Help with aviation accession, enlist or go a new route?

2019-06-17T13:22:43-04:00

So, I’m currently an MSIII on a two year scholarship. I was hoping to branch aviation, but failed my SIFT the first time, which I was told severely limits my chances of getting this branch as active duty. Also, in 6 months I would be taking the SIFT again at the same time as accessions, which could mean I won’t make the cutoff. So I was wondering two things:
- is there a waiver I can get to be able to take the sift earlier? Are my chances that much lower?
- if I decided to do WOCS instead, would I still owe the army money for the one year that I did use the scholarship?
I don’t want to go a different route, but Would it be smarter to choose a new officer career to focus on?
Thanks!

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Jun 18 at 2019 10:14 AM

2019-06-18T10:14:57-04:00

First, talk to your MS Instructor and see if they have any information about taking SIFT earlier than planned. Just know that if you are allowed to take it earlier, the expectation is that you won't just pass SIFT, you'll exceed the expectation. Passing is not a guarantee that you will get selected. If you don't pass it, they may force you wait, which you will miss cutoff anyway, or just plainly tell you "no".

Second, yes you will have to repay the Army IAW DODI 1215.08 Para 3.5(b). When you accepted the scholarship, you entered into a contract. That contract has the following stipulations to it:

ROTC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
a. The minimum age for award of an ROTC scholarship is 17 years, in accordance with Section 505 of Title 10, U.S.C.

b. Pursuant to Section 2005 of Title 10, U.S.C., the Secretary of the Military Department concerned will require, as a condition of providing an ROTC scholarship to any recipient, that he or she enters into a written contract in which the recipient agrees to:
(1) Complete the educational requirements specified in the agreement.
(2) Accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in accordance with Section 2107 or 2107a of Title 10, U.S.C.
(3) Serve on Active or Reserve Component for the period specified in the agreement, and complete the Service obligation specified in Section 2107 or 2107a of Title 10, U.S.C.
(4) Reimburse the United States in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total cost of education provided to that student as the unserved portion of active duty bears to the total period of active duty the cadet or midshipman agreed to serve if he or she voluntarily, or because of misconduct, fails to complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement or fails to fulfill any term or condition prescribed (Selected Reserve enlisted service will not be used as a substitute for active duty enlisted service or reimbursement).
(5) Such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Military Department concerned may prescribe to protect the interests of the United States.

c. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned will:
(1) Determine the period of active service served by the ROTC scholarship recipient, to include an additional obligation equivalent to any scholarship entitlements extended beyond 4 years.
(2) Prescribe the conditions for repayment of a cadet or midshipman’s outstanding reimbursement
obligation so that the interest rate (if applicable), the monthly repayment, term, and method of payment reasonably replicate the repayment schedule of the Guaranteed Student Loan sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.
(3) Establish procedures for proper accounting and timely collection of debt repayment funds due to the U.S. Treasury on behalf of the Military Department concerned.

d. An obligation to reimburse the United States is a debt owed the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy pursuant to Chapters 1 through 13 of Title 11, U.S.C., does not release a person from such debt if the final decree of the discharge in bankruptcy was issued within 5 years after the last day of a period during which such person had agreed to serve on active duty.