<p>I never realized this aspect of ROTC (that you have to check out the required classes and be sure you can pass them before signing up for ROTC).</p>
<p>I, too, have heard of people who transferred over from one service ROTC to another service ROTC. Sounds like an option unless the sub par grades will kill that plan.</p>
<p>While I don't know the answer to this question , I happen to have a houseguest who is a high ranking Army officer. I'll be happy to ask him this q and see if he knows anything about this.</p>
<p>btw, justamomof4, can't one also be a non-commissioned officer? Are NCO's technically considered officers??</p>
<p>MOWC-
Sent you info backchannel</p>
<p>In the context of this thread - "officer" is meant to be "Commissioned Officer".
The highest NCO ranks lower than a 2nd LT or Ensign - lowest ranking Commissioned Officer.</p>
<p>ellemenope - one does not "sign up" for an ROTC scholarship. You must complete a very comprehensive and competitive application. Navy ROTC scholarships are very competitive and one must qualifiy academically with fairly high Math SAT scores. Midshipmen are told upfront what courses they must pass to complete the program.
Since the Navy is a highly technical service and provides officers for ships and subs - they require all midshipmen to take Calculus and physics.
Any student who receives the scholarship has the ability to pass the courses.
Of course, as we all know - life occassionally interferes with ability.</p>
<p>MOWC - if he can document this a medical discharge may be possible - but then his military career would be over.</p>
<p>It might be too late for a medical discharge since the disenrollment decision has been made.
Thanks, all, for the great information. I'll pass it on. Calculus was failed and was being made up- and then physics was failed. SAT math score was very high. College was a different deal, though.</p>
<p>Maybe this thread should be cross-posted in the FinAid/scholarships forum so students who are considering ROTC scholarships could see what happens if grades aren't met, and understand that different branches of the service want different grades in different subjects.... and what can happen if you can't make the requirements.
Scholarships from your university or from outside sources can be halted if you don't make their requirements, but I think ROTC scholarships are unique in that you might owe the already spent funds to be repaid. Kids need to know this. Parents need to know this.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild, I am wondering if your young friend is at Texas A&M, which has a powerful but massively time consuming Corps of Cadets. The members of the Corps love it like life itself -- and many (including my bro, years ago) can find the many tasks of being a gung-ho upper classman make it virtually impossible to hone in on classes. </p>
<p>The parents can and should zoom to campus and meet EXTENSIVELY with the advisors. Almost certainly, the student is heartsick and uncertain. Parents are going to be the ones who can sort out all the details of all the options. I know, I know, that we all want our young adults to sort these things out for themselves, but I think it is easy for outsiders to underestimate the power of a tight knit Corps -- to include the mindset that closes the mind to certain paths (such as transferring to an ROTC unit at another, less overwhelming school). </p>
<p>My heart goes out to this young man. I will bet my bottom dollar that he wants to be a success. He wants to be a graduate. He wants to be an officer -- and, instead, he's off in a swamp, feeling like a failure. </p>
<p>My brother's path to success was to change from an engineering degree to an engineering tech degree -- a less rigorous (and less prestigeous) major. But that also meant the math course that had him on academic probation was no longer a requirement. He ended up needing an extra semester to finish his degree -- and went on to serve as an officer in the Marine Corps. It was brutal on him to have to cut back on some of his Corps of Cadets responsibilities, but he managed.
Good luck to your young friend.</p>
<p>Thanks- it's actually a midwest public. Life certainly does go on- they are sorting this out and I will report back in.</p>
<p>
[quote]
but I think ROTC scholarships are unique in that you might owe the already spent funds to be repaid. Kids need to know this. Parents need to know this.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They do know it. ROTC scholarships are not just handed out to anyone who asks. It's a competitive process that take a lot of time and effort. Once in the ROTC program, students are given one year to change their minds/wash out with no obligation. Students are also given a semester probation if they fail a class/their GPA is too low. The consequences are well understood by all involved. </p>
<p>Momofwildchild, I'm glad to hear that they are sorting this out. This student's entire future has changed but that does not mean they have no future. Too often young people have trouble grasping that and it can lead to consequences far worse than owing money.</p>
<p>This is probably an example of a kid who wasn't mature enough or disciplined enough to hold up his/her end of the deal. There were some huge red flags along the way, but I guess the kid didn't really believe the disenrollment would happen!</p>
<p>I feel for this student and his family. Like others have said, it's not the end of the world.
If he truly wants to serve in the military, they will find a way. It is sometimes hard for a student who has always done well to realize they need help with classes before it is too late.
My NROTC S had a rough go of it with Calc. 2 in his freshman but thankfully planted himself in the Profs. office every week for help. Physics 2 was a tough go. He made his only C in that class and was thrilled to have it. His ROTC LT warned him that a D was not allowable.</p>
<p>In S's NROTC unit, grades are reviewed each semester. Anyone with a gpa less than 2.5 is remanded to eight hours of NROTC supervised study hall per week for the following sem. They try to help them but kids still fall through the cracks. It's not easy. ROTC takes a lot more time, committment and discipline than most realize.</p>
<p>the point is if they told him he is kicked out, they will tell him his options</p>
<p>if not, he is on LOA and has a chance to get his scholarship back. they arent' this ambiguous.</p>
<p>also, enough time and effort in any class at any school will allow the student to kick ass and take names if he/she focuses</p>
<p>sorry for so many posts, but if he has to pay back 50k, well, many people that go to my school pay almost 200k w/o scholarship. there are 3 chances the student/MIDN has and each time, they can change their major and get the navy to pay for summer classes. if you want it, you can get it (except med. disqual.)</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all of this info. My brother is in NROTC but without a scholarship and intends to get one next fall and he isnt particularly a strong student (poor study habits). Now I'm worried if he'll be able to maintain his GPA as he takes these calculus based courses so he doesn't get disenrolled. He's dreamed of being in the Navy but doesn't want to do Army at all.</p>
<p>Ticklemepink, Can he see if he can the course at a CC over the summer? Where grading might be easier?</p>
<p>^^That is allowed. S knows several midshipman who took Physics at the Comm. College over the summer and transferred it. Have to make at least a C.</p>
<p>I think this may have been suggested already, but one route is to enlist now in the Navy, if he can get in. Spend a year or two maturing. He should be able to repay NROTC if needed since he will have a good job. After some time off, he can complete his degree in evening or on-line classes, depending on where he is stationed, or after he has served his four years. Then he can apply for OCS, if he still wants to go that route. </p>
<p>My brother was unable to get into the Air Force after graduating from college with a nontechnical degree. He enlisted and then was able to get into OCS after proving himself on the enlisted side. (Also required by Air Force to get a Masters degree.) Loved his career, retired as a colonel, and now teaches in high school AFROTC (or whatever that high school program is called). I enlisted in the AF at 17 because I was burnt out on school and needed a break. I went to college and grad school after I served my four years. </p>
<p>It is important to let him know that he still has many options. He just needs to find the one he can get most excited about.</p>
<p>TheAnalyst - good advice. FWIW, my background is similar to that of you and your brother.</p>
<p>I'd encourage him to consider enlistment. It is certainly possible that at least some of the debt may be forgiven with enlisted service in the Navy or another branch. My guess is that the student in question just needs an upgrade in study skills and maturity, and he could certainly get that and much more via enlistment.</p>