Can anyone offer any advice on college ROTC for a High School senior?

2014-08-13T23:25:30-04:00

My daughter is about to start her senior year in High School, and is interested in exploring ROTC scholarships/programs. Specifically, she is interested in public relations or civil affairs. Can anyone offer any advice on where to start (other than an ROTC recruiter) or anything else she might find helpful?

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 13 at 2014 11:27 PM

2014-08-13T23:27:54-04:00

I already got some great information from COL Randall C. on this one, so I'm looking to expand on that.

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Aug 13 at 2014 11:30 PM

2014-08-13T23:30:12-04:00

She may want to identify a couple schools she is interested in, and then talk to current students at that particular school. The school's admissions office should be able to connect her with someone. Or the school's ROTC Facebook page.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 13 at 2014 11:37 PM

2014-08-13T23:37:33-04:00

If she is angling for a scholarship, she needs to start the process now.

Response by COL Randall C. made Aug 14 at 2014 12:06 AM

2014-08-14T00:06:00-04:00

Does she know if she wants to go active duty or into the reserve component? Is she looking to 'synch' her degree with branch?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 14 at 2014 12:24 AM

2014-08-14T00:24:16-04:00

I have U of O experience, but it was back in the day. Let me know if you need it.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 12:24 AM

2014-08-14T00:24:24-04:00

First, I would find a school that she is interested in attending. Talk to the PMS and see what scholarships they have to offer. When I was enlisted, I called just about every school in the country that I was interested in. Texas Tech, Oregon, NC State, the list goes on. Some people will blow you off and some will help you out. That helped me figure out where I wanted to go for the next 3 years. Next, I would find a CA or Public Affairs unit closest to her. She could do SMP with that CA or Public Affairs Reserve unit while she is going through ROTC. I was an SMP Cadet with the 450th CA Bn (A). Civil Affairs is a career for officers who have already served PL and XO, and are usually looking at CPT. Another option available is that she can go to the National Guard. They pay a lot more for school than the reserves. They also have SMP, but no Civil Affairs. That may be a route to consider if she doesn't get a scholarship. Scholarships tend to be very competitive. I hope this helps.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Aug 14 at 2014 11:31 AM

2014-08-14T11:31:33-04:00

There are several schools in Texas that have good programs. UT is good for Naval ROTC and Texas A&M for the Army. Don't let her rule out some of the smaller schools. UT Arlington (when it was Arlington State) had a great ROTC program and frequently beat the bigger school in competition.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 11:52 AM

2014-08-14T11:52:32-04:00

SGT Hanner,
As a current ROTC Cadet I can say it is an incredible experience. If she is able to get a scholarship there is no better deal. However from what I've heard it is getting very difficult to get a scholarship so I would suggest completing all scholarship requirements ASAP and reaching out to PMS's and schools she is interested in. PMS's have a huge role in the scholarship department. If you/her have any questions for a current cadet please feel free to contact me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 12:16 PM

2014-08-14T12:16:01-04:00

Explore all your options. APPLY FOR NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS NOW! Rank the schools you want. Call the schools that you are interested in attending and build a rapport with the Recruiting Officer. Sometimes, knowing the PMS helps, but what the Enrollment and Scholarship Officer tells the PMS is going to out weigh what the PMS learns just from you.

Choose your major wisely. Cadet Command is getting tired of handing out money to cadets and having cadets change their major and having to add another 1-2 years onto their contract. Now, Cadet Command is saying 'hey you said you would be done in 4years... its going to take you 6? Looks like you better find money for tuition...'

Now, some schools have better scholarships, and some majors get preference.

Best advice I can give you... Go to the college you are interested in attending and meet with the Enrollment and scholarship officer, ROO... Whatever they are calling themselves at that school (Ours goes by two different things ha)

I just commissioned through an ROTC program. I was a two year scholarship because I was enlisted prior to. If your daughter is interested in Public or Civil Affairs than AG is the route to go. (Those are my goals) PA, and CA are Captain slots, so it will take time to make it through the ranks, and it is competitive but very possible.

