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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...
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<p>Times have changed. When my spouse was going through college ROTC, we knew people who were in the same position and they enlisted. But this perspective is very recent.</p>
<p>The other issue is the housing commitment for this semester and next year that has already been made and guaranteed by the parent. There might be a chance of subletting for next year, but this semester is already underway.</p>
<p>S tells me there is actually a wait list now to get in the Navy. People are viewing the Navy and Air Force as the "safest" military branches. With the economy in such bad shape, many see the military as a good option for steady income but want to avoid combat situations and think Navy or Air Force is the way to go. </p>
<p>It is possible that he could go ahead and enlist and have his debit forgiven but I wouldn't bank on the Navy giving him that option (unless he is interested in Submarines which I hear are in need of manpower). </p>
<p>MOWC, are there other students/roommates involved in this housing committment? </p>
<p>Hopefully the housing prob. can be resolved. S1 had leased an off campus apartment for a yr. with 3 roommates but one of them was pulled out of sch. by his parents for poor grades before they even moved in. They were able to find another roommate and just get the names on the lease changed. The apt. management was accomodating knowing that unforeseeable "stuff" happens with students all the time.</p>
<p>Yes, there are others. It's a house.</p>
<p>So any NROTC scholarship is not really a scholarship but is really a loan, a loan that is "repaid" or forgiven through service in a military branch. Maybe these schoalrships should be re-labelled as loans. After all, if you get a scholarship from XYZ University, it isn't going to expect you to pay them back if you should drop out of school.</p>
<p>That's correct. It appears the 2 year enlistment as repayment is no longer an option. As someone pointed out, the Navy wants the money more than the people right now. If you go through the regular recruitment, it is a 4 year commitment. It does appear that it takes a long time for the Navy to present you with your payment plan- can be over a year.</p>
<p>The rules are very clear about the requirement for payback in terms of service, and it is a long process to apply for one of these scholarships.</p>
<p>My son is a second semester sophomore, and has still not "signed" the papers - but if he dropped out tomorrow from ROTC, he would be obligated to pay back the tuition spent. He knew that going into the program. </p>
<p>It is a fantastic opportunity for the right person, and it is a scholarship based on qualifications such as intended majors, GPA, leadership, athletics, test scores, etc. Not everyone gets these scholarships. There are many students in his ROTC program that didn't qualify as a freshman, and some that continue to apply for the 2nd or 3rd year scholarships.</p>
<p>I would never recommend this to someone who only wanted a way to pay for college. It is a time consuming program, yet one that offers the students a unique college environment that leads to a career track. </p>
<p>But the rules are clear and it isn't something that should be taken lightly. I know of one that was medically discharged after the first year, but with no payback requirement due to not being able to perform in the Navy with his medical condition. I also know of a former Naval Academy cadet who developed diabetes during his junior year and was released with no payback obligation back in the 80's. Don't know if that is still a disqualifying event. </p>
<p>I wish the best to the student who lost his scholarship.</p>
<p>littlegreenmom, Is your S in NROTC? Was he on scholarship as a freshman? I am very surprised that he has not "signed" the papers. S had to sign at the beginning of soph. yr. The deal is that you can go for one year and quit with no penalty but at the beginning of soph. yr., you have to sign sign the papers and are then committed to serve. If your S hasn't signed the papers, how is he obligated to pay back tutition spent?</p>
<p>He plans on being a career officer with no intention of leaving and has asked a couple of times when he is supposed to sign the papers. </p>
<p>There seems to be a mix up, as his last name and another students last name are the same. I guess they were sent at the beginning of the last semester with the wrong social security numbers attached and it seems like a simple enough mistake to correct. He thinks they will do it this week, with the start of the new semester.</p>
<p>I can see how it would be a loophole for someone who wanted to leave, and hadn't signed those papers, yet!</p>
<p>Generally if the discharge for medical reasons then no payback is required. Diabetes is still medically disqualifying.<br>
The option to either serve or payback the money is up to the Navy - but perhaps he could enlist in the Marines? They are part of the Navy and are actively recruiting.</p>
<p>kayf- I think that's his summer plan. Take calculus (did pre-calc in the fall and ended up with a C, thanks to the pre-meds..) over the summer at our local CC and then take physics at some point.</p>
<p>NROTC does seem like a safe route- I did accuse him of doing that. I didn't think it was a good reason and I told him that if he wanted to join the military with a strong purpose and sense of pride, he should go to the Israeli Defense Forces. He claimed that he had reasons for choosing the Navy beyond avoiding Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he wants to do the SEAL training and well, that pretty much gets him out there. Go figure.</p>
