example of application letter for rotc officer

EWU Army ROTC

Eastern Washington University

10 Tips for a Successful Army ROTC National Scholarship Application

Each year between October through March is the ROTC National Scholarship season where high school seniors apply for ROTC scholarships through the GoArmy website .  The Eastern Washington University Army ROTC office helps dozens of applicants each year navigate the ROTC scholarship process.  Based on this experience we have some tips we recommend to all ROTC National Scholarship applicants to maximize their opportunity to be awarded an ROTC scholarship.

  1.  Submit Your Application Early :   The first scholarship board usually meets in October, the second board in January, and the third board in March.  Getting your application completed before the first board will increase your chances of receiving a scholarship because the application will be seen three times.  Additionally the first board is where a lot of four year scholarships are awarded from as well.  If you really want a four year scholarship get your application complete prior to the first board.  Key things that need to be done to have the scholarship ready for the first board is to upload your high school transcripts, upload your SAT or ACT scores, complete the physical fitness test, and conduct an interview.  Here at Eastern we can complete both the fitness test and interview for you.  Contact us at [email protected] to schedule.

  2.  List 5 or More Schools on Your Application :  Applicants need to be realistic when putting down universities on their application.  Putting down only Harvard and MIT on the ROTC application, but only having an 1150 on the SAT means you are probably not getting a scholarship for those universities.  However, if you list Harvard & MIT plus three or more other schools you could likely get admitted to with an 1150 SAT score will increase your chance of receiving a scholarship to a school other than Harvard or MIT.  A scholarship to your third of fourth school is better than no scholarship at all.  Each university’s ROTC office has a Recruiting Officer called a “ROO” that can assist with learning what the admissions requirements are for each university.

  3.  Find Out What Type of ROTC Program You Are Applying to :  Something to keep in mind is that not all ROTC programs are created equal.  If you are planning to attend a university that has a host ROTC program you are likely going to have more military cadre and resources to better prepare you for the challenges ahead in ROTC.  Other universities have ROTC programs that are extension or satellite campuses.  Extension programs may require their students to drive to the host program to take courses.  If going to an extension program find out how far you have to drive to do physical training and ROTC classes.  The amount of driving to do ROTC may influence your decision to attend that school.  Satellite campuses may have very limited cadre, as little as two full time ROTC instructors.  If going to a satellite campus find out how many instructors they have assigned.  At EWU Army ROTC we are a  fully staffed host program with a proven track record of getting Cadets ready to succeed in both ROTC and the Army.

  4.  Visit Multiple ROTC Programs :   The best way to figure out if an ROTC program is right for you is to visit it.  If possible try to visit multiple ROTC programs to compare and contrast them.  This will also help you determine if you are attending a host, extension, or satellite program.  If attending a host program make an appointment with the ROO and ask to meet with the Professor of Military Science (PMS) who is usually a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the ROTC battalion.  Ask about how well the program scores at Advanced Camp?  How many first branch choices did the MS-IV class receive?  Ask about where they train at?  How many Cadets are on scholarship?  How does the program perform at Ranger Challenge competitions?  This should give you an idea of how well the ROTC program is performing.  Also bring your parents to the ROTC program to meet the ROO and PMS.  At EWU Army ROTC, our ROO and PMS always makes time to visit with parents.  We want you and your parents to be as comfortable as possible with your decision to dedicate four years of your life being part of our ROTC program.

5.  Ask What Other Scholarships Are Available :  Even if you do not receive an ROTC National Scholarship talk to the ROTC program you are interested in about other scholarship options.  They should be able to inform you about ROTC campus based scholarships, Minuteman Scholarships , and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarships.  Some schools also have various academic and alumni scholarships that Cadets can apply for as well.  For example at EWU we have four Cadets on a fraternity sponsored Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship and another on the Chertok Memorial Scholarship which is an academic scholarship awarded through the College of Social Sciences.

