ROTC w/ engineering major

<p>Anyone here done this or know someone who excercised this option? Im thinking about joining the AFROTC. (just playing around with it)</p>

<p>I threw my resume to the armed forces to see what they had to say... They were quite keen on recruiting me. Now, once they've got you, who's to say how they'll treat you... but they're definitely pro-engineer. Thank heavens I moved... When I decided that I'd rather take the delectable private-sector salaries I'd been offered and started ignoring the army and whatnot, they actually sent a recruitment officer TO MY APARTMENT to try to talk me into joining... yikes. Luckily, I wasn't home... But he did leave a keychain, a note, and some brochures.</p>

<p>I've got a friend who went to the (ch)Air Force Academy and majored in aerospace engineering... He's now an instructor pilot, training folks on the T-37 Tweet, after having trained on the T-37 and the T-38 Talon. He seems to enjoy what he does, but he's in a rather unique position... not everybody grows up to be an astronaut, as the despair.com poster reminds us...</p>

<p>I also knew a couple of other engineers who were in the Navy ROTC program at Rice. They also seemed to enjoy what they did.</p>

<p>The GI bill is a nice perk... Hurrah for paid tuition! Downside: warfare. I'm not sure my patriotism would be enough to carry me through the hazards of working near combat situations. Honestly, though, talk to some ROTC folk, and see what they have to say... especially try to find some of the ones who have graduated and finished their tour. It's one thing when you're just hangin' around, marching the flag onto the field at the football games, and taking a couple of courses on military tactics, and pressing your uniform every Thursday... It's an entirely different thing to live a military life.</p>

<p>I think ROTC is an excellent choice for somebody who enjoys the military lifestyle and who couldn't get into or doesn't want to go to an academy. MIT may have arguably the best engineering ROTC program in the country. Couple that with the fact that your grades matter less if you are in ROTC because you are obviously guaranteed a job right after graduation. </p>

<p>But I agree with aibarr that a military lifestyle is not something you should be playing around with. You either want it, or you don't. This is not a game here. The US War on Terror is probably going to go on for decades (just like how the British conflict against the IRA and the Spanish conflict against the ETA went on for decades). By joining the military, you are potentially risking your life in service to your country, so you have to ask yourself whether you are ready for that.</p>

<p>Yes I do realize its no joke, as my mother and father were in the Air Force. I was just wondering what your opinions were on the ROTC. Thanks alot for the feedback :).</p>

<p>BTW-I was thinking of it for the job opp. and the tuition benefits.
I know its a high risk, thats why Im trying to make a good informed decision.</p>

<p>It's very high risk. Are you willing to give your life for your education? That's sort of what it boils down to...</p>

<p>Well, as a veteran, I certainly want to honor everyone who had made the sacrifice and especially those who are serving in the current conflict. But, I have to agree with my esteemed colleagues. You should have no illusions about ROTC. In the present era, you are likely to be called upon to fight for your country. Even AF and Navy are, individually, beginning to support the Army by carrying a rifle in the desert. I even shudder when we use the word "lifestyle" in conjunction with today's modern military. Civilians have lifestyles. The military has something different entirely. </p>

<p>There is, of course, an inner satisfaction that one feels after serving in uniform. It's hard to put into words, and beyond the scope of this course. But, I think most veterans will say it long outlasts the VA benefits. </p>

<p>As I recall, the AF ROTC was actually restricted to engineering majors and meteorologists. In fact, I think they wanted only electrical and mechanical--but my info is a bit dated.</p>

<p>AFROTC is open to most majors, not just engineering. However, engineering is highly encouraged.</p>

<p>Do a lot of research. Some people love it; others hate it.
If you want to serve, take advantage of your opportunities! If your ONLY reason is money for college, look elsewhere.</p>

<p>Don't forget about the time commitment. My friend is a civil engineering major and does the ROTC Air Force program. He gets up at 5 in the morning for the workouts you have to do every day. You combine that with the ROTC services you do and your coursework and you will get a demanding schedule. So only do it if you truly want to.</p>

<p>I'm in the Army ROTC at Rose-Hulman, which is an incredibly demanding engineering school, and all our cadets survive. The cadre recognizes that the students here have special academic demands and do their best to minimize the time they ask of you. We have PT twice a week 0600-0700 and class and lab once a week for about 3 and a half hours, no out of class work unless you're one of the MS-4's(Seniors who basically run the lab and PT, and batallion in general). Sure, it's early, but it's fun and it makes you feel good about yourself, believe me. And what I end up doing is going to PT, grabbing a bowl of cereal and a bannana, and taking an hour nap before my first class, it works out fine. Our cadet Lt. Col is a senior civil engineering major here, a resident assistant in a freshman dorm, and a cool guy to have around. It can definitely be done, it just takes a little more time managment, but it's not that bad. And if you can't manage your time like that, then maybe engineering's not for you and the Army is definitely not for you.</p>

<p>If you have further questions about the Army ROTC or Rose-Hulman feel free to ask me.</p>

<p>I would NEVER join the U.S. military, given its foreign policies, no matter how much money they give me. </p>

<p>If I get drafted, I'll go to Canada or Europe.</p>

<p>Dude. Not the place for soapbox rants about American foreign policy, especially on long-dead threads.</p>

<p>My school has tons of Air Force ROTC people in engineering. But, be prepared to have any sort of job handed to you after graduation and commissioning--one of my friends in seriously making copies and phone calls at a base now after graduating with honors with an Aerospace Engineering degree.</p>

<p>Here at Embry-Riddle, it sems like besides the 2 hours of 6am physical training a week, hour of class, and 2 hours of lead lab, they have meetings and studying that is pretty much manditory to make it in the program to not wash out. And, passing the physical tests every semester.</p>

<p>But, they offer lots of scholarship, and if being in the military is something you want to do, than awesome. I was going to do AFROTC or AF Academy if it wasn't for a medical disqualification I found out about in high school.</p>

<p>Your friend is most likely a "casual Lieutenant," which means he is doing busy work until the pilot slot or assignment he has opens up again.</p>

<p>Well I dont think im going to do it....Im just in a few clubs like National Society of Black Engineers, and im going to try and get into working for the government through applying as a civ. I guess ;).</p>

<p>No, that was his assignment as far as I know. It has some formal title--like scheduling something or other, but he's not waiting on anything...hopefully he'll get moved up, but in the meantime he makes tons of money between his salary, not having loans to pay off like most, and housing allowance.</p>

<p>Im at Georgia Tech. Two of my roomates are doing ROTC and both are engineering majors. The one doing Navy is having a hard time, apparently very physically demanding...but the other is doing 'chair force' and its quite easy according to him and my other roomate. Its a full scholarship here. They do wake up early one or two days out of the week, and each has to take a certain military history course. They all tailgate together, its pretty cool</p>