Applications are in. The next two months mark the span of time in which high school seniors eagerly anticipate acceptance into their dream schools. Let the nail biting begin. Some imagine a suburban campus surrounded by the beauty of nature and the typical college experience, while others await admission into prestigious military affiliated academies. In an attempt to find that happy medium, a select few of Revere’s own plan to staple themselves to the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) with aspirations of a future in the military.

Unlike military-aligned academies, ROTC students attend college parallel to any other student. In addition, however, they receive basic military training for the branch of their choosing.

High school graduation is just around the bend. In anticipation, senior Jenna Majka received acceptance into the Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) program at Miami University. Majka is waiting to formally recognize her acceptance as she is also yearning to hear back from Miami’s Navy ROTC (NROTC) program. At Miami, she will gain the basic training and leadership skills needed for active service. Majka detailed her original interest in the program.

“My father has played a large role in my interest for ROTC. He served in the Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992. When I first began my interest in the program, he was thrilled and made a large effort to gather information for me and schedule appointments to talk to other officers. Since then I have learned that ROTC would be a great way for me to serve my country, graduate from college almost debt-free, gain prestigious experience in my career field, and travel around the world for almost no cost,” Majka said.

The AFROTC program at Miami University offers scholarships of different monetary values. These scholarships, however, are not awarded based on financial need; rather, merit. Some scholarships cover a student’s tuition entirely while others supply a student with a yearly allowance.

According to Miami University’s website, “Air Force ROTC offers a scholarship program for highly qualified high school seniors as well as students already in college who are interested in commissioning as Air Force officers. Many scholarships pay full tuition, housing and dining, money for books, and a monthly tax-free stipend.”

Senior Thomas Baker awaits acceptance into an unnamed NROTC program. Baker summarized his future plans.

“NROTC covers most of [the] tuition . . . After NROTC I will go to officer candidate school where I will train to be an officer, and then [I am] bound to serve four years. Then I can leave, but I plan on making a career out of being an officer in the Marine Corp,” Baker said.

While most students are agonizing over whether they get “the big envelope” versus “the small envelope,” students like Majka and Baker anticipate four years of basic military training and a lifelong career in military service.