| Are you a candidate for ROTC? |
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Many people are unaware that the military is a source of financial aid. Military financial aid programs do not consider need but are either a payment for training or a reward for service. This money (about $1 billion each year) is by far the largest source of college money that is not based on need.
Officer Training Candidates One form of military financial aid is college money for officer candidates: tuition assistance and monthly pay in return for the student's promise to serve as an officer in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps. Most of this money is awarded to high school seniors who go directly to college. The main benefits are reduced or free tuition and $100 to $150 per month if the student is enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). ROTC units are located on college campuses and provide military training for a few hours a week. By participating in ROTC, you not only can become an officer but also can become eligible for financial aid. The military trains you to become an officer and pays you to learn at the same time. The predominant way for you to become a military officer is through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. The Army, Navy, and Air Force offer ROTC, while students taking the Marine Corps option participate in Naval ROTC. The Coast Guard and Merchant Marine do not sponsor ROTC programs. Life of an ROTC Student Each service that has an ROTC program signs an agreement with a number of colleges to host a unit on their campuses. Each of these units has a commanding officer supervising a staff of active-duty officers and enlisted servicemembers who conduct the military training. This instruction includes regular class periods in which military science is taught, as well as longer drill sessions in which you concentrate on developing leadership qualities through participation in military formations, physical fitness routines, and field exercises. As a member of an ROTC unit, you are a part-time cadet or midshipman. You are required to wear a uniform and adhere to military discipline when you attend an ROTC class or drill, but not at other times. Most of the time, you will enjoy the same lifestyle as a typical college student, since this involvement averages only about 4 hours per week. You must remember, however, that you are being trained to become an officer when you graduate. You therefore will have a number of additional obligations and responsibilities. Getting an ROTC Scholarship The major source of ROTC scholarships is the four-year tuition scholarship program. Four-year scholarships are awarded to high school seniors on the basis of a national competition. Each year, more than 4,000 winners are selected from about 25,000 applicants. Recipients of four-year Army, Air Force, and Naval ROTC scholarships may attend either a host college or an approved cross-enrollment college. In return for an Army ROTC scholarship, you must serve eight years in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard or a combination thereof. For scholarships from other services, four years' active duty service is required. Should you decide to try for a four-year ROTC scholarship, it is important that you apply to a college to which you can bring an ROTC scholarship. Because you may not be accepted at your first choice, it is a good idea to apply to more than one college with an ROTC affiliation. In the case of Army and Air Force ROTC scholarships, both of which may require you to major in a specified area, you also need to be admitted to the particular program for which the scholarship is offered. For example, if you win an Air Force ROTC scholarship designated for an engineering major, you must be accepted into the engineering program as well as to the college. CHECKLIST How can I participate in ROTC? · As a winner of a four-year scholarship (or, in some cases, a three-year award) for high school seniors. · As a recipient of a two- or three-year scholarship for ROTC members who are not initially on scholarship. · By receiving an in-college scholarship (usually for two years) designated for students who have not yet joined an ROTC unit. · As a nonscholarship student. You are a typical ROTC scholarship winner if you: · Follow a curriculum that includes 4 years of English, 4 years of math, 3 or 4 years of a foreign language, 2 years of laboratory science, and 2 years of history - with some of the courses at the honors level. · Maintain a B+ average and rank in the top 15 percent of your class. · Received SAT I scores over 600 in both the verbal and math sections. Or received an ACT composite score of 28 or better. · Are a member of the National Honor Society. · Hold an office in student government. · Are active in varsity athletics. Are one of the top all-around students in your class and make a positive contribution to both your school and community. |
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