<p>Okay, So I have recently received an AROTC Scholarship and would like to accept it. However, I do not know if joining the military is for me. How long do I have to make this decision? Do I have to do this by the end of my Freshmen or Sophomore year at college after accepting the Scholarship so I do not owe the Army money?</p>
<p>Did you think the military was for you when you applied?<br>
I can tell you that ROTC is a big committment during the college years. You should not do it if you are just in it for the scholarship money. You will be unhappy.</p>
<p>I know that Navy ROTC gives you the option to quit after freshman yr. with no obligation.
Once soph. yr begins you are committed in NROTC.</p>
<p>The AROTC website says all scholarship recipients who accept the scholarship are required to serve four years active duty. It does not mention being able to drop out of ROTC with no obligation at any time if you are on scholarship.</p>
<p>You should contact your recruiter with your questions to be certain.</p>
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<p>Careful about that. I have heard they are not the most reliable people for information.</p>
<p>Read the contract. See if it gives you an out.</p>
<p>You could also call an AROTC unit at at the college to which you have been assigned and ask to speak to one of the officers.</p>
<p>“Taking The King’s shilling” means you have acknowledged an obligation. If you’re not sure, don’t. You can join a ROTC unit for your first two years of college and so long as you do not take their $$ you can quit with no obligation.</p>
<p>I don’t suggest talking to a recruiter about rotc scholarships. They will generally try to talk you out of it and get you to join the Guard/Reserve and take one of those scholarships instead. They aren’t as good a deal. You can talk to an officer at the school that offered you the scholarship, but it will look very bad if you sound like you might go a year and then quit. They want to give the scholarships to those who will stay in, obviously. You might try asking your question on the forums here: [Army</a> Community Center](<a href=“US Army News, Army Pay and Fitness Resources”>US Army News, Army Pay and Fitness Resources)</p>
<p>By recruiter, I don’t mean the ones who work in high schools and store fronts trying to recruit enlisted personel. I am talking about the one who helped the OP thrugh the ROTC process. </p>
<p>When S1 was going through the NROTC process, there was a CPO who worked with him through the entire process assuring that he got everything in on time, answered all his questions, set up his interview and came to his high sch. to present him with the ROTC scholarship on awards night. These recruiters are especially for ROTC candidates. They do not try to get them to enlist. They are recruiting Officers.</p>