Should I go for ROTC vs. Enlistment?

Question

I'm looking for a little help with choosing what to do here. I'm not going to base my decision on what someone says here but a little extra advice never hurt. I'm at a toss up here, I know I want to do both College and the Military but I can't really decide which I'd rather do first and what would be the best route to take.
 If I did ROTC first I could maybe get a scholarship and go to school get a degree, a monthly allowance, experience college and that all sounds great but Enlisting is also pretty appealing to just go in and do my 4 years get out and use the GI Bill to focus on whatever I want to do.

So basically if you are in the military do you wish you did ROTC first or are you glad you just did general enlistment and vice versa?

Also is ROTC worth my time if I'll probably only be in the military for my 4 years and then get out?

Do you still get the GI Bill if you do ROTC and then your 4 years to maybe pay for a masters degree?

Can you use the GI Bill on other members of your family. Like if you had kids?

Feel free to add any other information because like I said I'm at a stand still at the moment I feel and not really sure which direction to head in. I appreciate the answers. Thanks.

Armed with Inkstick · Accepted Answer

Simple question:  do you want to be an officer?

If the answer is yes, go for ROTC.

If the answer is no/I don't know, do not do ROTC and go enlist.  

ROTC is not a financial aid system, it's a training system to produce officers. If you don't want to be an officer, it is not for you.

Tom · Answer

Also is ROTC worth my time if I'll probably only be in the military for my 4 years and then get out?
A: Civilian employers  value the managerial experience of junior officers. 
http://www.jrofficer.com/
Do you still get the GI Bill if you do ROTC and then your 4 years to maybe pay for a masters degree?
The initial active duty service obligation of officers commissioned without an rotc scholarship accrues full post 9/11 GI Bill educational benefits that can be used to help finance a graduate or professional school education. Officers commissioned with an rotc scholarship or at a service academy, have to serve an additional 36 months past the initial active duty service to accrue 9/11 GI Bill Benefits. There is a Graduate School Option:
http://www.career-satisfaction.army.mil/rotc_gradso.html
Can you use the GI Bill on other members of your family. Like if you had kids?
Yes, see how this can work with the Graduate School Option above. 
Good Luck!

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Should I go for ROTC vs. Enlistment?

2 Answers