The Adventure Begins

kinnem said:
Yeah, knew it was LDAC but I didn't know if there is a selection process (ie. some might not attend) or if one can fail out at LDAC...

I agree with Clarkson... relax and have fun! I expect the people he's meeting with will have more fun as a result. And when everyone is having fun good things happen!
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Good points about LDAC. I guess I just "assumed" everyone that was a rising senior would participate. I'll definitely make sure DS clarifies, because we all know what happens when one "assumes".

I needed the reminder about having fun. I'm so excited for my son, but I have a tendency to get very intense (my husband does, too). The last thing I want to do is stress him out. Luckily, he's a pretty laid back kid.
 
EDelahanty said:
If your son is interested in summer programs such as CULP or Airborne School and Air Assault School, he may want to ask the following:

1) How many from your school typically attend these programs every year?
2) Do contracted freshmen get to attend?

Make sure he turns his cell phone off before the interview (unless he's got a really cool ringtone - always an icebreaker)

[I wouldn't have repeated Clarkson's questions, but got distracted by the phrase "cool ringtones" and lost precious minutes]
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Oh look! A squirrel! :biggrin:
 
Future2LtMom said:
I just want to make sure I'm clear on something you said - when you suggested asking if contracted freshman get to attend one of these courses, you meant that if DS is awarded a scholarship he will have to contract the summer before his sophomore year, correct? Therefore, if that's the case, he may be able to attend one of these courses the same summer he contracts, right?
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If he's awarded a 4 year scholarship out of high school, he would want to contract as early as possible in his freshman year. The scholarship (tuition or R&B) isn't funded and the monthly stipend does not begin until the cadet is contracted. The main cause I've seen for a delay is failure to pass the APFT. Many MS1s fail the first test, believe it or not; and some never pass it and forfeit the scholarship.

If he's awarded a 3 year advance scholarship out of high school (beginning the second year), or is awarded a 3 year scholarship during the MS1 year, it may be possible to contract before the beginning of the MS2 year. I'm not sure of that though. If someone on this board can't verify that, it would be another question worth asking.

Regarding timing, CULP applications and recommendations are due in the fall. The other activities are scheduled in the spring.
 
EDelahanty said:
If he's awarded a 4 year scholarship out of high school, he would want to contract as early as possible in his freshman year. The scholarship (tuition or R&B) isn't funded and the monthly stipend does not begin until the cadet is contracted. The main cause I've seen for a delay is failure to pass the APFT. Many MS1s fail the first test, believe it or not; and some never pass it and forfeit the scholarship.

If he's awarded a 3 year advance scholarship out of high school (beginning the second year), or is awarded a 3 year scholarship during the MS1 year, it may be possible to contract before the beginning of the MS2 year. I'm not sure of that though. If someone on this board can't verify that, it would be another question worth asking.

Regarding timing, CULP applications and recommendations are due in the fall. The other activities are scheduled in the spring.
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Ohhhhh, ok! I was definitely under the wrong impression. Somehow, I thought that even if they got a 4-yr. scholarship, they didn't have to contract until the summer before their sophomore year. But, obviously, it makes sense that the government isn't going to release any funds to a freshman without them having signed on the dotted line to Uncle Sam!
 
You should look into overnight visits. I know schools like The Citadel and Norwich do that. Also, remember that the AROTC Scholarship has him choose up to 7 or 8 schools (cant remember). If he has certain schools in mind you may want to make they are on the list. Schools may have an ROTC program that requires them to attend classes off campus. If that is the case then they wont be on the scholarship list (Case in point-my daughter liked Winthrop in Rock Hill SC but their cadets attend ROTC classes at UNC so Winthrop was not on the school list). Also, the application requires that you have a certain mix of public and private funded schools. Here is a general list of what the application entails:
1- general application that indicates gpa, test scores, activities, personal statement and the all important school choice etc(looking for whether you are qualified)
2-guidance counselor confirmation of activities for senior year
3-complete junior year transcript
4-results of presidential challenge (situps, pushups and 1 mile run judged and scored by either PE teacher or JROTC )
5-Interview (once all other portions are completed and accepted your status will change to qualified for interview). Suggestions are to try and get this at your first choice school. My daughter interviewed at North Georgia
6- Then the waiting begins. My daughter was finished with her application by July 2012. The first board is not till October and they typically take the best of the best. There are two more boards after that I think Jan and March
7- Also dont let the medical thing scare you. A physical is not reqd until a scholarship is offered.
Good luck!
 
Future2LtMom said:
Ohhhhh, ok! I was definitely under the wrong impression. Somehow, I thought that even if they got a 4-yr. scholarship, they didn't have to contract until the summer before their sophomore year. But, obviously, it makes sense that the government isn't going to release any funds to a freshman without them having signed on the dotted line to Uncle Sam!
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Contracted AROTC cadets can quit the program without further obligation, financial or otherwise, up to the beginning of the MS2 year. Possibly this is what you were concerned about. I know I refused to believe Cadet Delahanty when he first told me this.
 
EDelahanty said:
Contracted AROTC cadets can quit the program without further obligation, financial or otherwise, up to the beginning of the MS2 year.
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Wow, that's a subtle, but distinct and importance difference. So, if he's awarded a 4yr scholarship, he will contract ASAP in order to get the funds, but he can still back out without obligation up through the beginning of his sophomore year, right? I think that's more than fair.
 
Future2LtMom said:
Wow, that's a subtle, but distinct and importance difference. So, if he's awarded a 4yr scholarship, he will contract ASAP in order to get the funds, but he can still back out without obligation up through the beginning of his sophomore year, right? I think that's more than fair.
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Cadets at USMA and Mids at USNA have up to two years to change their minds.
 
