<p>I was just wondering how this option would really work for paying tuition. Is it worth it? How competitive are the large scholarships? I've researched some info and am confused about the commitment. Some time is spent in active duty yet students can choose to go towards the reserve or national guard? Can someone clear this up for me? thanks.</p>
<p>My nephew is in the Air Force reserves. He went to regular basic training for 8 weeks (I( think it was 8) in Texas, and he works at an Air Force Base one weekend a month and two weeks every summer. He receives a monthly stipend and tuition benefits -- it is a great deal (check out the Reserves). However, keep in mind that Reserve units have been known to be called to Iraq and that if you owe Uncle Sam active duty at the end of your schooling, then you too may be spending time in Iraq. Or God only knows where in 2014. My nephew also received a signing bonus for his chosen occuopation of munitions.</p>
<p>It is only worth it if you have a genuine desire to serve your country.</p>
<p>So what is the amount of time for active duty if you would want to spend the majority of time in Reserves? And when is the active duty served so that it does not interfere with school? Do they wait till after you graduate?</p>
<p>6 years active reserve (one weekend a month and two weeks a year), 2 years inactive reserve (don't have to drill)</p>
<p>The reserves or national guard is a good way to pay for school and have money in your pocket. You get almost all the benefits of being on active duty, but only have to deal with it two days a month.</p>
<p>How often do they send troops out for combat? Do you guys think it will lessen since they claim that the troops will be sent out or decreased by 2011?</p>
<p>Have no idea...only the military knows. Try United</a> States Military Information has a lot of good information there.</p>
<p>Let's separate the questions. ROTC is VERY different than enlisting (especially in the reserves/guard).</p>
<p>Education benefits from the military are very nice, but they are only worth it if you want to be in the military.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I was just wondering how this option would really work for paying tuition. Is it worth it?
[/quote]
Only you can answer the question, is it worth it.</p>
<p>Two options:
ROTC - this is where you go to college, earn a degree and then become a military officer. Your commitment is dependent on if and how much of a scholarship you got. A 4 year scholarship requires you to serve for 4 years Active duty (In the Army some get reserves) and then 4 years reserves.</p>
<p>Enlisting - Active Duty - the new GI bill goes into effect next summer. Once you have served 3 years active duty and get discharges you get a very generous educational package.
So - say you enlist at 18, get discharged at 21 you will then have your tuition & books paid for as well as a very generous living stipend (E-4 pay, I believe).</p>
<p>You can enlist and serve in the Guard or Reserves while in school. You won't be deployed while you are in school and the amount of tuition assistance varies.
I would not say you get "almost" all the benefits of active duty.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How competitive are the large scholarships?
[/quote]
This depends on the branch of service you pick. The Army is much larger than the AF or Navy and they have a higher need for officers. Most kids in Army ROTC get a scholarship. You can major in anything you want.<br>
For Navy and AF - they are much more competitive and majoring in a technical field (Like engineering) is preferable.</p>
<p>These websites may help:
GoArmy.com</a> > Army ROTC > Scholarships
<a href="https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships_application.cfm%5B/url%5D">https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships_application.cfm</a>
U.S</a>. Air Force ROTC - High School</p>
<p>You DO need to want to be in the military anyways, but my S got a 4 year scholarship and majored in Sociology. HS grad 2000. Engineering and nursing pretty much all get 4 year scholarships. For 4 years of college I seriously paid only a $6 library late fee for him. In MANY colleges, the Army gives you the tuition, and since the college is getting full tuition from the gov, the college often throws in the room and board for free as part of the scholarship. So this meant no off campus apt or going off the meal plan, but Army also pays you a monthly stipend while in school, so spending $ is taken care of and in summer you go to training programs and get paid, so again, that is your summer job, and they pay for transportation and books as well. However, my son did go to Iraq for 15 months, and just got back safely. Go to the recruiting office or on line for info. I believe you have to have been a varsity athlete in HS, Eagle Scout is a big plus and leadership. He was a 3.0 HS student (private parochial school). I also believe you can 'try it' for one year without paying back the Army, but after that if you bail, you owe them $$ and they will come for it.</p>
<p>My S is a 1c midshipman (senior) on a NROTC scholarship. It pays for tuition, fees, books and uniforms. After he commissions in May, he will owe the Navy four years of active duty and 4 years in the reserves.</p>
<p>The benefits are great but it is very time consuming and you have to be pretty dedicated to get through the program.
In other words, don't do it just for the money or you will end up pretty unhappy and prob. not make it through.<br>
NROTC does give you one year to try it out with no consequences. I understand they are looking for 85% of their scholarship winners to major in engineering (S is not in engineering. This is a new rule).<br>
S is at a big state u. which does not pay room and board for ROTC. S was fortunate to receive two merit scholarships from the university in addition to the NROTC so those cover his room and board (lives off campus now).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. Someone was telling me that there are jobs where you focus more on doing engineering work and others related to the field you study if you were to major in something technology related rather than actually fight even though that is still highly likely. Is that correct?</p>
<p>You submit choices of which areas you are most interested in when you are a senior (in college).<br>
There is no guarantee. You are ranked by a national system based on your grades, physical performance, Prof. of Military Sci. recommendations, etc. The better your ranking, the more likely you are to get into an area you requested.</p>
<p>I'm enlisted in the Army ROTC program and I am visiting this forum because I am trying my hardest to get out of it. My school is extremely challenging as is, but having to wake up at 5:40 a.m. three days a week to run around and do drills doesn't greatly improve anything. I guess it is more of a personal preference. It is great to not have to worry about paying for college, but I find that I dislike the general way the military is run. I guess I don't have the whole "hurry up and wait" mentality down yet. While the people in the program are awesome and I am glad to know them, more and more I find myself not wanting to be thrown around by the military when I graduate.</p>
<p>ROTC is not for everyone - that is for sure.
Are you a freshman? On scholarship? If you are then you can resign. If not, you are going to owe, money or time and the choice may not be yours.</p>
<p>Neenee, I am confused. Were you prior enlisted and have now gone the ROTC route to become an officer? Or did you accept the ROTC scholarship straight out of high school (in which case you are not enlisted)? Surely you must have known when you joined the program that there would be lots of PT involved. </p>
<p>It is not easy which is the reason one must be really dedicated to the end goal to be successful. If you think the military is not for you, get out now. </p>
<p>S1's NROTC class had 28 midshipmen (25 on scholarship) starting out freshman year. Now that he is a senior, that number has dwindled to twelve.</p>