The Reserve Officers' Training corps, or ROTC as it is commonly known as, goes back as far as 1862 when the Morrill Act was created. The Morrill Act established land-grant colleges and one of the stipulations of these colleges was they had to include military curriculum.
No. Time in ROTC does not count towards your military time in service.
Four year degree. ROTC is optional - you can get selected for OCS without having gone through the ROTC Programme.
Generally, your commitment to the military is directly proportional with the number of years ROTC pays for your school. If you are awarded a full 4-year scholarship through ROTC, you will owe the military 4 years of active duty service.
teach ROTC
There are many ways one can get started in a military career. One is to enroll in the ROTC in high school and continue that into a career. Someone can also enter after college.
Apply to college ROTC. There used to be two year curriculums and four year courses.
I am still trying to figure out how many people apply for Army ROTC scholarships, but I do know that only about 2,000 4-year scholarships are given out each year. There are also 3 and 2-year scholarships given out on college campuses, but the number of those varies.
The end of mandatory ROTC
No. "ROTC in high school" is JROTC. If you complete enough JROTC you can enlist as E2 or something. That's the only advantage of JROTC. For Army ROTC you must attend and receive a degree from a 4-year university.
ROTC members on scholarship who choose to opt out after their first year typically do not receive a DD214, as this form is issued to service members who have completed active duty or have been discharged from service. Instead, they may be released from their scholarship contract without completing any military service. However, the specifics can vary based on the circumstances and the policies of the ROTC program. It's advisable for individuals to consult with their ROTC cadre for detailed guidance on their particular situation.
ROTC is not in itself a minor. However, you can minor in whatever the main field of your ROTC branch is. For example: if you complete the full curriculum for Army ROTC, you can be eligible for a Military Science Minor, or Aerospace Studies Minor with Air Force ROTC.
ROTC graduation typically occurs at the end of the academic year, coinciding with the university's commencement ceremonies. Specific dates can vary by institution, so it's best to check with your university's ROTC program or academic calendar for the exact timing. Generally, this event celebrates the commissioning of cadets into the military as second lieutenants.