Transferring ROTC units

[mcchris72]

I am currently a freshman NROTC marine option midshipmen on the Fredrick C Branch Scholarship which is a lesser known NROTC scholarship which is only applicable to minority serving institutions. I currently now thoroughly enjoy the unit i was placed in however I strongly dislike the school and the atmosphere around it including the student body. My question now is how difficult would it be to obtain a side load NROTC marine option scholarship to be able to transfer to a different unit.

 

[AROTC-dad]

If you financially need the scholarship, you might try inquiring about transferring to another qualifying HBC college and using the FCB scholarship there. (Perhaps @kinnem, @NavyNOLA or @NavyHoops can confirm if this is even possible?)

Otherwise, you will need to give up the FCB scholarship (and the assurance of advanced standing), and transfer to another college, pay for tuition out of pocket and HOPE that you earn your way to a sideload or advanced standing.
Another angle would be to pursue PLC/OCS but that is even a lower percentage chance for commissioning, plus the cost of college would be on you.

You have a bird in the hand. There is risk of losing your commission opportunity if you transfer.

A final thought and this is just my opinion as a dad. I understand that you are not happy with the attitudes of the student body at your current school. All your life and especially as an officer, you will need to learn to deal with people from all walks of life who have different values and attitudes from you. Learn to maintain your principles while finding common ground. If you hang in there, find respite among your fellow mids, you will likely become a better officer in the long run by staying where you are.

 

[5Day]

Also, make sure you coordinate all of this with your NROTC unit, and keep documentation. You do not want to drop the scholarship and then not be allowed to pick up advanced standing or a scholarship at another school.

IMHO, college is supposed to be an environment that promotes learning and growth. Hard work, yes. Fun, yes. It also needs to be an environment where you feel comfortable. I totally agree with @AROTC-dad thoughts about have to deal with difficult situations, and that may be what you have to do to get that Navy commission. But, if you can, switch schools to one that is a better fit. It will make your college experience so much better. I hope @NavyNOLA can provide guidance on the possibility of transferring.

 

[NavyNOLA]

I am currently a freshman NROTC marine option midshipmen on the Fredrick C Branch Scholarship which is a lesser known NROTC scholarship which is only applicable to minority serving institutions. I currently now thoroughly enjoy the unit i was placed in however I strongly dislike the school and the atmosphere around it including the student body. My question now is how difficult would it be to obtain a side load NROTC marine option scholarship to be able to transfer to a different unit.

Well, you already have a scholarship, so applying for a side load is only possible if you drop the FCB scholarship. However, I can't imagine it would look too good to the selection board to see an applicant who dropped one scholarship to then try to pick up another. I don't know of anything that prevents you from trying that path, however.

You can also transfer the scholarship you have to a different HBCU/unit. That's a fairly simple process and would generally be started in the middle of the spring semester in order to be at the new unit/school by the fall.

I would recommend speaking to your MOI on this and being honest with them.

 

[AROTC-dad]

@NavyNOLA - Can you disclose the nationwide the number of applicants and awarded Marine Option side-loads that are projected for 2017? If I recall, the number is pretty small.

 

[NavyNOLA]

@NavyNOLA - Can you disclose the nationwide the number of applicants and awarded Marine Option side-loads that are projected for 2017? If I recall, the number is pretty small.

Looking at an average of the three most recent fiscal years, MCRC receives approximately 94 scholarship allocations per year, and they receive about 250 applications per year for their twice annual side load boards. Sophomores have had the highest selection rate, at about 45%. Interesting fact- of all those selected, typically about one quarter are seeking Marine Aviation...

The FY17 fall side load board was particularly brutal, though, and isn't very representative of other recent boards. They saw 136 packages and only selected 15 for scholarships. For whatever reason, authorized allocations were a lot lower than expected.

Projections for FY17 spring side load board:
Freshmen Side Load: 36
Sophomore Side Load: 12
Sophomore Advanced Standing: 12

 

[AROTC-dad]

Looking at an average of the three most recent fiscal years, MCRC receives approximately 94 scholarship allocations per year, and they receive about 250 applications per year for their twice annual side load boards. Sophomores have had the highest selection rate, at about 45%. Interesting fact- of all those selected, typically about one quarter are seeking Marine Aviation...

The FY17 fall side load board was particularly brutal, though, and isn't very representative of other recent boards. They saw 136 packages and only selected 15 for scholarships. For whatever reason, authorized allocations were a lot lower than expected.

Projections for FY17 spring side load board:
Freshmen Side Load: 36
Sophomore Side Load: 12
Sophomore Advanced Standing: 12

Yikes!! Fall 2017 side load: 15 selections out of 136 packages = 11% ratio!

So based on these stats, the OP really needs to think twice about dropping the FCB scholarship if funding is a critical component of his decision.

 

[Humey]

Not taking the issue of the scholarship and ROTC into consideration, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but If you dont like the school you are in and you can move, do so. While its only four years out of your life, there is no reason to be miserable and possibly not do well there. You should find a place will you will thrive as a person and as a student. If ROTC and scholarships are a big issue, then you may need to stay and work harder succeeding. The success there will help you achieve whatever you want for the rest of your life.

 

[kinnem]

Good comments above. Keep in mind you might find the general attitude of the student body and faculty to be the same at any institution. Since you don't comment on any specifics about that it is impossible to say. Given that you love the unit, I'd be willing to bet you could hang on and commission where you are.