Posted on Aug 25, 2022
Potential Recruit
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I voluntarily drop out of my university's Army ROTC program because of personal issues, basically breaking the contract. Can I still try to commission through OCS once I finish university? I am also in the national guard right now and had 4 years of active duty experience prior. Was in my 3rd year into the program before I dropped it.
Edited 3 y ago
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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SFC (Join to see) should know
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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The ARNG has a state OCS program that she should be able to commission through once she has her degree
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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Whether you can or not will depend upon a few factors. Starting with why and how you broke the contract. It seems there is more to unpackaged that would provide a clearer understanding of your situation. There are a couple of NCOs who will pop up and provide you with sound guidance.

The point from me is that you have created an issue where there may not have been one based on how and why you broke the contract.

Why are you listed as potential recruit and you have served?
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SGM Bill Frazer
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That could be tough-services do not like contract breakers- it doesn't show a good picture. Use to be that if you failed your contract, you could be inducted into the Army as enlisted.
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Can I still commission through OCS if I drop out of ROTC program?
Lt Col Aerospace Planner
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Edited 3 y ago
I suppose it depends on why you broke the contract, i.e. what they would consider hardship reasons. In the past if you resigned, you pretty much barred yourself from a future commission without a waiver process. TBH, I am surprised your unit's admissions officer and/or commander did not give you a counseling prior to signing paperwork that released you from you from your obligation. Usually they would explain whether or not you risk not being allowed back into another officer accessions program. Perhaps things have changed since I had been in school. I was under the impression in either my time in the Army ROTC as a non-contract cadet to being a contract cadet that the only straight forward no penalty release from a contract was due to medical, family hardship or entrance into a service academy.
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COL Jon Thompson
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Contact your State National Guard officer strength manager. They can let you know how OCS works for your state. As others have already stated here, you left out some key information. The first question I would ask is why did you break your contract with ROTC? That is a red flag for me. Are the reasons you broke the contract resolved or are they continuing? You want to be an officer but already demonstrated you cannot commit. So if the personal reasons you broke your contract still exist, why do you think OCS would be an easier route? That's my opinion but again, reach out to the officer strength manager to see what your options are. And I would add that if you want to be an officer and leader, you must make sure you are fully committed to those duties and responsibilities. Soldiers do not need an officer who is not committed to them and the unit.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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Are you a scholarship Cadet or just contracted because you are National Guard. You were prior service and started ROTC year one?
As far as I can find, resigning your ROTC contract has no penalty as long as you aren't a scholarship student. In your case, it looks like you are almost ready to complete you Military Obligation anyway.
A little more information would help. What year school are you currently? Were you a ROTC scholarship student? Were you on the SMP program? Are you looking to stay NG/Reserve or go back Active?
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CPT Staff Officer
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I guess a consideration is if there was any scholarship associated with your participation, or if you were using previously earned GI Bill funding and were basically just attending the program entirely on your funding means without additional funding being given for additional officer commitment obligations at graduation.
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