affirmation their Junior year are able to leave without penalty. Would be interested in hearing from an ROTC PMS on this subject. Thanks
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The academy and ROTC programs work differently. For ROTC the grace period is one year. For the academies the grace period is two years as you stated.
 
(cross posted with @kinnem)

I am not a PMS, but the 597-3 contract is crystal clear.

Unlike a Service Academy, Army ROTC allows a four year scholarship winner ONE academic year to walk away with zero obligations. Show up on the first day of the sophomore year, and the obligations kick in.

From page four of the DA 597-3 scholarship contract, under CADET OBLIGATIONS (for four year scholarship recipients).

"I understand and agree that I will incur an active duty and/or reimbursement obligation after the first day of my MS II year (sophomore year)."
 
glen said:
Interested in this thread - If I understand the question, this is a 2d year ROTC scholarship student, and the Army has notified him he will not receive his tuition grant, for failure to meet academic grade requirements. I was under the impression there is a probation period and students can be reinstated. Perhaps switching to a less rigorous major will fix the issue, especially if his interest is in serving as an officer and he loves Norwich. Changing schools or dropping out and enlisting raises the chances he will not finish any degree. Also, for those responding do you have actual case examples of the Army actually requiring a sophmore who is dropped from scholarship for academic reasons being required to pay back his scholarship money? I have heard from WP and USNA Academy reps that cadets or midshipmen who request to leave the academy at the end of their sophmore year, and who do not take the oath of affirmation their Junior year are able to leave without penalty. Would be interested in hearing from an ROTC PMS on this subject. Thanks
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USMA allows cadets to depart before their Junior year scot free. ROTC seeks repayment starting your Sophomore year. Why the difference I don't know. Also, the free freshman year only applies to 4 year winners. 2 and 3 yr winners don't get that “test” year.
 
glen said:
Interested in this thread - If I understand the question, this is a 2d year ROTC scholarship student, and the Army has notified him he will not receive his tuition grant, for failure to meet academic grade requirements. I was under the impression there is a probation period and students can be reinstated. Perhaps switching to a less rigorous major will fix the issue, especially if his interest is in serving as an officer and he loves Norwich. Changing schools or dropping out and enlisting raises the chances he will not finish any degree. Also, for those responding do you have actual case examples of the Army actually requiring a sophmore who is dropped from scholarship for academic reasons being required to pay back his scholarship money? I have heard from WP and USNA Academy reps that cadets or midshipmen who request to leave the academy at the end of their sophmore year, and who do not take the oath of affirmation their Junior year are able to leave without penalty. Would be interested in hearing from an ROTC PMS on this subject. Thanks
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The letter he received from ROTC indicated that he could reinstate his scholarship once he got his GPA back up. In theory, this would be the easiest path forward. However, he's a nursing student and has a nursing scholarship. He's simply worried that he's not able to get through the whole program without stumbling further in that program. The Nursing Scholarship is a separate ROTC scholarship. Switching majors as this stage has its own issues, but it also requires applying for a totally new scholarship if he changes majors. So at this stage, we are simply addressing the different scenarios. He has taken his oath already (Freshman year) - so I don't know if that modifies his situation.
 
SA = Service Academy
You are on SAF, Service Academy Forums.

You might find The Acronym List over in Community Information to be a convenient life ring here.
 
From personal experience - my son was booted from school in the last semester of his Senior year - and was faced with paying back 4 years of his Army ROTC scholarship. However, the PMS recommended that he be allowed to discharge his obligation via enlisted service. That had to go to the CG of Cadet Command, which took about 4 months, but was ultimately approved. He went in as an E4, waltzed through 11B Basic and AIT and made E6 after about 4 years of service, and managed to get his last semester completed on the Army’s dime on the Tuition Assistance program. ( He’s getting out shortly with about 7-1/2 years of service). While this wasn’t a route I would have recommended or chosen- in retrospect he has been a lot more satisfied as an NCO than I believe he would have been as an officer. (In a strange twist- both of his roommates from school live on the same street with him outside Ft Bragg with their wives, so I think he has had a chance to compare their lives to his) .
Bottom line- while enlisting to satisfy his ROTC debt is a possibility- but it starts with his PMS and is approved at levels well above that. Enlisting on his own without that approval will not automatically discharge his financial obligation- so the next step really needs to be a down and dirty discussion with the PMS ASAP.
 
bruno said:
From personal experience - my son was booted from school in the last semester of his Senior year - and was faced with paying back 4 years of his Army ROTC scholarship. However, the PMS recommended that he be allowed to discharge his obligation via enlisted service. That had to go to the CG of Cadet Command, which took about 4 months, but was ultimately approved. He went in as an E4, waltzed through 11B Basic and AIT and made E6 after about 4 years of service, and managed to get his last semester completed on the Army’s dime on the Tuition Assistance program. ( He’s getting out shortly with about 7-1/2 years of service). While this wasn’t a route I would have recommended or chosen- in retrospect he has been a lot more satisfied as an NCO than I believe he would have been as an officer. (In a strange twist- both of his roommates from school live on the same street with him outside Ft Bragg with their wives, so I think he has had a chance to compare their lives to his) .
Bottom line- while enlisting to satisfy his ROTC debt is a possibility- but it starts with his PMS and is approved at levels well above that. Enlisting on his own without that approval will not automatically discharge his financial obligation- so the next step really needs to be a down and dirty discussion with the PMS ASAP.
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Thanks!!
 
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