What can I do to prevent the loss of a Federal Nurse Army ROTC Scholarship opportunity because my Reserve unit won't release me?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:12:34 -0400

I was awarded a Federal Nurse Army ROTC Scholarship, but my reserve unit won't release me? What should I do? This is something I've been working hard to get.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 29 at 2018 2:47 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:47:18 -0400

Purely as a thought, you might go to your Congress reps and ask them to try to intercede, mind you that's just a thought...from what I've ever observed, of you're given an educatoonal program of that sort, I've typically read that release is generally deemed in the best interest of a service, so quite honestly, on reading that, I'm as perplexed as you are, certainly. The other thought is you could go directly to the ROTC faculty and explain the circumstances to them, however, once again, that's only a suggestion, of course. If your unit has a documented need that's not your fault, where you'd be needed for a specific period of time, you could expressly ask the ROTC faculty to get you a postponement, since, obviously, you're not at fault, certainly, which doesn't entirely strike me as a totally unreasonable thing to ask for under the circumstances. I don't know, obviously if such a thing is even possible, or how long such a delay could be allowed for, if at all, that, to me, is where your Congress reps might be able to help you sort it out, they can't change rules, no Congress member can, obviously, all they can do is ask about problems, nothing more, however, I've typically observed, though that was of course a long time ago, that if someone had such a chance, I'd read of similar problems. As a case in point, in USAF, there's a PME program called Squadron Officers School (SOS), that is extremely hard to get a chance to attend in person, I'd read of instances of units holding someone back from going to their assigned date, due to work needs in someone's unit, and had actially read of units being told to let someone go, in such an instance. When I was at USAF OTS, I'd known many prior enlisted, from all svcs, who'd been attending when I was there, who'd been released from their units, in their svcs, to go, when the chance arose, so I've definitely known of similar instances, though, of course, rules change, needs of your unit may he paramount, however, I should think asking your Congress !e!nets, or the ROTC faculty to intercede with possibly USAR directly, to petition to have you released, even if that might have to go to some kind of review board, ought, of think, to certainly he something you could at least ask for as a respectful inquiry on your part, of nothing else, you know? I hope that helps, honest...as I said, I have zeromclue if it'd work, I was Army ROTC at first, of wanted to be on the clinical side, I went USAF OTS instead, as I'd mentioned, I of course wound up doing stuff thatt had zero to do with clinical, though God knows I tried, to no avail, unfortunately...I'd be most eager to hear more, all Congress me!nets need a Privacy Act release before they can do anything, so you'd need to submit that, I've found when my wife and I have asked for such help, before they'd even be able to start, however, I at least, think asking could certainly be worth the effort, you kmpw? I'd be most eager to hear morez and, as I'd said, I hope all that helps, honest, many thanks....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 29 at 2018 2:54 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:54:40 -0400

And by Congress reps, I'd !want both House as well as both Senators, of course, all of them have vet or svc !be case workers, in local offs, the DC offs only all do policy, not case work, trust me, that !much I've been told many, many times, also, you're gonna need to be really, really patient, and send the Congress member staff virtually everything, then just sit back and wait, it typically takes a fair while, tough you can explain that time would be important, due to your likely wanting to start in the fall, I'd expect. As for the ROTC faculty, you might also ask the vet svc rep at your schools, all colleges and universities have them, to see if they'd be able to possibly be of any help as well. As another thought, of there's a Nurse Corps management office that handles RPTC accessions, they're another thought that comes to mind, however, I'd very definitely start with he ROTC faculty and vet svc !be rep at your school, as well as the undergrad advisor, chair, and dean of nursing at your school, I'd go see all of them, and very definitely explain the whole thungz document itz WMD ask for any possible delays and/or postponements you might possibly be entitled to, just some other thoughts I'd figured might also help, OK?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 3:12 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 15:12:48 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I'm curious what your reserve unit means by they won't release you. There is no release just from a scholarship or ROTC contract. Are you trying to switch into a Nursing unit, is it the transfer they are holding up? When your submit your commissioning paperwork your unit doesn't get a say, if you intend on staying in the reserves you'll need a paragraph and line number for a nursing unit, and the ROTC people will work out your transfer, your unit won't have the ability to not release you. If you intend to go active duty there is no reserve unit paperwork at all.
Your scholarship is independent of your reserve responsibilities so I'm confused how you would lose your scholarship. Please fill in some of the details?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 29 at 2018 3:19 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 29 May 2018 15:19:01 -0400

