How hard is it to get contracted by ROTC as a Reservist in graduate school?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:18:15 -0400

I am an Army reservist with over 11 months active duty from an overseas tour. I am about to enter my senior year of university and will begin applying to graduate schools this year. I am also interested in commissioning through ROTC mainly because it will give me a chance to pursue my Masters at the same time and without breaks, so OCS is my plan b at this point. My question is how likely is it for me to get contracted by ROTC if I am in the reserves? I am not interested in scholarship. Id be glad with SMP non-scholarship since I use my GI Bill.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2020 1:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:20:08 -0400

You can do ROTC in graduate school. You’d just have to do the junior and senior level courses during grad school.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2020 1:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:21:38 -0400

Also, don’t use your GI Bill unless you have three years of active service if you’re trying to get the full amount covered. You’ll barely have 60% covered.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 3 at 2020 1:30 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:30:03 -0400

Recommend you walk in with a list of questions and ask them. That is what the ROTC staff is there for.

It's not like randomly wandering into a Recruiter's office.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2020 2:20 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 14:20:56 -0400

It is possible, but not 100% a sure thing.

It will be up to your Universities Host Institution mission, the availability of contracts, your ability to start the process of getting contracted the semester (Spring) before you start your two year masters program and of course getting accepted early in the masters program.

Your reserve prior service will garner you the basic course, and ensure you don’t have to attend a Basic Course over the summer so that is a bonus.

Last thing to co sister is, though a host institution doesn’t have contracts, or codes contracts for masters students, you can still ask for a waiver to the Brigade for an above the line contract or attend another host institution that has some space.

Start early and you will find your goals met-wait at your own peril!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2020 3:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 15:31:28 -0400

Very easy

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made May 4 at 2020 12:02 AM

1LT Kevin Chapman — Mon, 04 May 2020 00:02:17 -0400

It’s not hard at all. The hardest part is getting academically aligned with the ROTC program and your classification. SMP is definitely the way to go, I’ve been SMP for a little over a year and I commission this week.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made May 5 at 2020 11:09 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Tue, 05 May 2020 11:09:29 -0400

If you meet all the qualifications, contracting should be easy. You can do a Masters Degree as an ROTC cadet, especially since your initial entry training to the Army can provide credit for the first two years of ROTC classes. Since the commissioning requirement is having a Bachelor degree, you would commission upon completion of the ROTC curriculum and not on completion of the Masters. Your next step would be to go speak with the program at the school you plan on attending and talk with them. Good luck.