Earn Your Online Bachelors Degree While In ROTC
Current financial times are making many Americans consider options their parents never would have. For instance, one educational option that suffered a tremendous blow after the Vietnam War was the Reserve Officers Training Corp (US ROTC). It was originally created during the Civil War as a way to produced qualified military officers outside of West Point. In the 60s, the Vietnam War gave the military such a bad name it was actually banned at schools such as Harvard. Four decades later and the tide has turned significantly, as has so much with military dependent scholarships.
With the cost of a college degree rising geometrically, many students now explore their options before matriculating to a college. This includes signing up with one of the five main ROTC programs (Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and Coast Guard).
Many universities, both online and brick-and-mortar, again have ROTC programs, Harvard included. Since Desert Storm and especially after the World Trade Center, the military’s popularity has made a major turnaround. The ROTC offering full-tuition scholarships plus book and lab fees is also quite attractive. While graduating does mean it’s time to do one’s four years, it’s done as an officer. In these economic times, that’s a bonus that many are finding works well in their lives and new careers.
After all, these students will have guaranteed job security after they graduate, even if it means getting up at reveille. Further, while in the military they will learn invaluable management techniques they can apply in the civilian working world. Because they are required to serve a minimum four years after graduation, recruiters look at that as an added listing in the resume, particularly if they end up working in a STEM (science, tech, engineering, math) occupation.
An ROTC grad also has some points over his West Point and Annapolis counterparts as they don’t live the reclusive lives of midshipmen or cadets. ROTC students are considered more familiar with the real world. Also, they gain sharpened time management skills due to balancing school, work and military schedules. If that isn’t enough, the ROTC grads are known to mix in personal hobbies with everything else, so they are considered more balanced.
The hostility ROTC students suffered before is also long gone. They are given an incredible amount of respect for answering their country’s call. As a final bonus, due to the armed service’s physical programs, many return to civilian life in excellent physical shape, in addition to all their other new skills.
There are also those who believe ROTC grads value their gi bill education more than the average student, as they have learned firsthand about how hard work can pay off. Additionally, they will know that they are carrying out their civic duty while they work to increase their value in the workforce.
So, as said before, the financial burden that makes students postpone or forego higher education ends up being overcome in a way that benefits the nation as a whole. While military education benefits students also avoid the stress created by student loan debt with the added bonus of hands-on training provided by ROTC programs. Once in the military, further educational opportunities will be available via the new GI Bill.
