Is ROTC a good choice for someone wanting to work in a forensics-related field, like CID?

Chiara Mardegain — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:49:30 -0500

I’m currently a senior in high school, and I am attending University of Central Florida in the fall to study forensic science. Right now I’m highly considering joining ROTC to join the military after college and work in a forensics related field. Granted, I’m not the most knowledgeable about the military and neither is anyone in my family, which is why I’m asking on here. But I’m just wondering if doing ROTC is worth it with a forensics degree and is it even possible to go straight into the CID after college with my degree and through ROTC? I’m trying to decide now that way I know if ROTC is a good track for me.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2025 8:57 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:57:27 -0500

Chiara Mardegain Thank you for considering the military as a career and welcome to RallyPoint! Below are two ROTC posts. You can search on "ROTC" and "CID" to gather additional information. I have also added a link to the ROTC at the University of Central Florida. Best wishes on new challenges and adventures.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-rotc-worth-it

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-tips-can-you-give-for-army-rotc

https://army.ucf.edu/

Is ROTC worth it? | RallyPoint

I am currently a serving member of the national guard, and will soon be attending college. Are the ROTC benefits all they’re cracked up to be?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2025 1:28 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 01:28:53 -0500

ROTC is a commission source. Start with this link.

https://www.cid.army.mil/Join-CID/

Join CID

The official website of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The U.S. Army's independent federal law enforcement agency.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2025 9:09 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:09:59 -0500

The three value-add activities that helped propel my post-graduation career =

1) Rowed Crew
2) Joined a Frat
3) Received a commission as a 2LT via ROTC

Earning a degree notwithstanding.

Pro-tip: Get some Ray-Ban Wayfarers! The future = (very) bright! Good luck!

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Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 8 at 2025 1:55 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 13:55:30 -0500

ROTC is a commissioning source. That get's you commissioned as a 2LT. What your branch is on Commissioning is the Needs of the Army. While you ranking in the OML (Order of Merit List) can improve your chances at a specific branch, if the Army needs Infantry Officers, you just volunteered infantry.
CID Officers are Warrant Officers, or at least I never met a commissioned one. The Army was allowing 1LT's and Captains switch to 311A CID Warrant. Don't follow it enough to know if it is still true.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2025 5:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 17:11:23 -0500

You are not likely to do anything CID related as a commissioned officer until you are on staff or a commander.

Enlisted, warrant officers and mainly Civilians do the work there.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 10 at 2025 3:49 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:49:20 -0400

ROTC is a source of commission. It's great for what it is but it isn't a cross training platform for making someone better in a CID capacity. But you could say that for most MOS's honestly.

Response by COL John McClellan made Mar 11 at 2025 9:43 AM

COL John McClellan — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:43:58 -0400

CID is more a Warrant Officer field, and I believe the Army has only one forensics lab. These days, most/all CID agents are civilians. In ROTC, you learn to be an Army officer while getting a college degree. If you are planning to major in Forensic Science, and then compete for the branch of Military Police, you'd be in the general field of military law enforcement as a leader, but not as say, a lab technician. But you can't guarantee getting MP as your branch going in.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 11 at 2025 6:45 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:45:22 -0400

No. Your chances of commissioning through any source and then working in CID is extremely thin. You would need to branch MP and then as an MP officer, you are a leader, not a doer in the same sense.