The Future of ROTC...

[Pima]

I agree sprog, I only pointed this out because for some their parents might be like the millions of Americans without health insurance. As an example, my niece has always had her health insurance through the school's program. Her mom is single and can't afford the family plan offered, instead they buy the school plan every yr and hope that she doesn't get sick or injured in the summer.

We are on Tri-Care(retiree), and were informed in May our DS was being dropped(medical, vision and dental) because he was no longer in school. We at the same time received a letter for DS2 stating we must provide proof of college enrollment for him or he would be dropped. It is their deal...in school and up to 23, they are on our plan. 18 and not in school, they are not. That wasn't a shocker because for the last 4 yrs Bullet has had to send in the bursar's bill 2x a yr for proof.

We did not investigate if DS could stay on because the cost for him to be in Tri-Care on his own is very minimal, so we told him to do it now out of fear that he would somehow get caught in Tri-Care red tape. Basically said consider this your R & B...trust me he is getting off cheap when you think about how much a 22 yo can eat in one day, even when they are at work for 9 hrs a day! That is before discussing the maid/laundry service I provide

 

[sprog]

I agree sprog, I only pointed this out because for some their parents might be like the millions of Americans without health insurance.

True. Hopefully this will be less of an issue in the near future.

My folks had BCBS through their respective employers. In '99, I was booted after college (age 21). I had a few months of nada, which was scary. I went to Tricare shortly thereafter when I reported on AD.

It's nice to know that for people in a similar situation as I was 13 years ago, there is now an option to stay with mom and dad's plan (if mom or dad have a plan, of course).

 

[Pima]

That's the thing...IF

I know 2 of DS's friends that commissioned HAD to take Tri-Care because the folks have no health insurance. It happens more than people think.

I was just saying that the one beauty for commissioned grads is Tri-Care, it is also another cost they must put into their credit/debit balance sheet.

Something that was missed, and should be addressed in jchaff1134's post was:

My main worry wasn't being put into IRR, but being put into IRR for more than a couple of years or worse yet the Army parting ways with me altogether.

Being separated can happen and it does happen. Look up gojira's post. Not only was her DS separated 6 weeks prior to commissioning, but he now owes 143K to the Navy for his scholarship. The fine print says pay back or enlist, it wasn't as if he was unwilling to enlist, the Navy decided they had enough enlisted troops, and thus, he was on the hook for 143K.

AFROTC has done this too. The worse part is not being separated, it is being handed a bill in the 6 figures after 4 yrs. Too many applicants gloss over the fine print when they get that CONGRATS letter. You sign your name, you are acknowledging that this may an option at THEIR discretion.

Read the fine print, absorb what they are saying, because once you sign, you agreed to it.

Especially the part where it says you have a 1 yr out option in ROTC...after freshmen yr you are on the hook.

4 yrs from now the manpower needs will not look like today, what will be the same is the fine print. Most likely 4 yrs from now, if I was a betting woman, would be you will serve enlisted from a Gojira's scenario, not pay back 143K. You at 17 may say "I am fine with that", but trust me, when you have to live on enlisted paycheck for yrs., that fine with that is not how you will feel come the 12th and the 28th of every month.

I am not trying to offend enlisted, I am trying to highlight that they are grossly underpaid. I am trying to make sure you don't confuse accepting the scholarship, with the "I agree" to terms on a web page. Let's be real, how many of us read the terms before we hit the "I agree"? It is like a car loan, they hand us 5 pages of legal documents, we say to the sales person, Yeah, yadda, yadda, yadda, I get it, and we than sign our financial life away. Big difference is you are signing your financial and personal life away when you sign that scholarship. The military owns you, you can pay for an attorney like Gojira, but that doesn't mean you will win, again like Gojira.

 

[nick4060]

Like Nick, our DS is at home currently

I was one of the lucky ones who found a job after commissioning. So I didn't have to move back home like a lot of guys. That definitely made my parents happy

1. Health insurance...they do allow newly minted grads to enroll into Tri-Care, but it is similar to the retiree system, you do not take priority at base hospitals. You also need to check if your current doc accepts Tri-Care.

I was also one of the guys who had to enroll in the healthcare plan they offered, since my dad's plan no longer covered me once I graduated. I will say for anyone who has the option to stay on their previous healthcare after commissioning - do it!

This thing they offer isn't much. Its direct care only so I have to go to the nearest MTF for treatment. Everything else is out-of-pocket. I was flat out told only to use it for emergencies and not to schedule any routine doctor visits until after entering active duty (when I can enroll in TRICARE Prime).

Anyways, back to the OP's question. If the sequestration were to occur, I'd say its likely they would cut the number of Lts being taken on AD. That is, unless congress were to pass something that would specifically exempt military personnel levels, pay and benefits from the cuts (which i've read is a possibility).

All this stuff is out of our hands so there's no point in getting worried about it. Just have a backup plan, like others have suggested and hope for the best. And keep in close contact with your cadre. Try to get as much info as you can about what HQ is telling them about future plans.

 

[NorwichDad]

Some more costs to consider

For some assignments such as IBOLC for my son at Fort Benning you may need to get an apartment and a car. There is a stipend where the Army covers off base housing but... You need a car(one that is reliable...cant miss PT). Cars need insurance. Apartments require deposit. Some need furniture and other essentials. There are up front costs. Make sure you can cover those as you get near the time to report.

 

[Pima]

We are wandering off topic, but I agree with NorwichDad.

It is important to understand you will never be a millionaire in the military. It is important to understand that every time you move you will incur costs, and for the 1st move it could be thousands of dollars. Have you looked at the DFAS pay chart...2828.40 is base pay for an O1...start doing the math, take college loans, max USAA, add in car insurance, credit cards, cell phones, minus federal and state taxes, plus life insurance, it is not @3K a month, it is more like 1K.

Back on topic, Nick has it right IMPO.

All of this stuff is out of your hands. More importantly, you have 2 yrs before this is an issue. Pay attention to what you can control. In 2 yrs when you are going to be commissioned we will all walk you through the health insurance, USAA loan plans.

 

[jchaff1134]

Thank you all so much for the invaluable information. You're right; at the end of the day, not much I can do but ride it out and have a backup plan. But, I've always been one for getting the full picture and you have given me as much as one as you could (and some great advice on forming a Plan B, especially with insurance and the like). Thanks again for the advice, opinions, and info everyone.