noffnoff

This isn't service academy, but i figured if i asked this question this would be the best place on CC.

If you participate in ROTC and make the commitment to serve (whether you're are taking advanced courses or received a scholarship) is it possible to pursue graduate work BEFORE your active duty service? Could you be in the reserve or something during your graduate studies?

Also, if you can do this, will you not be able to be deployed while you are still in graduate school? And if you did do the reserve would you still be obligated 8 years service after graduation or would your reserve duty during college count towards it? I don't mind serving more, in fact I'd love to! But i am mostly curious.

Thanks in advance!

PackMom

I'm pretty certain the answer is "no". Once you are commissioned (upon college graduation) you will be expected to begin serving immediately.

noffnoff

would it be any different if it is a technical degree? I would be majoring in mechanical engineering, with a specialization in areospace

JustAMomOf4

Maybe. It depends on branch of service and a whole host of other factors. Each year a small number of top Army ROTC grads attend grad school immediately after commissioning as 2LT's.

If you go Army - then definitely! In Army ROTC you can request reserves, in fact a number of cadets do so just do they can attend grad school or professional school.

Again for Army - your deployment might be able to be waived while in school. It again, depends on a bunch of factors.

If you enlist in the Army reserves in college, you sign an enlistment contract. If you commission when you graduate (you don't have to - you can stay enlisted if you want) then the enlistment contract is voided and a new contract and commitment is signed. If you commission out of AROTC you will have a new 8 year contract.

PackMom

S1 did NROTC but his friend attended a school that didn't have Navy so he did the Marines PLC program. He only had to train in the summers rather than throughout the academic year like ROTC. I'm not certain but think he didn't have to make a commitment until his senior year.

noffnoff

Thanks for all the info, i hope to talk to a PMS at a near by college this weekend. By the way i would most likely be looking into Army ROTC but i am also applying to AFROTC at the colleges that offer it as well. None of the colleges i am interested in offer NROTC or Marine ROTC

JustAMomOf4

Ask the PMS about something called an "educational delay". This is for newly commissioned grads and grad school.
Honestly though if you are looking at aerospace engineering - Navy or AF may be the way to go. Army is very interested in languages.

PLC is a great program. It's for Marines and if you are interested in Marine Aviation there is a program that guarantees you aviation when you contract. They don't pay for all of school but you can get tuition assistance.

c0ldplay

Does anyone have any comments/concerns/suggestions/agreements/disagreements about participating in ROTC while taking Bachelor of Science in Nursing?

Anything would be appreciated!

raimius

It is a viable way to go. I have a friend who did it with AFROTC.

Anything more specific?