Unlike many of their college counterparts, who will be hitting the pavement in search of employment, ROTC graduates’ careers have already begun. They will be assigned to various shore installations and sea-going commands and will have the opportunity to apply the leadership skills and education they learned in college. After they gain experience in their chosen career paths, they can seek advanced training and greater leadership opportunities to further their professional development.
ROTC programs stress the importance of academic achievement. The curriculum challenges its students to sharpen their problem-solving, intellectual and cognitive skills while applying theory to real world situations. These students are expected to excel in the classroom and maintain an overall 2.5 grade point average. According to the Air Force ROTC, after successful completion of the ROTC program, students receive a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, ranging from Aeronautical Engineering to Telecommunications.
All service branches offer a variety of scholarship programs and financial assistance for interested applicants. These scholarships help pay for some or all of college tuition, books and other educational expenditures, depending on the ROTC program and service branch. Scholarships are also available specifically for women and minorities. For instance, the Navy participates in the Minority Serving Institution or MSI Scholarship Program, which says it recruits college students from "Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), High Hispanic Enrollment (HHE) schools, and other Minority Institutions (MI)."
ROTC programs focus not only on education and physical fitness, but also community service. Many ROTC programs require students to perform a certain amount of hours working on community projects, such as tutoring elementary school children, assisting people at a homeless shelter or volunteering during major sporting events. Community service is a major part of developing leadership skills in future military officers. Through community outreach, students learn valuable lessons about service to others and the importance of responsibility, which will help them in their personal and professional lives.