6.  Train to Take Your Fitness Test:   Applicants that are not in the best of shape should spend a month training to improve their fitness prior to taking the fitness test.  ROTC scholarships are highly competitive and running a seven minute mile could be the difference between receiving a 4 year or 3 year scholarship.  If possible try and take the scholarship fitness test while visiting the ROTC program you are most interested in.  Fitness is a very important attribute of being an Army officer and preparing for the test and doing well on it will make a good first impression with the ROTC Cadre.

7.  Prepare for Your Interview:   The interview for the ROTC National Scholarship is very important since it is worth 200 points.  Additionally the interviewer who is usually a Professor of Military Science, will write an assessment of you that will be read by the scholarship board.  Making a good first impression is critical, show up on time and come dressed for success.  Don’t wear torn up jeans and t-shirts to an ROTC interview.  Business dress for both males and females is very appropriate for a scholarship interview.  Don’t be taking calls or answering texts on your phone during the interview.  Yes I have seen this happen!   Be prepared to answer simple questions like, “Tell me a little about yourself”.  Remember you are selling yourself to the PMS to write the best assessment possible of you to the scholarship board.  Be well prepared to answer questions and think on your feet.  Finally be prepared to ask the interviewer some questions at the end of the interview.  This further demonstrates how prepared you were for the interview.

8.  Spend Time Writing a Quality Essay:  On the ROTC application you will have the opportunity to write a little bit about yourself.  Make sure to spend the time to write a quality essay, personal statement, and achievements.  You especially should highlight why you want to be an Army officer.  Make sure you use proper grammar and don’t have misspellings.  Writing is an important skill for Army officers to have, so show the board you can write a quality narrative.  In the narrative make sure to highlight aspects about you that will make you stand out from the crowd.  Mentions things like if you ranked nationally in some event, how many hours you were per week at your job, any awards you have received, volunteer service, etc.

  9.  Play a Sport:   Points are awarded on the ROTC scholarship application for sports played.  Remember that Cadets in ROTC are scholar athletes, just like members of the university’s sports teams.  The Army wants its officers to be athletic.  If you know you plan to apply in the future for an ROTC Scholarship than find a sport to play in high school, preferably two of them.  Having all-conference and all-state sports honors on an ROTC application will really help the application stand apart from the crowd.

10.  Get Involved in Organizations:   On the scholarship interview there are points that can be awarded for being involved in school and community activities.  For example being elected to student government and being a member of the National Honor Society are worth points.  Being involved in Scouting or Civil Air Patrol are examples on community organizations that points can be awarded for.  Volunteering for local organizations are other great things to include on the application and mention during interviews.

Following these tips will help you be competitive for an ROTC scholarship.  However, these tips cannot overcome poor performance in the classroom.  Keeping a high GPA and scoring well on the SAT or ACT are very important for being competitive for an ROTC scholarship.  The Army is looking for Scholar, Athlete, Leaders so try to work towards meeting all three of these criteria in your application.  Good luck to everyone pursuing an ROTC scholarship and feel free to leave a comment or email us at [email protected] with any questions.

2 thoughts on “10 Tips for a Successful Army ROTC National Scholarship Application”

ROTC scholarship application question

This is the summer after my Junior year, I’m supposed to be starting the application right? The reason why I ask this, is the on the deadline section the boards still say 2018-2019.

2.For the school year it says 2020-2021, what does this refer to?

I’m basically looking for conformation I didn’t screw up the start of the application by being too early. Again, I’m going to my senior year starting in august, and I graduate 2020.

The 2020-2021 scholarship season is for current high school seniors that submitted ROTC applications. The 2020-2021 scholarship season is about to be over. Since you are a junior currently your first year in college would be the 2021-2022 academic year and thus this is the timeframe you will be competing for a scholarship for.

This summer you can start putting your application together. Make sure to take your ACT or SAT early to have time to take a retest if needed. This is something I have seen issues with applicants before with. Once you are good with your ACT or SAT, you will need to contact your nearest ROTC department to conduct the fitness test and interview. If you live in the Spokane region we can easily take care of this for you.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Go Eags!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Campus Safety

509.359.6498 Office

509.359.6498 Cheney

509.359.6498 Spokane

[email protected]

Records & Registration

509.359.2321

[email protected]

Need Tech Assistance?

