ROTC and Academy Cadets May Be "Disenrolled"

ROTC and Academy cadets may be “disenrolled,” or removed from enrollment, for misconduct, poor academic performance, honor code violations, and other reasons. The procedures that must be followed differ according to the military department involved.

In all cases, the cadet is investigated and is allowed to challenge his or her disenrollment through restricted hearing procedures. For Academy cadets charged with honor code violations, it is normal for a hearing to be held before an Honor Board.

At the Law Offices of David P. Sheldon, in Washington, D.C., we represent ROTC and Academy cadets across the country who have been disenrolled or face potential disenrollment. Retain our services, and we can represent you at hearings in an attempt to reinstate your enrollment.

Financial Consequences

In addition to destroying a cadet’s prospects for serving as a commissioned officer, involuntary disenrollment can cause extremely harsh financial consequences.

In many cases, disenrolled cadets may be required to reimburse the government for any tuition and scholarships they received. Other consequences can include:

  • Expensive repayments. For Academy cadets, repayment claims can range from $35,000 to more than $100,000. For ROTC cadets, repayment depends on whether the cadet received a scholarship.
  • Compulsory military service. ROTC cadets who received scholarships may also be required to perform two years of active military duty. Non-scholarship ROTC cadets may also be required to perform two years of active-duty service.

You Can Fight Back with an Experienced Disenrollment Prevention Lawyer

The stakes are high for any cadet facing investigation or disenrollment. If you are in such a position, it is important that you seek the assistance of a qualified and experienced disenrollment prevention lawyer. You might not think you can fight a disenrollment action, but you can.

Our lead attorney, David P. Sheldon, has successfully represented cadets in many situations regarding disenrollment actions. Aided by his more than 30 years of military defense experience, he can uncover errors in investigations and procedures leading up to and following disenrollment hearings.
Mr. Sheldon can work to prevent or overturn an unjustifiable and unlawful disenrollment in circumstances when the military fails:

  • To adhere to its own disenrollment procedures
  • To respect the legal right of cadets
  • To conduct an impartial investigation and/or hearing
Mr. Sheldon came highly recommended by a fellow Public Health Service (PHS) officer. After initial discussion he immediately reviewed my case and provided me with a clear pathway. I retained Mr. Sheldon’s firm to apply to the PHS Board of Corrections to obtain adjudication of my rightful promotion. His knowledge of the law, the system and prior cases is phenomenal. His team worked efficiently, diligently and we were able to get a successful outcome. I would highly recommend him to any uniformed service person.

- CDR HM