Benefits/pitfalls of ROTC/other?

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I start my nursing program this fall. ( Finally! ) After completion of the first year I can become part of the AFROTC program at my school. I am currently a drilling reservist. I am trying to figure out the different benefits of ROTC versus applying for a commission after graduation. Will I be eligible for bonus as a ROTC cadet or only upon direct commissioning? Is the process quicker one way or the other? What exactly is the ROTC scholarship for nurses? Thanks in advance for any and all advice or tips.

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Could a mod please move this to our military forum? I'd answer here but I know very little about ROTC since I'm a direct commission.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Done.

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Military Nursing.

I did Army ROTC---which was A LOT of work. I'd say that you're better off doing Direct Commission and just getting loan repayment, especially because you're prior service. If you do ROTC, it might be rather frustrating for you to have some 20 year old cadet on a power trip bossing you around. Not only that, ROTC takes a fair amount of time while you're in school.

That being said, if you're not prior service, I think ROTC is a great start to the military. Because of ROTC and the summer training I did in college, I definitely have a heads up on the Army that my direct commission colleagues do not.

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Your flight commander could still be younger than you in COT (and even outrank you - oh, and have less military experience than you!); your boss could be younger than you in the active military depending on your age. A prior service member knows this and knows what to do with it.

The best way to find out about ROTC is to contact a detachment - preferably the detachment at the school you want to attend. Be prepared for some "I'll get back to you on that" - I'm sponsoring a new Lt who went through ROTC and she has told me ROTC nursing students are rare and occasionally the DET has to do a bit of research to find out what to do with you as far as scholarships go.

I completely agree with Mike, though - I do believe he "knows" more about the military than the direct commissions, and the prior service members know more than the folks straight out of the civilian block. But then again, that's part of the deal - we're here to "help" the others with that knowledge, because if you're prior enlisted (and I was as well), being an officer is COMPLETELY different.

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