<p>Hey I was hoping you guys could help me with a quick question about the NROTC scholarship. Recently I have been talking to my local marine recruiter and he has been helping me look into the NROTC scholarship. The question I have is he is now trying to get me to join the delayed entry program. For those that don't know what that is, it would essentially be me joining the marines now. I would have the option to drop out before basic, but it would be hard to do and it would look bad on my record. His reasoning is that if I joined the delayed entry program it would make me look better and increase my chances of getting the scholarship. He said the 2 people from my region to get the scholarship last year were both in the delayed entry program. So my question is he BSing me and just trying to get me to join the delayed entry program or should I really do it if I am considering NROTC?</p>
<p>Once you sign on that dotted line with the Marines, it will be very difficult for you to get out of your contract. I would suggest NOT signing up for the delayed entry program unless you can get assurance from people who have gone the delayed entry route. It seems risky to wager a scholarship on ilitary service if you really aren't interested in joining up once the contract is signed.</p>
<p>You need to look and ask elsewhere for details on ROTC. I recommend usmilitary.about.com for a start. The big picture is that the military is very picky about who they take and will be looking for legitimate reasons to wash you out. If you have a medical deficiency or are untrainable to be the way they want you, they don't want you and the sooner that is clear the better for everybody. </p>
<p>Until boot camp is over, you can quit any time you want to. You will be offered that opportunity every day. Your struggle will be to stay in, not get out. DEP is to see if you are qualified and really interested now, or just a time waster for the recruiter. You can quit DEP any time. </p>
<p>That's the big picture, and there are nuances relating to NROTC that I don't know about, but you should learn by heart. Ask to see, or find on the internet, the written regulations that apply. The recruiter may not know every detail. If you are taking money for college under a ROTC program, you may not be able to renege without consequences, probably only involving paying the money back but I don't know for sure.</p>
<p>I wouldn't reccomend it. Once you enlist, you are serving the needs of the Marine Corps. Their needs may not require placing you into ROTC. NROTC is a competitive scholarship, and the majority of those who win scholarships do not have concurrent military service (i.e. it doesn't really hurt you to not be enlisted). You would need to end your contract with the Marines to go NROTC, IIRC. They are more lenient about this than other ways of ending contracts because they know you will return.</p>
<p>I would think that going DEP would complicate the NROTC process more than benefit it. Then again, I don't know the intricate details either. </p>
<p>You should inquire at the Naval Academy forum, here. Some of them have applied/are in NROTC.</p>
<p>DO RESEARCH on your own and talk to a NROTC detachment commander if you can.</p>
<p>You need to talk to a NROTC recruiter. You do not need the DEP for a NROTC scholarship. My S and his roommate both got 4 yr. NROTC scholarships with no prior service whatsoever, not even ROTC in high sch.</p>
<p>If you get a NROTC scholarship you have your whole freshman year to "try it out". If you decide it's not for you, you can quit with no penalties. You sign the committment papers at the beginning of your soph. year of college.</p>