Expert: Rod Powers - 10/3/2006

Question
Hey Rod

I want to start by thanking you for your answer before hand

ok so starting with some backround i'm 16 years old and go to a Tech school in massachusetts I'm in An MJROTC program at my school.
I want to know a few things one, if i were to go enlisted what rank would i start at after completing 4 years of MJROTC, would i have to join the marines to benifit from having been in the program or could i join any branch. wht would be the benifet of joining as enlisted over joining as an officer

ok now for the next round of questions
ok so saying i am interested in going to college and joining a ROTC program there what would be my best course of action to get a Full ROTC scholorship, i have a 3.0 GPA
What are the best colleges If iWant the best ROTC program the ones i know of Are the citadel, Texas A&M and Norwich university, are there any others with really good ROTC Programs.
if i don't get a scholorship would it be better to join as enlisted go to school using military money then go through officer school or would it be better to go to a cheaper school then go through officer training after i graduate?

once again thank you for all your help

Answer
Hi Matt,

>>if i were to go enlisted what rank would i start at after completing 4 years of MJROTC.<<

It depends on which service you would enlist in. Each service has their own standards for advanced enlistment rank for such things as college credits or JROTC.

The Army offers advanced rank up to E-3 for JROTC (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/advancedrank.htm).

The Air Force offers advanced enlisted rank up to E-3 for JROTC (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/l/bladvrank.htm).

The Navy offers advanced enlistment rank up to E-3 for JROTC (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navyjoin/l/bladvancedrank.htm).

The Marine Corps offers advanced enlistment rank up to E-2 for JROTC (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/bladvrank.htm).

The Coast Guard offers advanced rank up to E-3 for JROTC (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/cgadvancedrank.htm).


>>what would be my best course of action to get a Full ROTC scholorship, i have a 3.0 GPA <<

ROTC Scholarships are competitive. In other words, each service only gives out so-many per year, and divides them among the various universities which offer ROTC programs. In other words, it's impossible to say. It depends on how many ROTC scholarship slots are available at the college/university you are attending, and what the GPA of the other applicants are, vs. available slots, vs. you.

>>What are the best colleges If iWant the best ROTC program the ones i know of Are the citadel, Texas A&M and Norwich university, are there any others with really good ROTC Programs.<<

You know what? None of the military services are going to care one wit about what ROTC Program you attend, nor will your fellow officers, after you go onto active duty. Nobody gives a darn if you attended the Citadel, Tasas A&M, or Norwich, or Boondock University.  A commission is a commission, and it doesn't matter one bit what source the commission is from.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com