We have a slightly complicated question that I am hoping someone can offer us guidance on. Our son has applied to both USMA and AFA. He also just received a full scholarship to his first choice school for AROTC. The deadline to accept this offer is 3/6. He is hoping to hear from AFROTC by 3/5 but is not sure if he can accept both until he makes a decision? Here is where another complication comes in - he is a very high level hockey player but currently is not applying as a recruited athlete because hockey for the academies requires you play 1-2 years of junior hockey first. He went into this application process willing to give up hockey for either academy. As luck would have it both coaches have recently called him to express their interest but want him to go to play in Canada for a year or 2. He will still give up hockey knowing this, if the chance to attend either academy presents itself. However, if he doesn't get appointed, I believe he would want to go to Canada for hockey so he can try to be recruited by the academies and not do ROTC or AFROTC at this time. So after that wordy explanation, my question is - if he accepts the scholarships for ROTC and AFROTC, can he back out for hockey or can one only back out for the academies?
ROTC scholarship
- Thread starter Haemmerli
- Start date
milmomsomeday
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2016
- Messages
- 165
Even if you accept the scholarship, you do not have to show up in the fall. You can always back out of ROTC scholarships until the end of the first year. Day 1 of your second year is the commitment date.
Yes he has the option to back out still. You can accept the scholarship now and if he hears back from USMA or USAFA later he can then decline the AF ROTC scholarship then accept the Academy (if it works out that way). As if how to do that, I have no clue. He may want to contact his recruiter on how to actually decline or back out after accepting the scholarship. On the hockey question, no clue lol. Congratulations on your son.
Herman_Snerd
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 1,446
Agree with post above. ROTC Acceptance is non-binding. Just be timely in notifying them once you are ready to do so.
Overall though, I think you should ask a few very direct questions to these coaches.
If you agree to play hockey in Canada, eh, for a year or two, will you receive an acceptance now to that academy for the class of 2027 or 2028? Or do you have to go hang out in Canada, drink Molsen, and reapply in 2 years?
If you don't agree to go to Canada, then it sounds like you'll be considered absent of any recruiting influence for hockey. Is that what you want?
Do the coaches want to recruit him as-is, to play for them without the 1-2 years in Canada? I'd pursue a Y/N on that. If so is your DS willing to play for them without that development ? Is he good enough to make a contribution without the years in Canada? IF so then I'd commit to play if they accept him - if he wants.
I'm a risk mitigator by nature, and I'd hate to see him get injured in Canada and not be able to serve and get an education. And hockey is not paddycake handslaps. But that's just me. I guess if he wants to go to an academy so badly as to give up a full ride through AROTC then that's his choice. He has to decide - but if he's willing to play for the academies then I would think it gives him a big admission advantage as a recruit - I think you need to gage how much that recruit help is needed.
One data point: time: these young people are often committing to 8-10 years after graduating - pilots more like 10+ right between when they eventually start flight school and complete their service. Would I add another 2 years on that? Not if I could help it.
Good luck to your son and family.
Overall though, I think you should ask a few very direct questions to these coaches.
If you agree to play hockey in Canada, eh, for a year or two, will you receive an acceptance now to that academy for the class of 2027 or 2028? Or do you have to go hang out in Canada, drink Molsen, and reapply in 2 years?
If you don't agree to go to Canada, then it sounds like you'll be considered absent of any recruiting influence for hockey. Is that what you want?
Do the coaches want to recruit him as-is, to play for them without the 1-2 years in Canada? I'd pursue a Y/N on that. If so is your DS willing to play for them without that development ? Is he good enough to make a contribution without the years in Canada? IF so then I'd commit to play if they accept him - if he wants.
I'm a risk mitigator by nature, and I'd hate to see him get injured in Canada and not be able to serve and get an education. And hockey is not paddycake handslaps. But that's just me. I guess if he wants to go to an academy so badly as to give up a full ride through AROTC then that's his choice. He has to decide - but if he's willing to play for the academies then I would think it gives him a big admission advantage as a recruit - I think you need to gage how much that recruit help is needed.
One data point: time: these young people are often committing to 8-10 years after graduating - pilots more like 10+ right between when they eventually start flight school and complete their service. Would I add another 2 years on that? Not if I could help it.
Good luck to your son and family.
Accept the scholarship and keep your options open.
To that end, however, the notion of playing competitive, essentially semi-pro hockey for 1-2 years as a ticket to a military officer career path seems like a bad risk. YMMV, but my recollection of hockey is that it was, probably still is, an extremely violent sport with a very high injury rate.
A serious hockey injury could end your son's military aspirations. That seems like a non-trivial possibility.
Is it worth it?
To that end, however, the notion of playing competitive, essentially semi-pro hockey for 1-2 years as a ticket to a military officer career path seems like a bad risk. YMMV, but my recollection of hockey is that it was, probably still is, an extremely violent sport with a very high injury rate.
A serious hockey injury could end your son's military aspirations. That seems like a non-trivial possibility.
Is it worth it?
FrauTeufelshund
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2020
- Messages
- 288
I have a hockey player in the family as well so I can understand your son's desire to keep going with hockey. However, I would not bank on the juniors hockey route. How many come back from juniors after a year with a real taste of reality, as they suddenly are no longer the stars of their varsity teams and things don't look as rosy as they thought they would. Recruiters and coaches can say a lot but they say a lot to a lot of kids. His hockey career will likely will be a lot shorter than his officer career so he has to look past the next few years. If mine was in your shoes, I would def recommend he accept the ROTC scholarship and then turn that down if he gets appointed to a SA. Your son does not have to hang up his skates completely. I bet both academies and even his ROTC school probably have great club teams and if he is a stand out there, they D1 coaches of the SA will figure something out for him. Good luck to your son!
You pose some great questions to ask and that is the toughest part. The hockey coaches are not ready to offer him a commitment yet and even if they did you still have to reapply for nominations , DodMERB starts over...everything. The risk of injury is something to consider for sure and also the fact that they could change their mind - not having a commitment certainly makes this more risky. Even with a commitment you aren't secure because if the coaching staff changes all commitments are tossed. The academies do not take any players without at least one year of junior hockey so there is no way to play now. He really has a lot to consider and I think is just praying one of the academies will accept him so the decision will be made for him - even though giving up hockey will hurt...he wants to serve more. Hockey was always a means towards a great education so it would seem the smarter choice would be to fall back on the ROTC scholarships. I think he is just having a really tough dealing with then fact that hockey might be done when there is so much potential there. Guess we just wanted to know if those ROTC scholarships were binding. I think after reading today that most say they are not until the end of your freshman year. Would love for him to have just a few more months to consider. Thank you to all who took the time to reply
This is what I am saying and something so important to consider - especially hockey in Canada! Thanks for taking the time!
I appreciate your reply and it really is the smartest choice. We often ask the question about why hockey had to be so different from other sports but no looking back. It also really prevented him from having a super stand out application as there was literally no time for much else all these years. I think he might welcome a change of pace more than he knows. Appreciatively...
ok - thank you very much!
Thank you kindly
Thank you
Good question - it is the same situation - a commitment means nothing really as it is null and void of the coaching staff changes. However the one difference between the SA and a regular college or university is they will not let you age out. I have known many players committed to D1 schools that keep them in the juniors world, claiming they are not ready yet, and they age out - terribly sad. Again - in no way is our son placing hockey above going to the SA or ROTC - it would just be the ultimate dream to attend the SA and play.
