Army ROTC cadets compete in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition in West Point, N.Y., May 1, 2026. Forty-eight teams participated in Sandhurst, including U.S. service academies, Army ROTC programs and international teams. (Sarah Windmueller/U.S. Army)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Heather Tenney is a partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s military law, federal employment and national security law practice groups, and currently serves as the primary attorney for consultation in these areas. She brought her skills as an advocate and negotiator to Tully Rinckey after serving with the U.S. Army’s JAG Corps
I’m a contracted cadet struggling with mental health issues. Won’t I get kicked out of ROTC if I get treatment or go to therapy? Will I need to pay back my scholarship if I’m disenrolled for a mental health condition?
There is a great deal of fear among ROTC cadets facing mental health challenges, but it is important to seek professional help. Know that the military is perfectly aware that some cadets will develop disqualifying medical conditions after enrolling in ROTC
Also, it is possible for contracted cadets or midshipmen who are medically disenrolled from ROTC to avoid incurring debt. Psychiatric and behavioral health conditions are considered medical conditions
If fear of removal from ROTC is keeping you from disclosing a mental health condition or seeking treatment, know that it is often far less risky to report in accordance with your ROTC contract and program policy than it is to hide it
ROTC medical disenrollment
ROTC contracts establish a service obligation in return for a scholarship. As a contracted cadet who is unable to complete ROTC, this leaves two basic options: Completing the service obligation by enlisting for two to four years, or repaying the scholarship money
Enlisting is not an option if you developed a medical or mental health condition that disqualifies you from military enrollment (see DODI 6130.03, Vol. 1). Fortunately, it may be possible to avoid incurring debt. Cadets and midshipmen who develop a disqualifying medical condition while enrolled in ROTC may be medically disenrolled without an obligation to pay back their scholarship
This is not the case for contracted cadets who knowingly hide their medical condition during application or enrollment. In that case, you would most likely face disenrollment and an obligation to repay your scholarship
Change in medical status as a contracted cadet
There is an important distinction between someone applying for ROTC and a contracted cadet. As a contracted cadet, seeking mental health treatment will not necessarily get you kicked out
On the other hand, knowingly concealing a medical condition or change in medical status is far riskier as a contracted cadet. You are expected to report changes in medical status. Failing to do so likely violates your contract. Consult your contract or program for guidance on reportable changes. The list typically includes counseling with a mental health professional, psychiatric hospitalization and a prescription for psychiatric medication
If you report medical changes as appropriate, you may require a medical determination. Medical disenrollment is only one potential outcome. Your program’s medical waiver authority will decide your medical eligibility and recommend one of the following:
Leave of absence (to seek treatment, recover, etc.)
Medical disenrollment
Mental health challenges in ROTC
Seeking professional help is the most responsible course in most cases. Work with your mental health provider to develop a treatment plan and document your progress. Depending on your situation, documentation from a medical professional can accomplish two important things:
Help demonstrate your continued eligibility, so you may remain in ROTC
Demonstrate you are receiving treatment for a valid medical condition, and you have informed cadre as required by contract. This can help you avoid a financial obligation to repay your ROTC scholarship after disenrollment
Finally, read your contract carefully. Failing to report medical updates may result in disenrollment and educational debt
If you are concerned you may face allegations that you were aware of your medical condition before enrolling or that you otherwise misrepresented or withheld relevant medical information, it is highly advised to seek professional legal counsel. Such an allegation would most likely result in disenrollment as well as incurring a substantial debt to the Defense Finance Accounting Service
This article is for informational purposes only. Its content is not intended to constitute endorsement or legal advice, nor does it establish a client-lawyer relationship with Tully Rinckey PLLC or any of its affiliates
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