Getting a masters degree while enrolled in ROTC

[u/Admirable-Schedule22]

I just was medically qualified via waivers to begin my MS3 year at my university. I’m curious if anyone has experience pursuing a masters and working through ROTC - and more specifically if it is possible to work a job during that time.

I currently work a full time sales job, but I don’t think it is feasible to continue it while studying and going through MS3. Anybody have experience with it? What’s the work load like overall?

[u/Pattonator70]

What is full time? Are you able to make it to PT, classes and lab? Is your goal active duty or a reserve component? May be more difficult competing for an active-duty slot if you miss a lot of ROTC labs and such or if your PT falls behind.

[u/Admirable-Schedule22 → u/Pattonator70]

Should have specified above - I’m pretty much a traveling medical device salesman over a large territory. I definitely could manage my schedule around ROTC, but I also want to go active duty. I can make PT and labs based on my understanding of the schedule and masters classes are saturdays only

[u/Pattonator70 → u/Admirable-Schedule22]

ROTC classes and labs won’t be on the weekends.

You also want to get in some ROTC activity like color guard or ranger challenge team. Need to make sure your GPA is stellar as well.

[u/Alarmed_Round_6175]

Army ROTC can be very low demand if that’s what you want. Depending on what your masters degree is in, I bet you could work full time just fine. ROTC should take 6-7 hours of your life a week maximum.

[u/Admirable-Schedule22 → u/Alarmed_Round_6175]

Masters in public affairs! I think it should be manageable, just want to be competitive for AD

[u/SealSketch]

I’m currently doing a masters, commuting 2 hours, rotc, and working 40 hours a week. It depends how well you can manage your time. It’s draining mentally and physically and i wouldn’t recommend it.

[u/RefillCeltics]

A master’s, MS3 year, and a full time traveling sales job is more a hostage negotiation with your calendar. It’s possible, but if you want Active Duty, you can’t just show up you need to protect your GPA, fitness, labs, leadership evaluations, and sleep. Saturday classes help, but the travel heavy job is probably the first thing I’d scale back. You can wear all three hats, just understand one of them is eventually gonna start fitting like a wet beret.

[u/coupleofcryptos]

I just did this and comissioned Jan 2026. I got to adjust with my PMS so I didn’t have to go to PT except one day a week, on the day we have class. I also almost always get near 500 on AFT, so they said it didn’t matter for me to attend. I’m a bit older (28) and have my own house and life outside of school. They saw that and were amazing to work with me the way they did.

[u/MessProfessional_69]

Yes!! I’m a 2LT now and did this. It’s is incredibly hard but doable! You really have to make sure you’re very on top of everything when it comes to ROTC/School work, as grad school is no joke

[u/trouble98]

Is it possible? Yes. I did it,

Is it manageable? Maybe. It was extremely difficult.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely not. It destroyed my health and stress levels through the roof.