University Of Hawai'i ROTC Program Announces Additional Scholarships and Accelerated Commissioning Programs

University of Hawaiʻi
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Posted: Mar 5, 2001

HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is calling for students with the "right stuff." The Army ROTC is offering substantial increases in scholarships and the Air Force just announced an accelerated commissioning program.

Both the Army and Air Force ROTC programs serve as the hub for all higher-education institutions on O'ahu. The majority of students are from UH Manoa, however, the programs include cadets from UH West O'ahu, Hawai'i Pacific University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, and the UH community colleges.

"We're accepting applications now for 3- and 2-year scholarships for fall 2001," said Major Trey Johnson, UH Army ROTC enrollment officer. Deadlines are April 1 and May 1 for the 3- and 2-year scholarships, respectively.

Johnson said that annually, the scholarships include 100 percent tuition up to $17,000 and $600 for books, as well as a $250 monthly stipend for 10 months.

"With our recent scholarship allocation increase, we're projecting that the number of cadets our detachment will have on scholarship will jump from 27 in 1999 to more than 90 in fall 2001," he said. "That's a total value of more than $1.5 million in scholarships!"

Johnson said that the detachment's higher headquarters in Fort Lewis, Wash., provides the federal funds for the scholarships. "Since all the money comes from outside the state, that's a big economic boost for UH," he said.

Lt. Col. Bob Takao, UH Army ROTC detachment commander, attributed the extraordinary increase in scholarships to the success of his unit's program to commission officers. In just two years, his program went from a No. 194 ranking-out of 270 nationally-to No. 4 in the country. Rankings are based on the numbers of cadets commissioned compared to the unit's annual mission, which is 15 for the UH program.

"Our program offers students opportunities for their future because we're a bridge to where they want to go in the military and beyond," said Johnson. Starting pay and other benefits for a newly commissioned second lieutenant is about $35,000, and in just three-and-a-half years, the pay and benefits package jumps to about $60,000, he said.

The Air Force is also conducting an aggressive program to recruit new officers with its one-year ROTC program. "The One Year College Program (OYCP) is designed to help Air Force ROTC meet its officer production requirements," said Captain Jason Densley, UH AFROTC admissions officer. "The Air Force is projecting a shortage of 500 officers next year, however, the Air Force won't cap the number of students it will accept for the program."

The "express" program is open to students who can complete an undergraduate or graduate degree by Sept. 30, 2002, Densley said. The application period runs from March 1 to Aug. 1, 2001.

Depending on a student's grade point average and other qualifications, scholarships can pay up to $15,000 per year for tuition, plus additional money for books and stipends, said Densley.

For more information, contact Major Johnson at 956-7766, and Capt. Densley at 956-7734.