Scholars NROTC advice

[No1Fanof2]

DD received CGAS. She applied for the NROTC. She was accepted into her number 2 school Marquette. She also was awared scholarship money to Marquette, a good chunk. NROTC is for number 1 school which she was wait listed to. The reasonable thing to do is to change it over to her number 2 school.

No 2 school awards additional scholarship to NROTC students accepted into their engineering program, which she has been accepted into. Engineering is a five year program. It appears the internal scholarship award can be used along with NROTC award so possibly 5 th year may be covered. Have to verify this.

She has gotten over not having a direct appointment to CGA. Many other factors lean her towards CGA which I agree with. When people get awared direct appointment they usually have a plan B which can include another service academy, or Af/N/ ROTC in the wings. What do you suggest for a scholars appointee? DD is all for CGAS. Dad and I want to make sure she gets to Scholars Day in one piece and finishes through. When she signs on the dotted line at scholars she has a 1 year contract, so my thinking is to release the NROTC at that time? Report day is a month later than direct appointments. Will bubble wrap last until July 25th?

 

[NavyHoops]

Does she want to be in the Coast Guard or Navy? That is the bottom line question. What service does she self in?

 

[Physicsguru]

So let me see if I get this straight...you'd (or your DD) like her to accept the CGAS scholarship, spend a year at prep school, then decline a CGA appointment to try to win a 4 year NROTC scholarship? If so, I'd advise against that.

1. If she declines NROTC this year to take CGAS, she'll have to reapply into the NROTC program, as well as reapply to her transfer schools. Without having a crystal ball, you don't know if she'd get the NROTC scholarship, since it will be a whole new competitive cycle. Granted, she'd have CGA as a plan B, so at least she'd land on her feet.

2. If she does have to reapply for NROTC, it may not be for a 4-year scholarship, as she will have a year's worth of transfer credit from her prep school. They might require her to do the 3-year scholarship, or maybe even 2-year. You'd have to check with the NROTC program director to find out.

3. As you mentioned, engineering at Marquette will be a 5 year program. CGA engineering is a four year program. Should she take CGAS she'll get her degree in five years, have a CG commission, and be out in the fleet. If she jumps ship to Navy after the prep year, she may still have to do the full five years, depending on what math courses she takes at prep school.

3. From a moral standpoint, by taking CGAS for a year with the intention of going Navy, she's taking a prep slot from a candidate that wants Coast Guard. In addition, she'll be enlisted in the Coast Guard for a year getting pay and benefits with the intention of her going to CGA. Legally, she can do that, since once her enlistment contract is terminated she is a free agent, but (IMO) that rubs the wrong way.

My recommendation is for her to decide what service she wants to enter, and then go through that program. If she wants to be in the Coast Guard, grab CGAS and run! However, if she wants to be in the Navy/Marine Corps, then pick up the NROTC scholarship and excel!

Best of luck.

 

[NavyHoops]

I took it as she has two options:

CGAS or NROTC. It appears she has an NROTC to her #1 but is wait listed, but looking at transferring it to Marquette where she has many other scholarships. Maybe I read it wrong!

Bottom line, pick the service she wants.

 

[No1Fanof2]

Does she want to be in the Coast Guard or Navy? That is the bottom line question. What service does she self in?

Coast Guard is her number 1 choice. Her direct plans : serve in either branch as an officer, receive an education where it will be utilized, continue her advancement, have the ability to pursue a pilot slot, (pros and cons about fixed and helo she is ok with either). Her sport season is not over btw. Injuries happen. An Extra couple of weeks to heal up if that happens would keep her in the "game".

So let me see if I get this straight...you'd (or your DD) like her to accept the CGAS scholarship, spend a year at prep school, then decline a CGA appointment to try to win a 4 year NROTC scholarship? If so, I'd advise against that.

1. If she declines NROTC this year to take CGAS, she'll have to reapply into the NROTC program, as well as reapply to her transfer schools. Without having a crystal ball, you don't know if she'd get the NROTC scholarship, since it will be a whole new competitive cycle. Granted, she'd have CGA as a plan B, so at least she'd land on her feet.

2. If she does have to reapply for NROTC, it may not be for a 4-year scholarship, as she will have a year's worth of transfer credit from her prep school. They might require her to do the 3-year scholarship, or maybe even 2-year. You'd have to check with the NROTC program director to find out.

3. As you mentioned, engineering at Marquette will be a 5 year program. CGA engineering is a four year program. Should she take CGAS she'll get her degree in five years, have a CG commission, and be out in the fleet. If she jumps ship to Navy after the prep year, she may still have to do the full five years, depending on what math courses she takes at prep school.

3. From a moral standpoint, by taking CGAS for a year with the intention of going Navy, she's taking a prep slot from a candidate that wants Coast Guard. In addition, she'll be enlisted in the Coast Guard for a year getting pay and benefits with the intention of her going to CGA. Legally, she can do that, since once her enlistment contract is terminated she is a free agent, but (IMO) that rubs the wrong way.

My recommendation is for her to decide what service she wants to enter, and then go through that program. If she wants to be in the Coast Guard, grab CGAS and run! However, if she wants to be in the Navy/Marine Corps, then pick up the NROTC scholarship and excel!

Best of luck.

No she does not intend to take CGAS for a year to end up wanting the NROTC. It would be all or nothing. We would never agree to that. She wants CGA. She was going to pull her name from the NROTC pull back in Feb at the beginning of her season and we advised not to do that. We have seen players break an ankle before state walking their dog. We support her in her decision 100%. As her parents and knowing her season is not over. If she was injured with a non disqualifying injury. She may not be able to attend the scholars day and would lose her window for Marquette. May 1st is our deadline for Marquette. Also if she turns down the NROTC can this be awarded to someone else or is it a done deal if someone has already been declined the scholarship?

 

[NavyHoops]

She can accept NROTC. Get it transferred to Marquette. She won't lose that until she walks into the scholars program. Nothing wrong with that, tons of kids do this annually.

She wants to be a USCG officer, she has the golden ticket! Good luck!

 

[Physicsguru]

Ok, everything makes sense now. Best of luck to her. One last bit of advice, though. August in the south is hot hot hot! Keep in shape and get into the habit of drinking early and often.