Future2LtMom said:
he can still back out without obligation up through the beginning of his sophomore year, right?
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almost correct. He can back out at the end of summer after MSI year. If he reports to his duty station (the first ROTC PT, Lab, Class or meeting of the year), then he has started his MSII year, and the repayment obligation begins at that moment.
 
dunninla said:
almost correct. He can back out at the end of summer after MSI year. If he reports to his duty station (the first ROTC PT, Lab, Class or meeting of the year), then he has started his MSII year, and the repayment obligation begins at that moment.
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Gotcha! Thanks!
 
An Update

Well, DS had his first interaction with the cadre yesterday and went on his first campus tour. He was supposed to have spoken with a Lt. Col., but ended up getting handed off to a Lt. that was under the Lt. Col. who basically handles the same things as the senior officer. DS felt the meeting went well and was kinda surprised the Lt. didn't sneak in some "interview type" questions (i.e. Why do you want to be an officer? Why do you want to serve in the Army? etc.) The closest he came to those types of questions was "Why do you want to go to this school?" and "Are you looking at any other schools?". DS asked him a boatload of questions and the officer spent time with him answering everything. He spent about 30-40min. with him. There was one question my son either didn't ask properly or the Lt. misunderstood the question (I have the feeling it was my son that messed up). He was supposed to have asked how many scholarships on average they give out each year. The answer was 30! I know that can't be right. There are about 180 in the battalion. I betcha the officer meant there were 30 kids in the battalion on scholarship. Even then, that's an average of about 7 per year. That still seems high to me. I would have figured only about 3 per year. My son REALLY liked the school. He liked that it was like a small city unto itself and had so many great amenities for the students (you should have seen the gym!). They have even brought in a ferris wheel and ice skating rink for the holiday season(we're in Florida)! I think we only have 4 campus visits left to go! I'm definitely wearing more sensible shoes next time! :biggrin:
 
Future2LtMom said:
Well, DS had his first interaction with the cadre yesterday and went on his first campus tour. He was supposed to have spoken with a Lt. Col., but ended up getting handed off to a Lt. that was under the Lt. Col. who basically handles the same things as the senior officer. DS felt the meeting went well and was kinda surprised the Lt. didn't sneak in some "interview type" questions (i.e. Why do you want to be an officer? Why do you want to serve in the Army? etc.) The closest he came to those types of questions was "Why do you want to go to this school?" and "Are you looking at any other schools?". DS asked him a boatload of questions and the officer spent time with him answering everything. He spent about 30-40min. with him. There was one question my son either didn't ask properly or the Lt. misunderstood the question (I have the feeling it was my son that messed up). He was supposed to have asked how many scholarships on average they give out each year. The answer was 30! I know that can't be right. There are about 180 in the battalion. I betcha the officer meant there were 30 kids in the battalion on scholarship. Even then, that's an average of about 7 per year. That still seems high to me. I would have figured only about 3 per year. My son REALLY liked the school. He liked that it was like a small city unto itself and had so many great amenities for the students (you should have seen the gym!). They have even brought in a ferris wheel and ice skating rink for the holiday season(we're in Florida)! I think we only have 4 campus visits left to go! I'm definitely wearing more sensible shoes next time! :biggrin:
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LOL about the sensible shoes! Yes one does do a of of walking around on these things.

~30 may not be out of the question. With a battalion that size I bet they initially have ~70-80 incoming freshman. That would put less than half on scholarship so it's not totally unreasonable to me anyway.
 
Your probably right in your assumption that the 30 scholarships were battalion wide. Not every scholarship is from the National Board. The battalions can award campus scholarships to cadets, 3.5, 3, and 2 year. A class may start out with only 1 or 2 scholarship cadets but end up with 3 times that number by the junior year.

The LT that talked with your son was probably what they call a Gold Bar Recruiter. This is usually a new LT that graduated from the school last year and is working with the battalion until their BOLC date starts. The LT will usually not ask any of the interview type questions, their main job is to answer questions about the school and battalion, sounds like he did a great job, glad your son had a good visit.
 
My DS battalion has total 114 cadets, 34 in the freshman class. Only 6 of the new class are college programmers, the remaining 28 are on scholarship. We were actually told this at the Parent Orientation. It sounds like it can vary widely by school.
 
jiller59 said:
My DS battalion has total 114 cadets, 34 in the freshman class. Only 6 of the new class are college programmers, the remaining 28 are on scholarship. We were actually told this at the Parent Orientation. It sounds like it can vary widely by school.
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Sounds about right for the Navy since there are far fewer schools that have NROTC. The OP is speaking in regards to the Army ROTC, AROTC has a larger number of participating schools so the scholarship numbers are usually less at each school.
 
Oh, ok. I was getting kinda excited for minute thinking there could be several more scholarships awarded than what I originally thought. Ultimately, though, its neither here nor there for DS. He'll just have to apply and see what happens (and may the force be with him!).
 
jiller59 said:
My DS battalion has total 114 cadets, 34 in the freshman class. Only 6 of the new class are college programmers
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I think you mean midshipmen, correct? That is what I infer from your signoff below your name that lists NROTC.

There is a HUGE difference in the way NROTC (your DS) and AROTC/AFROTC deal with the non-scholarship cadet recruitment. The majority (let's say 80%) of MSI AROTC cadets are NOT on scholarship. AROTC Battalions have strong on-campus recruitment programs designed to get freshmen students to "try out" ROTC. As far as AFROTC, I don't think they have the same "try us out" emphasis of AROTC, but from posts I've read here, more than half of AFROTC cadets are not on scholarship, though I don't know this from any source or experience... just what I've read here.
 
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