<p>UPDATE- The Commander overruled the Committee and was allowing the student to stay in the program- not sure of the "terms". HOWEVER, the student decided it was too stressful and basically turned down the opportunity. It's pretty much thumbing one's nose at the Commander AND the parent! The father is fit to be tied. The kid is considering withdrawing this semester because of not being able to get into the right classes for the "new" major (whatever that might be), living in the off-campus house and piecing together a few jobs. Not a good situation and probably time for some growing up...... Kid wants to finish up at this school and then figure out how to repay the Navy.</p>
<p>AAAH -- cant Dad convince him to take math and physics at a CC over the summer.</p>
<p>Sounds like ANYTHING Dad says is probably not going to fly. Have had too many S's to think otherwise. If he has already turned it down then nothing left to do. It's time to let him manage on his own.</p>
<p>Hmm..if the kid thinks NROTC and it's requirements are too stressful (and it can be very stressful) then it's probably a wise decision (not financially of course) for the kid to drop out. Life in the fleet would be way more stressful and it doesn't seem he is up to the challenge at this point. I'm sure the parents are ready to throttle him. Hope the kid is not imagining that his father is going to help him pay off the loan down the road.</p>
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Kid wants to finish up at this school and then figure out how to repay the Navy.
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<p>How is this kid paying for tuition, living off campus, etc.?</p>
<p>Going to have to get loans and work. Dad isn't helping except to co-sign loans and is,unfortunately, already a co-signor on the housing. NOW the kid wants out of the house and into an apartment, so needs to find a sub-tenant. Did I mention the need to grow up? The Dad looks 5 years older..... Older sibling West Point grad is in Iraq right now......</p>
<p>Oh that poor Dad. One son in real danger and the other one making bad choices.</p>
<p>I hope that Dad has quick co-signing loans. This kid is going to have enough trouble paying back the Navy. And I hope things work out for both sons. Very much so.</p>
<p>MOWC-
Does sound like he needs the time to grow up and reflect upon what he really wants. Is there someone else who can speak with the student (other than a parent, esp. the Dad) that could maybe provide another ear to listen and advice that he might listen to? It might be the person who would have done this would have been the big bro in Iraq and some of this might be from the separation and the very real consequences his ROTC enrollment would result in.</p>
<p>Packmom is right, ROTC is stressful but compared to the fleet and the corps its still attending college classes on a college campus (meaning they aren't shooting at you while you are trying to do your job.)</p>
<p>Does the dad really want to co-sign those loans? His decision to re-consider would give him a breather and maybe he should attend 2 semesters at the local CC. Give him time to figure out his "major" at a low cost without incurring any heavy-duty loans and maybe some part-time work.</p>
<p>It will buy some time, keep him in classes, have him saving money to payback ROTC scholie and maybe find his direction. I know the parents are furious, especially after turning down the "offer" by the CO to overturn the board's decision. Again, sounds like he needs somebody to talk to...because he doesn't know what to do, so he does nothing.</p>
<p>I know my boys are close and with one also active military and "leave time" is scarce it has affected my kiddos in ways I had not anticipated. He might not have been ready for the reality, especially with his brother in Iraq. Also the differences between ROTC and attending a service academy could be one of the other issues contributing to his choices. At his university he is one of a few going through the ROTC requirements where at an SA EVERYONE is experiencing the same life and pressures. Not that one is better that another, just that particular difference might be contributing to the stress.</p>
<p>Again echoing what Packmom said.</p>
<p>Fair winds and following seas to him.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>More news- Student met with Commander who told student he reversed the Committee because he felt student was officer material, despite the grade issues. Student still didn't want to stay in the program, but had looked into Air and Army National Guard. Commander said he would help student with this and put student in touch with Army National Guard rep who was on campus. (no vacancies in Air program). Student is now fired up and ready to sign on with Army National Guard. Stipend is much larger than the ROTC stipend, you do the weekends and two weeks in the summer (after the initial basic training) and all your tuition is paid (plus the stipend of $1300 or so a month). You come out of college and do 4 years, which pays back the Navy with the money you earn. THEN you have educational money for grad school at the end of the 4 years. This is the plan for now. Student will sit out this semester and work and then do the basic training etc this summer and go back to school with the changed major, which is actually something that fits in with one of the Army's job descriptions. </p>
<p>It's not over yet, but it's looking a lot better.</p>