Podcast Name: ROTC Scholarships
Episode Name: 7. The Army Early Commissioning Program (ECP)
In this episode of ROTC Scholarships, host and retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kirkland talks about the
Army Early Commissioning Program with former Army Captain John Vandivere, who attended Wentworth
Military Academy as an ECP cadet. Rob talks to John about his perspective on the ECP and advice he
would give those who are considering the ECP route.
0:47 - Robert introduces John.
3:00 - John outlines the ECP and what it entails.
7:00 – Army ROTC basic course at Fort Knox is required before a cadet starts ECP.
9:00 – John discusses who well prepared he was for Army ROTC Advance Camp after only one year in
the ECP.
11:00 – Life as a student at a junior military college is described
16:00 – Even though you are commissioned as a lieutenant after two years of college, in order to serve in
a deployable unit, you must obtain a BS at another school.
17:00- Required to drill as a national guard or reserve officer is discussed
24:00: - Ike Skelton scholarship is outlined
26:00: - Service requirement after the ECP scholarship and Ike Skelton scholarship is covered
34:00:- John and Rob summarize what was covered in the episode.