509.359.2247

[email protected]

EWU ACCESSIBILITY

509.359.6871

[email protected]

EWU Accessibility

Student Affairs

509.359.7924

[email protected]

University Housing

509.359.2451

[email protected]

Housing & Residential Life

Register to Vote

Register to Vote (RCW 29A.08.310)

509.359.6200

© 2024 INSIDE.EWU.EDU

• Downloadable Forms

• Rescom Leadership
• Commander's Corner
• Weekly Reservists
• Basic ROTC - Enrollment Procedure
• Basic ROTC - Conduct of Course
• Basic ROTC - Declination of Function
• Basic ROTC - Responsibility
• Basic ROTC - Course Description
• Basic ROTC - Desired Learning Outcomes
• Basic ROTC - Course Objectives
• Advance ROTC
• Field Events
• Command Activities
• RCPA - ATR Journey
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Useful Links
• PHILIPPINE ARMY

• Get One-on-One Coaching Now
• Army ROTC Scholarship
• Air Force ROTC Scholarship
• Navy or Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship
• Free Training
• ROTC Scholarship Online Courses
• College Incentives
• Testimonials

Navy ROTC Essay Examples with Commentary

CAPT Roberts

7 minute read

• Winning Navy ROTC Essay Examples

The following are winning four-year scholarship essays from Navy ROTC-Marine Corps option applicants we have worked within the past at ROTC Consulting. These also apply to Navy ROTC because the prompts are the same. We will provide commentary at the end of each essay as to why each of these Navy ROTC essay examples is effective.

Winning Navy ROTC Essay #1

Discuss your reasons for wanting to become a Marine Officer. Specifically, comment on leadership positions you’ve held, the challenges you have faced and the lessons you have learned.

• Winning Answer:

My desire to become an officer in the Marine Corps stems from my passion for leadership, athletic merit, community service, and my country. These attributes will greatly assist me on my quest to earn the title of Marine officer.

In order to make that statement, I needed to better understand what life would be like as a ROTC midshipman and future Marine lieutenant. I had an action plan to find out more. I visited the Texas A&M Naval ROTC and talked to midshipmen and the officer staff about what it takes to be a midshipman. I have spoken to several commissioned officers about my chosen career as a Marine aviation officer and learned about the responsibility and standards that will be demanded of me leading enlisted Marines. It is an awesome responsibility that begins with my enrollment in the Naval ROTC

I embrace leadership. For two years I have been the student leader for my school’s design program. My responsibilities included developing solutions to intricate problems, crafting enhanced ways of teaching subjects for teachers, and mentoring younger students on the proper use of tools and safety. This upcoming year I will be a part of the inaugural community-based design class in which we will identify and solve problems in our community.

Sports have been an integral part of my life. From a state-ranked ten-year-old swimmer to a three-time tennis state champion at 17, I have matured into a solid athlete but also a strong teammate and leader. As the cross-country team captain, my goal was not only to form a bond but also to succeed as a team. In my second year as the team captain, I am working to set an example of strong work ethic and to create an atmosphere of camaraderie. I understand the importance the Marine Corps places on being physically fit. As an officer, you must set the example and physical fitness excellence is one way to demonstrate this.

Giving back to my community has become important. Teaching kids with autism how to play tennis has been extremely fulfilling, because it gives them the chance to be athletes who are defined by their skill and not by their condition. I have also found great joy in teaching tennis to younger kids and introducing them to the sport that has given back to me. I believe serving my community for its betterment has made a lasting impact on me and instilled the true value of service to others.

Patriotism and loyalty are two traits that describe my love of this country My whole life I have felt extremely lucky to have been raised and given a great education in this amazing country. I would like to put my education and leadership skills to use in the best way possible, defending this great nation while helping to lead the world’s premier fighting force.

• Commentary on why this essay is successful:

Notice that this essay is a combination of showing things that he did to learn more about being both a cadet and an officer in the United States Navy as well as what the candidate did in high school that applies to the question.

