How do you figure that? Some college students…including possibly the OP could use the ROTC scholarship to defray most/all college costs. Not every student has the financial security/means to say “I don’t need the scholarship” even if they plan on becoming career military officers*.
- Something which isn't guaranteed due to the "up or out" promotion system for officers in which if one fails to be promoted after 2 promotion board cycles, with few exceptions you are effectively forced out. Also, officers could have their careers cut short due to reductions in force for budgetary considerations....this happened to a Naval aviator cousin(NROTC graduate & scholarship recipient) along with many officers in the '90s due to the end of the Cold War.