<p>I have never felt so in need of feedback from CC parents.</p>
<p>My S is seriously considering joining one of the ROTC programs at Berkeley and I have so many concerns, my mind is reeling!</p>
<p>He will be a student in the College of Engineering, which I understand is very demanding. That's one concern.</p>
<p>Then, of course, there's the potential "culture clash" of being involved in ROTC on a campus famous for riots in the 1960's against the Vietnam war. I attended Berkeley in the 1980's, so I'm well aware that there are many "conservative" pockets at Berkeley, despite its liberal reputation.</p>
<p>And what about the 4 years of military commitment after he finishes undergrad? Is it really just 4 years? My brother from even more liberal community in Oregon claims that, "they'll get him for life!" While I know that sounds ridiculous, this ROTC issue is seriously giving me nightmares!</p>
<p>As part of the back story: I'm a Cal alum and my H attended a state military college. He never served in the military, but he and I have always been very supportive of the military in our community and our family (S's paternal grandfather served in the military for many years, for example). </p>
<p>S is an Eagle Scout and I think he truly feels that the military training (both physical and mental) would be "exciting" and that he really can't see himself getting a "9 to 5 desk job" right out of college anyway, so why not do ROTC and then military service? He also feels that the military would provide excellent leadership opportunities. </p>
<p>To any and all parents of ROTC students: I would so very much appreciate any and all feedback on your son's or daughter's ROTC experiences while in college and after. </p>
<p>Thank you SO much in advance for your advice/input.</p>
<p>Although the forum is titled service academies, many of the posters have much knowledge of the ROTC process, commitment, and are very willing to share their experiences and thoughts regarding the option of ROTC. I would recommend posting in the Parents forum and definitelty in the branch of ROTC your son is considering, i.e. USAFA/AFROTC, USNA/NROTC & MROTC...</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the information Kat. I will definitely check out those forums.</p>
<p>If anyone out there has any ROTC feedback that is not connected to any of the service academies, I would still be interested in hearing from you!</p>
<p>
[quote]
And what about the 4 years of military commitment after he finishes undergrad? Is it really just 4 years? My brother from even more liberal community in Oregon claims that, "they'll get him for life!" While I know that sounds ridiculous, this ROTC issue is seriously giving me nightmares!
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</p>
<p>Your obligation is dependent upon if and how many years they pay for your education. If you get then you must give.</p>
<p>If your son is Army ROTC and on a 4 year scholarship then he will have an 8 year obligation. This is served usually by 4 years active duty and 4 years reserves/guard.
The obilgation kicks in on the first day of the sophomore year.</p>
<p>this website: GoArmy.com</a> > Army ROTC > Overview gives an excellent explanation of the Army ROTC program. navy and air force have websites as well.</p>
<p>The military does not own you for life - most do not serve 20 years. I must warn you - if after 4 years active and your son goes reserves/guard they are deployed more than active. It may not be part time - but who knows what will be happening in 4 years.</p>
<p>Your son will have an opportunity to select his branch - this is done basically by order of merit. The top ranked cadets from across the country get first choice of branch opportunities. There are a couple of good programs in the Army now that for serving extra time you can be guaranteed your branch of choice or your post of choice. It is probably too soon to be dwelling on that though.
There are many options in the Army, Navy or Air Force - if your son does not plan to make a career of the military he will come away with excellent leadership training that will take him far. The responsibilities that 2nd Lt's have is unsurpassed in the civilian world.</p>
<p>Excellent information, JustAMomOf4. Thank you again for your PM as well. I also received an additional PM which provided me with great information. Thank you!</p>
<p>Any and all ROTC information is so very much appreciated by me and my family. I had a strong feeling the CC community would come through for us!</p>
<p>One more thing - for Army ROTC (not sure about Navy or AF) - if you are in college but don't have a scholarship you can sign up and take the classes for two years without any obligation to the Army at all. If the Army pays your way - the of course you are obligated.</p>
<p>I was really close to entering the Army ROTC, I probably would have if I did not have to wait 45 days for the scholarship process to end. I think I'm just going to enter the army as a specialist after college, it sounds easier and not as much riding on you right away.</p>
<p>Enlist? why would you enlist with a college degree? go to OCS - there are many options. You start as an E-3 but there is a big difference between an E-3 and a O-1 salary wise.
