ROTC - Pros & Cons

Parents Forum
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<p>There is a lot of advice out there for military families. Take what feels right, ignore the rest and trust that your family will figure out what works best for each of you. </p>

<p>For example, I know Marines whose parents, spouses, siblings or friends are very vocal about not supporting the war in Iraq but they are even more vocal about supporting their Marine. That wouldn’t work in other military families. But all kinds of families do make it work and yours will too.</p>

<p>As for training, yes, people do get hurt but not very often. The military is going to be making a huge financial investment in your child and they want that investment to pay off. That includes keeping military members on active duty and ready to do their jobs. </p>

<p>He’ll need to talk to his unit about job placement. H had a contract to go to flight school when he joined ROTC. I don’t know if other specialties can get contracts like that or not. As for not wanting to spend a lot of time on ships, a lot of people describe deployments on ships like this, “It’s like prison with the constant threat of drowning.” In otherwords, it’s not for everyone!</p>

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<p>lspf72,S1 chose Navy (ROTC) because of the many different options available.
After his 2C (soph yr) summer cruise, he was convinced that he did not want to spend all his time on a boat. </p>

<p>He set his sights on Special Ops. and managed to get selected (after two years of intense training) on Selection Day last Nov.<br>
He has also passed the test to qualify for Defense Language Institute so will be going to language school before reporting for Spec. Ops. sch. He is really happy with how it has all turned out.</p>

<p>He was ready to switch to Army after soph. year but decided he would stick with Navy and work hard to get the Spec. Ops slot. .
He has found the type of unit that fits his personality to a T. </p>

<p>I’m sure if your S does enough poking his nose around and getting good advice fr. his ROTC officers, he can find the right spot. S1’s ROTC officer was invaluable in helping him get this slot that he really wanted.</p>

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<p>Our DS is AFROTC, and for him the det commander is invaluable in getting your assignment. The det commander must support them for the position or follow on school like UPT. If he goes to the commander and starts informing him of his ultimate career goal, the commander will be able to assist in achieving it. He/She may also suggest a different path that your DS never thought about.</p>

<p>The military is a unique life, because the twists in the road are many. Bullet flew F-15E’s for 15 yrs, but he also jumped out of perfectly good airplanes with the 82nd AB. If you asked him back when he was in ROTC could he ever see doing that, he would tell you no way, but he did for 2 yrs. Point being just because you think he is on a certain path, don’t be shocked when he calls to tell you that path just made a 90 degree right turn.</p>

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<p>I have a very naive question; please forgive my ignorance. Ds ( high school soph) is expressing interest in the military / ROTC. His academic interests are history / internatl relations / philosophy. He is not a big kid, he is a gentle soul and wants to be of service to his country. I see him as military intelligence, diplomacy, think tanky. That is not to say he wouldn’t rise to a physical challenge but he is not an aggressive kid. </p>

<p>He is partial to AF but honestly I think that is because his grandfather was an AF officer whereas his other grandfather ( my dad) was an army enlisted who saw combat in Vietnam and the AF stories from grandpa are far more pleasant than the army stories from granddad. </p>

<p>What advice would you all have and can someone explain the time service commitments for each branch ?</p>

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<p>Also is there a reference that shows what colleges offer which ROTC programs?</p>

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<p>As to which colleges offer ROTC, each service has its own list. For example Army has its locater here… [GoArmy.com</a> > Army ROTC > Locate Schools](<a href=“http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/find_schools.jsp]GoArmy.com”>http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/find_schools.jsp)</p>

<p>The service requirements are essentially similar for all branches, depending upon whether you are on scholarship or not.</p>

<p>For scholarship recipients it goes as follows:
Frosh year only (and then drop out): No committment.
Anything else: 4 years active + 4 years IRR (ready reserves) or 8 years active.</p>

<p>For non-scholarship participants who complete their 4 years it is:
3 years active + 5 IRR or 8 years active.</p>

<p>I’ll pass along a plug for another forum [United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/]United”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/) where you will find some more knowledgable folks.</p>

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<p>Another plug for a site with more information/ discussion.
<a href=“http://forums.military.com/eve/forums[/url]”>http://forums.military.com/eve/forums&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There is a thread for ROTC.</p>

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<p>he should check out the Army. The Navy and AF are very technical branches - all about the boats and the planes.<br>
The Army is fighting a counter-insurgency. They encourage and need soldiers who are interested in studying history, international relations etc.
One does not need to be “big” to be in the Army. Many soldiers are actually of a slight build. He will need to be in good physical condition and be able to pass a fitness test as well as meet height/weight standards (true for all services).</p>

<p>EVERYONE who joins a the service has an 8 year requirement. The active duty portion may vary depending on the contract.</p>

<p>goaliedad - I haven’t forgotten about you - ;)</p>

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<p>Didn’t think you had. Not to worry.</p>

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<p>[United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com%5DUnited”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com) has an area dedicated to ROTC.</p>

<p>Committments vary depending on many things. Pilots owe 10 yrs back. Battle Commanders owe 6, the others owe 4.</p>

<p>Here is where the real mix comes in. Your DS graduates and owes 4 yrs, but after 2 yrs in he decides to get his Masters on th AF dime (they pay @75%), he now will have an additional 3 yr commitment, thus he can’t leave until the 5 yr marker. He voluntarily PCS’s or accepts a promotion and another commitment is tacked on.</p>

<p>The most common expression is 5 and dive. This is when people fulfill their first committment and leave.</p>

<p>The military offers very competitive salaries and unique opportunities afterwards. Bullet did 20 with the AF, they pd for his Masters(Webster Univ), sent him to a military Masters program (Ft Leavenworth). We also were able to buy our 1st home of the 6 we owned using the VA.</p>

