<p>Anyone have info on ROTC and consequences of being disenrolled? A friend's kid is being disenrolled as a college junior due to grades. The kid didn't pass a math course and was in the process of making it up through an extension online course, and then proceeded to fail a required science course last semester. The kid had a hearing and the verdict was not good. It appears that the student will have to pay back the whole scholarship (at an out of state public) which comes to over $50K. To stay at the school will require out of state tuition (high) or establishing residency. With a sub 2.5 GPA, transferring chances are poor.</p>
<p>One question is how long it takes for the military to contact you about paying back the scholarship. I have heard it can be a year or so before they give you a payment plan. Enlisting appears to be another option.</p>
<p>Any info is appreciated. The family is pretty devastated (yes, it's the kid's own fault, but it is still hard....).</p>
<p>I've known a few people this happened to and they enlisted to pay back their obligation. So I don't know how long it takes to get the other option set up. However, they should be able to find out fairly easily by asking. </p>
<p>Is there a reason why this kid would not enlist? With a sub 2.5 gpa and so much debt, it sounds like it might be the best option.</p>
<p>I think because it's junior year, and if you can enlist with a college degree you can be an officer (???) might be the reason to try to finish up at the school.</p>
<p>so what happens is you go on LOA (leave of absence) if you fail to achieve a 2.5 or get below a c in required courses (calculus I and II and Physics I and II) for two semesters (not consecutive necessarily). after you are on probation for those two semesters, the midshipman (i'm assuming we're talking about navy) goes to a board of review (pending the fact that the CO wants to consider keeping him/her. </p>
<p>after the board of review, the MIDN finds out, from the mercy of the board and CO, whether he or she will stay on via LOA, stay on scholarship or be disenrolled. if the last option is selected, the MIDN DOES NOT NECESSARILY have the option to enlist. i was put on LOA and my fear was that I would have to pay it back. well, the navy chooses this, and it is up to whether they want money or sailors, and at the time of my board (last semester) they wanted money. thus, enlisting wouldn't even be an option to pay it back.
also, you can NEVER just enlist with a college degree and become an officer. almost all the enlisted SEALs have degrees but aren't officers; you have to go through an officer training program first, i.e. ROTC, OCS, or one of the academies. </p>
<p>it depends on how much your school tuition was to determine how much the person owes; but if it just happened, the MIDN must have gone to board, where they told him/her their options. finishing school is the best option, and once disenrolled, it isn't the end of the world.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. The student is disenrolled, but the financial hit is a real concern since it is over $50K- plus the tuition to get through the final year and a half.</p>
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The family is pretty devastated (yes, it's the kid's own fault, but it is still hard....).
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<p>I forgot to address this the first time but I did want to make a note of it. Having seen people go through this in ROTC in college and then having seen students wash out of flight school, I would caution the family to be supportive. That doesn't mean making excuses or picking up the tab, but it does mean reminding the student that life is not over. This person is young and things will get better. </p>
<p>cowboy.ed, That is interesting about enlisting or not. My frame of reference is the late 80s. I really had no idea that might not be an option.</p>
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I think because it's junior year, and if you can enlist with a college degree you can be an officer (???) might be the reason to try to finish up at the school.
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<p>No. It's not that easy to become an officer. I know that most civilians do not know how the military works but I find it disappointing that the assumption would be that if a person flunks out of ROTC, the military would make them an officer if they just finish up the degree. It's a very professional, competitive enviroment. </p>
<p>Further, many enlisted men and women do have their four year degree. It's not unusual to even earn a graduate degree. All while working full time in a demanding profession.</p>
<p>give it a rest barrons. this is one of those times when most mature adults know that if you don't have anything helpful to add, then you refrain from commenting. but it seems that's asking too much from you, isn't it?</p>
<p>My S is a Midshipman 1C (senior) in NROTC. His class started out with 27 mids four years ago and is now down to 12 that will commission in May. It is not unusual to get disenrolled if you are not making the grade in every way. </p>
<p>Based on what I hear fr. S, I would bet they want this student to pay rather than enlist. The DOD needs the money more than they need an enlisted sailor. Is this student in NROTC? If so and he would rather (or needs) to enlist rather than pay off the big debt, he could check into going Army. S had a friend who was not going to make it through NROTC but really wanted to serve so did a Blue to Green transfer..enlisted in Army and had his debt for the NROTC scholarship forgiven.</p>
<p>I wonder if the young person in question could consider applying for Officer's Candidate School after enlisting. I'm not sure of the requirements but if the disenrollment isn't based on character and the kid tests well it might be an option.</p>
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if you can enlist with a college degree you can be an officer (???)
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It depends. One kid we know who graduated with a history degree within the last year or so tried to go into the Air Force as an officer but they wouldn't take him as one with that particular degree so he enlisted instead. Apparently the Air Force didn't feel they needed any more history degreed officers unless there was some other reason they didn't take him as one. I think it depends on the branch of service and the particular degree.</p>
<p>The Army is a lot easier to get in than the Air Force. Army is not particular about degrees. MOWC, it is entirely possible that your friend's S could join the Army ROTC program at his school right now. I'm assuming that he prob. failed Calculus and Physics (2 semesters of each are required for NROTC). Army ROTC does not require either of those courses. If so, he could finish sch. debt free and enter the Army as an officer.</p>
<p>If he is interested in going Army, he should contact the AROTC unit at his school right away and see what the possibilities are as far as ROTC.</p>
<p>It is a tough situation. When signing for that ROTC scholarship, it is spelled out what the consequences of failing courses/not making the standards. Usually those kids who are in the position to get these scholarships have been such good students that this likelihood is not even considered. Even warning kids and parents about those consequences usually does little good as they think that there is no possibility of this happening.</p>
<p>wow, this happened to a girlfriend's step son. Math was the problem. He was in Navy ROTC, as I recall he kept flunking. This was at least 6 years ago. I do recall he tried to join the Navy and tried to find out how much $ he owed if he didn't enlist. Everything I know is second hand. Supposedly the Navy could never give him a start date?? He never could get a $$ amt owed. He eventually joined the local county sheriff dept and is working the county jail till he has put in enough time to go out on the streets. Last I heard he never paid and was waiting to find out how to make payments. Good luck to them. I know the son was not very aggressive in finding out information. I cannot imagine law enforcement hired him if he owed the Navy time.</p>
<p>Three ways to be an officer - all require a college degree these days -
graduate from a Service academy, graduate from ROTC or graduate from OCS - Officer candidate school.</p>
<p>Enlisted personnel who earn college degrees can apply to OCS to become an officer - this is quite common.
Many college graduates enlist. Some just don't want to be officer and some like the specific job better.<br>
The Air Force is highly technical - they are very computer driven and like their officer to have technical degrees.
Army could care less what your degree is in - it's about leadership.</p>
<p>pugmadkate is correct - this young person needs support and his life is not over - far from it.</p>
<p>If he does enlist - then he can continue taking college courses and even earn his degree.
After his obligation to pay back ROTC - his service time for the GI Bill should kick in. Three years of service gets you tuition, books and a living stipend (E-4 I think).</p>