DA Form 597-3 at a glance
What it is: This form is the Army Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship Cadet Contract.
Who signs: Sign in O. Part III is to be completed if the applicant is under 18 years of age at time of enrollment in the ROTC program: Q, SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN, and R, SIGNATURE OF WITNESS. The ROTC contracting official signs in V, SIGNATURE OF ROTC OFFICIAL.
The contract is an agreement entered into between the United States Army and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship cadet named in it, with the consent of the parent or guardian if the cadet is under the age of 18, to effect the cadet's participation in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program. Entry into this program is a serious commitment. If there are any doubts about the prospective cadet's ability or determination to fulfill the terms of this contract, then this contract should not be executed.
Applicable portions must be completed if the applicant desires to be contracted in the ROTC Scholarship Program.
A filled-in DA Form 597-3 example: a first-year cadet signs the contract
How to fill out DA Form 597-3, box by box
Student's name, date of birth and educational institution
Enter the student's name (Last, First, MI) in A.
Enter the SSN in B.
Enter the date of birth in C as YYYYMMDD.
Enter the name of the educational institution in D and the address of the educational institution in E.
Enter the date education commences in F and the completion date in G, both as YYYYMMDD.
Enter the address of record in H, and include the ZIP Code.
Enter the academic major in which the degree is to be attained in I.
Scholarship benefits and pay
Enter the extended benefits received in J, the period covered in K, the date approved (YYYYMMDD) in L, and authorized in M.
Under PAY SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS, pay for a period of the number of academic years you enter (provided funds are appropriated by Congress).
Under TUITION AND FEES, tuition and educational fees up to an annual amount are reimbursed, as established on an annual basis by the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Scholarship payment for tuitions and fees will be made if the cadet remains actively enrolled as a scholarship student on the 45th day after the start of each academic year. The 45-day waiting period applies only to the first term of each academic year (usually the Fall semester/quarter). The waiting period will not apply to the second semester or to second/third quarters. If the cadet enters into a scholarship contract after the 45th day of the first term of the academic year, he or she is immediately eligible for scholarship benefits payments.
Pay monthly subsistence for MS I to MS V cadets
Under PAY MONTHLY SUBSISTENCE, enter the rate per month for MS I cadets, MS II cadets, MS III cadets, MS IV cadets and MS V cadets; the allowance is for 10 months of any academic year (or the actual duration of the academic year, whichever is shorter); the rates are implemented by the Secretary of Army and may change during the period of this contract.
Entitlement is not to exceed (1) 50 months for a 5-year scholarship (or extended benefits under 4-year scholarship), (2) 40 months for a 4-year scholarship, (3) 30 months for a 3-year scholarship and (4) 20 months for a 2-year scholarship.
Home address, signature and date
Enter the home address in N and include the ZIP Code, sign in O, and enter the date (YYYYMMDD) in P.
Part III, parent or guardian consent
Part III is to be completed if the applicant is under 18 years of age at time of enrollment in the ROTC program.
By signing, you certify that you are the applicant's parent or legal guardian, and that the applicant's date of birth as shown in C is correct.
In Q, SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN, sign; in R, SIGNATURE OF WITNESS, sign; in S, enter the date (YYYYMMDD).
Effective date of enrollment and ROTC contracting official
The ROTC contracting official enters the effective date of enrollment (YYYYMMDD) in T, the name of the ROTC contracting official in U, signs in V, SIGNATURE OF ROTC OFFICIAL, and enters the date (YYYYMMDD) in W.
More rules for DA Form 597-3
I agree to maintain, at a minimum, a cumulative academic grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 or equivalent scale.
I understand that upon appointment, I will incur a total military service obligation not to exceed eight (8) years and cannot resign such appointment before completion.
If I am ineligible for contracting in ROTC based on a particular medical or non-medical condition, but such ineligibility may be waived, I must obtain an approved waiver before executing this contract.
Failure to have disclosed or to disclose any disqualifying condition, including any conditions you should have known about, will subject you to disenrollment from the ROTC program and possible recoupment of scholarship benefits.
If you are a nurse cadet
If you are a nurse cadet
If you are a nurse cadet, you must take the exam within 60 days after graduation. If you fail the exam, you must retake it within 120 days after graduation.
Sources
[1] DA Form 597-3 (APR 2023), Army Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship Cadet Contract, Department of the Army (the Official source link on this page).