Your reserve unit really doesn't have that authority. Use your commanders open door policy and go to the top. I've never heard of a unit denying a soldiers ROTC position. If that doesn't work, I would ask to talk to your commanders boss. Then I would start calling Congressmen and Senators.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 3:27 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 15:27:42 -0400

It seems like some of these units are worried more about their readiness or they have the crabs in the bucket mentality. The crabs in the bucket mentality is were one crab tries to crawl out and the other crabs pull him back in the water. During the middle of operation Iraqi freedom in mid 2004, I had no problem getting my Battalion Commander of a California Army National Guard armor units to sign off on me so I could join the Idaho Army National Guard and go volunteer with the 116th Cavalry Brigade to deploy to Iraq. You are doing something just as Noble as this. Not everybody gets to get an ROTC scholarship. My suggestion is, get documentation that you were refused to be released by your Battalion Commander or higher. Documented every step of the way that you were told no no no. I would then make an inspector general complaint. Inspector General probably side with the commander but usually if you've done every single step of the way you've documented it then try to go Congressional. I just spoke to someone on a plane yesterday and he had to get a congressional so he could leave at a certain unnamed branch. I don't know why the commanders at your level don't see the value of where you are going to go. You're going to be a commissioned medical officer after this so why not let you go?

Response by COL John McClellan made May 29 at 2018 5:03 PM

COL John McClellan — Tue, 29 May 2018 17:03:29 -0400

Have you spoken to your unit Cdr via Open Door policy?? If you must go outside the unit, have you applied and been accepted in a Nursing program at an ROTC-affiliated college? If so, contact that school and get the Scholarship officer (ROO or Recruiting Operations Officer) involved. If need be, this CPT or MAJ (usually) can get their boss (a LTC or COL) involved if the USAR unit blocking you are not following the rules. Good Luck!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 6:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 18:01:54 -0400

Look into the SImultaneous Member Program, where you can still be with that reserve unit and attend the ROTC program at the same time.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 29 at 2018 7:38 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 29 May 2018 19:38:01 -0400

Call your Congressman! Write a quick letter outlining the issue, then follow up with a phone call. They log the phone calls, but not all are turned into action items. If you write a letter, they are mandated by law to respond in 60-90 days (I think that is what it was when I was using them to help my sailors). A call from their office generally will open up any logjam! Congrats on the Scholarship!

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made May 29 at 2018 8:51 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Tue, 29 May 2018 20:51:01 -0400

It sounds like your Unit is stepping beyond the bounds of their authority,. See the IG.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made May 29 at 2018 11:50 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 29 May 2018 23:50:39 -0400

From the comments I’m reading it seem like you wanna be released and don’t have to be released. Your unit don’t have to release you. Do your time in your reserve unit or until they wil release you. If you are in school on scholarship then why you trying to get released now if you are going to be in school? Wait tol you are done with school to pick that fight!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2018 12:29 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 May 2018 00:29:37 -0400

If you are a contracted ROTC cadet you are no longer enlisted in USAR or ARNG. The only way you would have an obligation is if you were an SMP cadet but, if you are contracted you are not able to be an SMP. If you are contracted and have been awarded a scholarship i recomend talking to your PMS. However if your contract or scholarship is stll pending for such things as not passing an APFT or pending physical. You are still obligated to your enlistment.

Response by SGT Tim. Wilson made May 30 at 2018 8:01 AM

SGT Tim. Wilson — Wed, 30 May 2018 08:01:58 -0400

Visit a JAG office asap or the IT's office. Don't hold back and go for it do whatever it takes shy of desertion.

Response by COL David Turk made Jun 11 at 2018 9:12 AM

COL David Turk — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:12:52 -0400

So, what happen? Inquiring minds want to know.
I would give my two cents, but it’s very dated (like 35+ years), and therefore useless.

Response by LTC Stewart Stephenson made Jun 12 at 2018 12:34 PM

LTC Stewart Stephenson — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:34:56 -0400

Hi, SPC Gonzalez,

I'm wondering if you've made any progress on this.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jul 30 at 2018 11:34 AM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 11:34:47 -0400

Contact your Congressman.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 30 at 2018 12:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:23:39 -0400

Is the school and the reserve units in different locations?

Response by COL David Turk made Jul 13 at 2019 6:20 PM

COL David Turk — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 18:20:47 -0400

Again, what happen? Are you in school on that ROTC scholarship?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Feb 18 at 2021 12:36 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 12:36:06 -0500

So did you complete nursing school?