ROTC recruiters are not like regular Army Recruiters (at least at our school, we arent) she needs to gather the information and make an educated decision.

And, depending on what your daughter wants to get for tuition assistance enlisting may be an option for her. If she completes basic training and AIT she would qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance which is 4500/year, then she would also have her GI bill, qualify for an addition kicker through ROTC which is 350 on top of the kicker and then a stipend through ROTC. Each year it goes up. 300-500 bucks (thats on top of GI Bill, drill check etc) If enlisted and contracted your daughter would get paid as an E5. Some states also offer state tuition reimbursement, which is paid to the student at the end of the semester. so whatever FTA doesnt cover STR would pick up the difference.

Each school only has so many scholarships available.

I just puked out a lot of information, but the best thing is for her to go talk to a ROTC Enrollment Officer at the college she is looking to attend, and APPLY for a scholarship.

I have the step by step process for applying for a scholarship at goarmy.com... If you want it I can email it to you.

Response by CPT Anthony M. made Aug 14 at 2014 12:35 PM

2014-08-14T12:35:33-04:00

For the Bell County, TX area, specifically Fort Hood-Killeen-Copperas Cover-Harker Heights areas, the Texas A&M University-Central Texas (TAMUCT) ROTC is not only a convenient but also an excellent program. TAMUCT has a brand new campus in the Killeen area, and the ROTC program there offers scholarships that enable students to complete their degree plan of choice along with a Military Science curriculum and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant into the United States Army.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 12:45 PM

2014-08-14T12:45:52-04:00

I'm looking at her goals, specifically her chosen career fields. Civil Affairs is not an accessions branch, meaning she could not commission as a 2LT as CA. In order to go CA, she has to minimally be awarded a basic branch and eligible to attend Captain's Career Course.
If CA is her goal, I would recommend enlisting as CA, going in as an SMP Cadet - after all, maybe she gets a scholarship, maybe not; this way she will have GI Bill and Tuition Assistance to at least partially defray college costs while competing for a scholarship. This would have the added advantage of allowing her to gain some experience as CA before later coming over to the branch and most likely made a Team Leader.
Once she commissions, my advice would be to get at least PL/ Staff time, preferably XO or Company Command prior to re-branching to CA. That keeps her competitive for MAJ whether CA works out for her or not.
A degree in Public Relations would serve her well in several career fields, both civilian and military.
The key for her is to keep options open that help her attain her goals whether or not things less in her control (like scholarships) go the way she plans.

SGT Richard H., If you'd like to discuss this deeper, feel free to reach out directly to me. I actually work this exact job as a civilian in my CA unit in Minnesota.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-08-14T13:13:54-04:00

She should consider one of the six senior military colleges. Personally I am biased towards VMI, but they are all great. With the cutting back in the number of active duty officers, one of these schools would be her best shot.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 2:40 PM

2014-08-14T14:40:40-04:00

IMO, research the college and its program to see if that's where your daughter wants to study. That is the top priority. Talking to the faculty and current students is also a good way to "feel" what the college or the program is like beside establishing networking.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 4:38 PM

2014-12-28T16:38:46-05:00

She needs to thoroughly research the ROTC program she is interested in.
Is she more interested in her college grades or being in the military.

Questions to ask would be
How many days of PT do your cadets do a week? (2-3 is good, if more that will eat into your school time.)
How many lab hours in a week? ( usually it should be 2-3) but some times they like to do FTX on Saturday complete with landnav and staying until Sunday. (Could eat into your paper writing and studying time).

More specifically she should speak to female cadets at least 3 of them from various year groups. I'm only saying this because I went to a really large Army ROTC programs that was really heavy in the men department. I would advise her to research Air Force ROTC programs not Army.

Unfortunately I found out too late that I didn't like ROTC a whole lot. And by then my grades had suffered.