Frequently Asked Questions by Parents and Advisors
Q: Is enrolling in Army ROTC the same as joining the Army, and once a student starts taking ROTC courses is he/she obligated to join the Army?
A: No. However, young adults must serve as Officers in the Army after graduation if they have received a ROTC scholarship, OR, if they have enrolled in the ROTC Advanced Course. Enrolling in the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate someone to serve unless they have also received a scholarship. For more details see Your Commitment.
Q: What types of scholarships are available in Army ROTC? Are any scholarships retroactive?
A: Army ROTC scholarships vary based on the length of time remaining for students to complete their degrees. There are two-, three-, and four-year scholarships which pay full-tuition and fees. Scholarships also include an annual book allowance (currently $1,200), and a monthly stipend (currently $300-$500 per month). Boston College additionally provides funding for the standard meal plan, guarantees on-campus housing, and provides free on-campus housing for five seniors. In addition, there are Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarships which guarantee service in the Army Reserves or National Guard, after a short period on Active Duty, to attend Officer training. No scholarships are retroactive.
Q: What is my young adult's Army service obligation to pay back any scholarship benefits, or for enrollment in the ROTC Advanced Course?
A: Scholarship recipients generally must serve four years on Active Duty; non-scholarship Cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve three years. GRFD scholarship recipients serve a short period, approximately six months on active duty, to learn branch specific skills. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. For more details see Your Commitment.
Q: What good is Army ROTC for a career outside of the Army?
A: Army ROTC is one of the only college courses that teaches leadership. This training is invaluable for any career that involves leading, managing and motivating people, or fostering teamwork. Young Army officers are typically responsible for hundreds of soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment; this kind of management experience can be very attractive for post-Army employers.
Q: Why should my young adult choose Army ROTC over a different branch of ROTC?
A: The Army offers a wider range of career choices, in more places around the world, then any other U.S. military branch. At Boston College, Army ROTC, is the only branch of service with full-time Cadre (instructors) and staff on campus supporting Cadets training and administrative needs. The Air Force and Navy provide these services at another campus. In addition, the Army ROTC scholarship at BC is more lucrative than the Air Force or Navy scholarships.
Q: How do I learn more about the Army?
A: The GOARMY.com web site has a section specifically designed for parents and advisors. See For Parents, where you'll find straight answers to more of your Army questions. You can also start exploring the Army experience from our BC ROTC home page.
Q: Are all college majors compatible with Army ROTC?
A: Army ROTC Cadets are allowed to major in nearly all academic areas.
Q: What are Army ROTC courses like? How will the class work help my young adult? Will ROTC classes interfere with his/her other studies?
A: Army ROTC classes normally involve one elective class or lab per semester. Although the classes involve hands-on fieldwork, as well as classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision-making, while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming Officers. For more details see Curriculum.
Q: How will being an Army ROTC Cadet affect my young adult's daily life? Do Cadets experience normal college life and activities?
A: Army ROTC Cadets have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as other college students. Boston College Cadets are able to participate in the same activities as all other students. For example, a recent graduate was on the varsity ski team for four years. There are two intensive Army ROTC courses that take place on Army Posts during the summer:
- Leader's Training Course—Students who wish to enroll in ROTC as late as their sophomore year of college and in some cases their junior year, or as graduate students beginning a two-year program, can receive constructive credit for the Basic Course by attending a 28 day Leader's Training Course at FT Knox, KY.
- Leader Development and Assessment Course—All Cadets who enter the Advanced Course must attend this four-week summer course at Fort Lewis, WA, usually between their junior and senior years.
Q: What are the chances that my young adult will be deployed to support the Global War on Terrorism?
A: It depends on the Army branch the Cadet chooses and the unit to which he/she is assigned. However, Army missions and challenges are always changing, so there's no way to know in advance which specialties and units will be needed where. All soldiers in the Army or Army Reserve face the possibility of deployment at some point during their careers. But all soldiers are fully trained and proficient in the tasks and drills of their units, and Officers are specifically trained to make the right decisions so missions can be carried out safely and successfully.
Q: Can my young adult go into the Army Reserve or National Guard after graduation instead of the regular Army?
A: Yes, selected Cadets may choose to serve part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career.
Q: What is the typical career path for an Army Officer? What career fields are available?
A: Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants. They then receive specialized training in one of seventeen different Army branches. During their Army careers they'll receive regular professional training as they advance through the ranks, and they'll have many opportunities for advanced leadership positions and post-graduate education.
Q: What kind of salary and benefits will my young adult earn as a commissioned Army Officer?
A: Visit the Benefits section of GOARMY.com for complete details. Specifically, the Money sub-section provides details on pay for both Officers. Pay includes basic pay, and untaxed allowances. For example, a single Second Lieutenant living in Chestnut Hill, MA would earn approximately $49,000 (based on 2007 pay scale and untaxed housing allowance), while a married Captain after three years of service and living in Chestnut Hill, MA would make approximately $77,600 (based on 2007 pay scale and untaxed housing allowance). Benefits include free medical and dental care, thirty days paid vacation per year, and twenty-year retirement.
Parents can find more information at GOARMY.com.
View Boston College Army ROTC photo album.