<p>BTW scholarship committments can change. Our DS is 8 for pilots.</p>

<p>Finally, please realize that every kid applying to a Service Academy (West Point, Coast Guard, AF, USNA)is also applying for scholarships for ROTC. For most academies, @85%+ are varsity sports, top 10-15% of the class, NHS, class leadership, jobs, etc. etc. I have noticed this yr that due to this economic downturn the recipients have amazing resumes, and more of the smaller scholarships are being awarded.</p>

<p>To get ahead of the game, download the CFA from the AFA website, because the score will count. Find the ALO/BGO/MALO for your school they will be able to assist you and your son (hs gc will know who they are). Also address any medical issues…allergies are issues and may require a waiver. </p>

<p>As far as ROTC, it is a great way to put your toes in the water. It is also great for kids who want to be a college kid, but at the same time know they want to join the military.</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

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<p>Good catch Pima. Forgot about the additional length for pilots - not that it seems that long when you are in the cockpit. :D</p>

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<p>This is a great thread. DS is a sophomore in high school and participates in an outdoor leadership program. He is been developing a very specific career path where he wants to go into the Army Airborne and be a medic. I think that they have different terms for it these days. My husband was a conscientious objector back in the Vietnam War era, but he has taken the position that he can not tell DS what to do with his life. Thanks for all the information and links.</p>

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<p>Sure it does if airlines start hiring again ;)</p>

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<p>Again - EVERYONE signs on for 8 years - officers and enlisted. It is a mix between AD and Reserves or IRR. even in the AF. Those who say they owe 4 mean 4 years AD and 4 IRR from which you can be recalled. Even 5 and divers are really done. They aren’t done until their 3 years of IRR expires.</p>

<p>Any additional training (e.g. flight school) or schooling may increase the commitment time. But you will know that and contract for it. It is an amendment to your initial contract.</p>

<p>For AROTC only:
Your ADSO can be extended voluntarily by you to allow you to pick the branch of your choice. This is a fantastic program for those who really want a specfic branch.</p>

<p>Also - The New GI Bill. Your service years for qualifying - 3 years of active duty get you tuition, books and a living stipend - kicks in after your scholarship obligation is fulfilled.</p>

<p>For instance - if you have an ROTC scholarship and serve your 4 years active duty you need to serve 3 more years to qualify. After 7 years AD you may get your grad school paid for when you leave the service. This includes law school and med school.</p>

<p>Scholarships - The Army has the greatest need and therefore the greatest number of scholarships. They don’t care what you major in. The Navy and AF have far fewer scholarhsips available and hence they are more competitive. There are also limits on how many non-technical ones they can award.</p>

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<p>Read the fine print which may be part of the ROTC “scholarship”. If it just pays for tuition, the student may still be responsible for housing and meals. At some schools, the $500/month stipend may not cover living expenses.</p>

<p>It may not be a completely “free ride”, even with the extensive service comittment…</p>

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<p>The New GI Bill is a completely different program from an ROTC scholarship. you basically get paid as an E-5.
Those who enlist, serve three years and then go to college on the New GI Bill make out better than ROTC scholarships as far as college funding.<br>
My point was - it is a great way to get to grad school and college grads are eligible.
My oldest has a couple of friends who are college grads and enlisted to get the New GI Bill, money for grad school and pay off their loans.</p>

<p>True - ROTC scholarships cover tuition, fees and book stipend and monthly stipend.<br>
Some but not many will offer additional incentives such as a reduced rate or free room and board. These days with room and board running over $10,000 at many schools it is a significant cost.</p>

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<p>unsoccer, Bullet jumped with the 82nd. They are amazing! Even though Bullet was AF he jumped with the 82nd 3rd Battalion, he can assist your DS in what the AB life is like. We loved the 82nd and Ft. Bragg! </p>

<p>In regards to the scholarships, for the AF they do take a majority from Engineering majors (a lot to do with being aircraft driven). Our DS got the full ride as a Poli-Sci major for the AF. His goal is to fly, but will not know until his jr yr if that is his path. </p>

<p>These scholarships have a “payback issue”…don’t go down this route with the view that it has no strings attached. It does! For several yrs you will do what they say, there is no quibbling, you took the money and now you have to follow their direction.</p>

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<p>I’m surprised to see that recommendation for a “gentle kid” who is “not aggressive.” For that kind of kid, I would rank the branches as follows:</p>

<ol>
<li>Air Force</li>
<li>Navy (in addition to ships, they do a lot of “listening” from all over the world.)</li>
<li>Army</li>
<li>Marine Corps</li>
</ol>

<p>As for the GI Bill, the changes made to it are amazing. H is seriously considering doing a three year doctoral program when he retires from activy duty. It would be really tight but between his retirement pay, my part-time job, the stipend from the college and the GI bill covering tuition plus a housing stipend, we might be able to do it. Come on, merit money for S!</p>

<p>So far the Marine Corps paid for his BS, paid 75% of his MS. If he does the doctoral program, he will have finished three degrees with not one dime of debt. Of course, as my sister says, the benefits are good but you earn every penny.</p>

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<p>he sounded like my brother who served in the USAR for 14 years. He is not aggressive at all and loved the Army.</p>

<p>Not all Army soldiers are super-aggressive testosterone laden fighters. Au contraire. They come in all personalities. In fact, a good officer - even in infantry, is one who can keep calm in a stressful situation. The Army has changed, Army doctrine has changed and the days of leading troops “over the hill and into battle” are gone.<br>
I know a number of West Point cadets who are on the small side - most are I think and many are very quiet.</p>

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<p>I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the Coast Guard has some very limited scholarships available. Students must attend a maritime college – SUNY Maritime has the program, last time someone looked. The financial benefits are less, but so is the committment --and is generally US based (can get dangerous, think drug boat interseptions)</p>