In our opinion, the first part of the essay, namely, demonstrating what you know about the Navy or Marine Corps, in the more important part of the essay. This can be demonstrated by letting Navy ROTC know what research you did on the internet, who you talked to (both cadets/midshipmen and officers) and especially what things you did to visit ROTC programs and actual Navy or Marine Corps units (such as Navy or Marine Corps Reserve Units) to talk with both officers and noncommissioned officers to learn the duties and responsibilities of a lieutenant or ensign.

In addition, did you take the time to visit a Navy ROTC program? If so, what did you learn? Are you ready for the challenges of Navy ROTC? Tell the board members that you took the time to visit and learn more about Navy ROTC and are excited about being a midshipmen/cadet.

Winning Navy ROTC Essay #2

Prompt: How might your background and experiences enhance the U.S. Marine Corps?

My experiences in leadership and community service have provided a strong foundation for me to build off of and further develop as a midshipman and future officer in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout high school I have had valuable leadership opportunities in the classroom, on athletic teams, in church, and in my community.

For the past two years, I have been the student leader in my school’s design program using my problem-solving abilities and organizational skills to guide other students to success in the classroom. Junior year I became the captain of the boys varsity cross country team. I take this honor seriously and work to set an example by having a strong work ethic and a positive attitude for the team. My experience as a leader, coupled with the training I would receive as a midshipman, will help make me a strong future leader of Marines.

My commitment to service is something that I take great pride in. It is not the quantity of community service hours I have, but the quality of service. I believe that the time you do spend must be applied to something meaningful to better the community. To truly make a difference you also have to show passion in your service. I have volunteered every summer with my church to help with their vacation bible school. I have helped with a dog rescue, and I have rung the bell for the Salvation Army. However, what fulfills me the most is volunteering at a weekly tennis clinic for children with autism as well as a tournament for veterans. I have worked closely with the program director to help plan and make each event successful. Working with people who have both mental and physical challenges and seeing them succeed is very rewarding. I understand that selfless service and a servant’s heart are important attributes of Maine officers and I believe my experiences will prepare me to be a better Marine officer.

This is where you provide Navy ROTC your “signature” accomplishments. The top three to four things you are most proud of. List each and then explain in a paragraph why this accomplish is significant. In this way, you highlight to the selection committee clearly what you are most proud of and what they need to pay attention to. This is where you get to “brag” about yourself.

Final Thoughts on Navy ROTC essays:

These essays are important to Navy ROTC. These winning ROTC essay examples highlight several things. Essay #1 needs to show what effort you put in to learn more about Navy ROTC and the duties and responsibilities of an ensign or lieutenant. Essay #2 is your signature accomplishments to demonstrate why you should be selected for a scholarship over someone else. Make sure you highlight only the most important things you have done.

If you do the above things, you are that much closer to winning a Navy ROTC Scholarship!

ROTC Scholarship Consulting provides assistance with your essays as well as other areas of the scholarship application. ROTC Scholarship Consulting has an unparalleled record in helping candidates win ROTC Scholarships.  Please take a look at our services for more information .

Article Contents

Examples of real essays that won the rotc scholarship, related posts.

A comprehensive guide to the Air Force ROTC scholarship interview

CAPT Matthew Roberts (USN, Ret.) is an expert on Navy and Marine Corps Option ROTC Scholarships, along with leadership. He served for over 30 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Professor of Naval Science at Auburn University.

Want to earn maximum points competing for your Navy ROTC scholarship?

Which Colleges have a Navy ROTC Program?

The Navy ROTC Scholarship: SAT and ACT Scores ARE NOT as Important!

The navy rotc board selection process.

Selection Criteria for ROTC Scholarships

Preparing for your Navy ROTC Scholarship Interview

Does ROTC Pay for Housing? ROTC Scholarship Benefits

How the Whole Person Concept Impacts your ROTC Scholarship Chances

4 Tips for Your Navy ROTC Scholarship Teacher Evaluations

Navy and Marine Corps ROTC Fitness Tests Switch to Plank Exercise: New for 2022-2023

The Navy ROTC Preparatory Program (NPP): Increase your chances of winning a Scholarship at 20 Navy ROTC Colleges with this little known program