You can still start Army ROTC - any time up to the end of your sophomore year. You can do the first two year the summer before your junior year and still get a 2 year scholarship. At that point you can even get a Guaranteed Reserves scholarship.
no - I am not a recruiter.</p>
<p>I assume you're talking to me, apparently if you enter with a college degree, you start out at an E-4(same as you would in ROTC) except you don't have the leadership position/responsibilities. So basically you get paid the same, although the people that completed the ROTC have a higher rank, I'm not that worried about it.</p>
<p>I had an ROTC scholarship and was commissioned many years ago, then wound up serving 6 years on active duty and 15 in the reserves before retiring. Generally, the time demands while in school are not difficult. Service obligations should be researched carefully and understood, as should the difference in lifestyle between the services. I was in the Army, but have convinced my son to aim for the Air Force because of the culture and how people are treated overall. Right now, the Army or Marine Corps would increase the chances of deployment to Iraq, even four years from now, which is undesireable to me, especially in light of how I view this administration and how they took us to war. But anyway...</p>
<p>I think it's still true that without a scholarship, the first two years of ROTC incur no obligation. So, a good chance to check it out and see how it feels. At the beginning of Jr. year, cadets enlist and incur a service obligation, but begin to get paid a monthly stipend. Again, research, research.</p>
<p>Clearly, an E-4 does not make the same as an O-1. There is a lot of confusion there. I always felt life was better as an officer, but I don't refer to creature comforts necessarily. And you must witness life as an enlisted soldier to appreciate the demands.</p>
<p>The military has been a very positive part of my life, with friends, great travel overseas, and satisfaction for having done my small part and served. I think the idea of service to others or to the nation has fallen out of favor, and I encourage any form of service for the good of the nation, society, or mankind. Or, "Ask not what your country can do for you..."</p>
<p>dank, ROTC graduates enter as O-1 (2nd Lieutenant), NOT E-4 (Specialist). There is a huge difference in pay and duties between officers and enlisted! Officers are the leaders and bosses, NCOs are the managers, and E-1 through E-4 do most of the "hands on" work.</p>
<p>lextalionis, you did not say which branch your S is considering. My S is in NROTC. It has been a good experience. PM me if you have questions about NROTC.</p>
<p>I thought they entered in as CPL. Damn, they do get paid a lot more, it is a lot more stress though. Not sure if I could/want to do that. That's another reason why I did not join, because I just do not know enough about the military.</p>
<p>Many years ago, my dh went through AFROTC on a scholarship. He graduated and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant the same day. He did four years active duty and got out. It was, on the whole, a good experience for us (we married within a month of graduation). I was not in the service. It was peacetime until the last couple of months he was in, though.</p>
<p>Here's where our experience varies from what some are saying above. When my dh got out, you had a choice whether to go active reserves (weekend warriors - one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, unless you get called up, which happens a lot these days) <em>or</em> to just go IRR - individual ready reserve for four years. In the IRR, you have no duties and no pay, but they have the right to call you up at your current rank if you are needed. In our time, this never happened, and I don't think had happened since WW2. I do not know if this has changed, but in our time, it was really a four year commitment and four years of hearing from them every year.</p>
<p>ROTC was not a burden to my dh, but supplied some spending money, comradery, and a job at graduation :-) He did have to spend 6 weeks between his soph and jr year at camp - like officers' training camp. He also had to stay in shape :-)</p>
<p>Now, computer engineering experience in the service is seldom very applicable to engineering outside because of the outdated equipment the military uses. However, many companies hire junior officers anyway (and some preferentially) because of the leadership skills.</p>
<p>Yes there is the IRR. I hate to mention that "option" right now - remember you are at the "Needs Of the Army" (or Navy or AF).</p>
<p>These days with Army - they are actually calling up IRR. AF is downsizing so you may still be able to go IRR.<br>
I just hate to tell a kid they only need to serve 4 years then they a can get out - it's not black and whilte.
The length of service also depends on your training, i.e. if you go to flight school then you must serve longer.</p>
<p>dank08 - if you are in college next year and you want to learn about the military then sign up for the ROTC class.
ROTC is just like any other class you take. usually only about 2 credits and if you are not contracted then the field training is optional. My daughter took Army ROTC for 3 semesters in college and really enjoyed it.
There is NO obligation at all for just taking ROTC. It is a great way to see if military life is for you.</p>
<p>For Navy ROTC 4-year scholarships you have until the first day of classes of Sophomore year to withdraw from the program. After that you are committed.</p>
<p>You are commissioned as an Ensign. Minimum 4 years active duty, 4 years reserves. Pilots, medical will have longer contracts.</p>
<p>These days ROTC means tuition money, being commissioned as a second lieutenant the same day of college graduation, some training and then DEPLOYMENT to Iraq or Afghanistan. Don't hope that your son will stay in some sort of training for 3 years before he is sent over. This is war time, and as a parent you will have at least four years of the grimmest days of worry and dread: worrying before he is deployed, during his deployment, then after, about when he will return. </p>
<p>Please prepare him for the facts of war, and mortality, as well as the satisfaction of serving his country and the adventure. </p>
<p>As a parent, do not expect any sympathy or understanding from friends whose children are chasing material comforts and prestige in their post-college pursuits. On both coasts, military service is seen as some aberration of the consumer-striving life plan. Try finding a wealthy Republican (Senate, House, corporation?) whose child is in the military. </p>
<p>The higher tier the college is, the fewer ROTC students--and some Ivys have no programs, or shared programs with a state school down the road.</p>