What are my options if I fail to graduate prior to turning 31 on scholarship in ROTC?

2018-03-14T13:47:19-04:00

"For an ROTC scholarship, you cannot turn 31 by the end of the year in which you graduate/commission. This is Federal law and non-waiverable. For non-scholarship cadets, you must under age 39 on the day you commission. Cadets graduating between 35 and 39 years will require a waiver from the ROTC brigade commander."
I am fairly confident I will graduate on time with my engineering degree. I am 28, need roughly 112 more college credits out of 220 overall, and have been averaging around 18 to 20 credits a quarter including summers. Considering the courses are fairly rigorous, I am concerned with the potential shift of my graduation date if I fail a class. If I miss my commission date can I repay the scholarship, finish my degree, and commission by age 34? Or am I required to go enlisted? If I am required to go enlisted, does this mean I cannot finish my degree, and prevent me from going through OCS? My number one priority is commissioning as an Officer, so I want to make sure I have all my bases covered. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Response by A1C Ian Williams made Mar 14 at 2018 1:52 PM

2018-03-14T13:52:06-04:00

Congratulations on your commitment to serve and go through ROTC. Do not fail your classes, 1LT Private RallyPoint Member You will study, you will do better than pass. You will excel. that is what an officer does. Get to work! (Good luck)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 4:20 PM

2018-03-14T16:20:41-04:00

Based on your citation of policy, none really. Your scholarship would be recouped and they likely wouldn’t let you commission as non- scholarship. Study hard. Best of luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 4:56 PM

2018-03-14T16:56:33-04:00

Do your best to complete it according to or ahead of schedule, as I agree that you would likely run into issues should you fail to complete your degree before the age of 31. Having a conversation with your HRA and your instructor could probably answer this question better than we can, as I am sure they have run into this issue in the past.

Have you done everything possible to reduce your chance of failing? What I mean is that if you are taking extra classes to accommodate a minor, I would look at dropping those. I know engineering degrees can have highly specific requirements that often have no substitutes or CLEP exemptions, but if there are any remaining GEN ED credits I would investigate those. You may have already investigated the accelerated courses that are offered during Spring and Christmas break, but if not they are worth a look. ROTC cadre usually offer flexibility to students who find themselves backed into a corner by specific programs like engineering, provided the concern and need is genuine. Finally, if you are working and your hours compromise your ability to study, I would definitely take student loans and work less.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 6:13 PM

2018-03-14T18:13:11-04:00

Everything can be waived. Unless you are a dirt bag or just a real a$$ there should be no problem getting support from the PMS. But, if you have a bunch of other issues it will likely be a hard road to travel.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 8:06 PM

2018-03-14T20:06:11-04:00

1LT Private RallyPoint Member Having backup plans in place is usually a good idea, except when it is not. In your case, study hard and do not fail any courses. The military expects officers to adapt and overcome all challenges.

A good leadership book is "Failure is Not an Option" by Gene Kranz

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 14 at 2018 9:00 PM

2018-03-14T21:00:09-04:00

One thing you left out that'd help to kmow, which might perhaps not ne apparent, is, what major are you, electrical, mechanical, aero, ent sci, also what GPA, if you can say, that'd also ne germane to know, certainly. I realize you want Army, however, anyone, in any commissioning program can at least ask to he allowed to commission in another service, granted, you might ne on an Army ROTC scholarship, as I was, a 3 yr, if which I finished 2, before going USAF OTS instead, however, I've known of such things being done. When one of my brothers was at USMMA Kings Point, it's run as an NROTC program, numerous grads went Army, USAF, USCG, even NOAA Commissioned Corps. Further, the USPHS Commissioned Corps, which is fully active duty, no less than any other service, uses engineers, and allows considerably greater age flexibility typically than the other svcs. Look at the USPHS COSTEP, Jr and Sr, the USPHS analogue to ROTC. Furher, USCG direct commissions engineers you might have to go through an OIS, an indoc program, that is, or you might have to go full USCG OCS, however, you might at least ask. Further, the Army direct commission cyber program could, I should think, use you as a CS, or IT grad, depending on tour level of CS/IT coursework exposure, plus, there's also going technical warrant for Army, you dont necessarily need to go commissioned, I know you want to, I get that, however, there'be been numerous websites I've seen on warrant shortages in Army, esp for technical fields, or possibly flight, if you'd want to try for rotary wing. USCG has its MARGRAD program for grads of the maritime colleges, that afford such grads, even if they weren't NRITC, a chance to opt to go USCG, going through I think, an OIS. Give me tour thoughts, and really elaborate, list your actual technical course titles, all of them, grades and/or GPA if you want, it'd help me juspdge, do a complete detailed bio sketch, list hobbies, reading, interests motivations, ambitions, what specific area of engineering would you want, especially. Further, I've been where youre going, I've done it all, I was USAF elec engr 4 full yrs, I'll send you some sites you might look at that could be of use to you, get as technical as you want, have you published? Do you want to? What masters would you want, as from your very first day, aside from PME coursework, you're going to be instantly expected to get a masters. However, USPHS uses bach level engrs, you could be assigned to FDA, CDC, NIH, specifically at NIH, look at NIBIB the bioengineering institute, also, USPHS is also able to task to the conventional svcs in sevl clinical fields, I think I once saw an instance of a USPHS engr doing a tour with Army overseas, he got a serious award, I'd read of it, tell me what you think, I know those thoughts might not ne what you'd considered, however, even if you went warrantz I knew an Army rotary wing pilot who got his bach in aeronautics, then Army release him early so USCG could pick him up for rotary wing, where he finished his 20, he'd been Armu enlisted before going Army warrant I'd be most eager for your thoughts, and to hear more, tour circumstances interest me, please go into considerably greater detail if you can, OK?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2018 8:53 PM

2018-04-01T20:53:00-04:00

Waivers are generally not too difficult to obtain. I finish my Greed to Gold ADO this May and I am 32 - all I did was talk to my PMS (during my packet phase) and he looked at my credentials - he approved it and sent it to the BDE Commander who provided me a waiver. I was talking to HRC while this was going on and they said that unless you have some pretty outrageous concerns in your files (or packet) it usually goes through especially for those in the 32 - 34, 35 - 39 the bracket is a little more difficult but not impossible.