<p>My son applied to three good colleges for ROTC with his athletic ability as one of his lead attributes. Therefore he had to discuss life with the coach as well as the ROTC officers at the college. Only one college was ethical, from my perspective, in not at all being concerned about his prospects for USMA. That coach at that college made it clear that he would not want my son to attend his college if it meant turning down USMA. The other colleges went out of their way not only to dissuade my son from USMA by outlining the differences with a regular college and ROTC, but wanted him to commit and turn down a USMA opportunity.</p>
<p>My son didnt have to respond to these queries and conditions as I ran interference and gave folks the answers they wanted. My son would have been forthright and implicitly honest. As it turned out he was angry with me. This was a condition for his admission, it meant he would have not been offered the ROTC 4 year, which he was offered, or the admission to the two colleges he received unless he turned down USMA. This condition was imposed before my son knew if USMA would accept him. They were suggesting he withdraw his candidacy for USMA.</p>
<p>For any professional in the US Army ROTC program, or any coach or administrative person in a college that makes turning down USMA a condition to offering admission shame on you. These folks were well aware that many do not receive the USMA offer until after these colleges pass their own deadline. Especially for NCAA athletes.</p>
<p>For the one college where the coach and ROTC officer who took it for granted that my son would be nuts not to go to USMA if offered, and who still wanted to try for a guy who was of the quality such that USMA was a possibility well done. This coach was a Air Force Academy grad, and after some kidding about a trade school on the Hudson (think thats what Zoomies call West Point), went out of his way to help my son with his USMA application. Then he congratulated my son after he did get into USMA. Now thats a good man.</p>
<p>The Army should check into the ROTC methods, especially at the good colleges, and make sure no conditions in regards to USMA are suggested or made.</p>