<p>In high school, college, whatever. Anyone in it? Is anyone planning in being in the military? I'm just wondering what everyone's opinion on this is</p>
<p>I don’t know what exactly you’re trying to ask. I just finished my NROTC application for the 2013-14 school year. If you are in it, especially in college, the idea is you plan to be in the military after you graduate, yes. The US government is making a $180,000+ investment in you, their expectation is you repay them. </p>
<p>Please do not apply for an ROTC scholarship as solely a financial asset. It is a wonderful opportunity to finish school without worrying about debt or employment upon graduation, however it has a purpose that is bigger than that.</p>
<p>I already know the logistics of ROTC. Sadly I couldn’t fit it into my high school schedule but the majority of my friends are in it and I’m planning on it for college because I want to work in the military. I was just wondering what everyone else’s opinions on it were. I also was curious if a lot of students on here were involved in it</p>
<p>Rusty- that’s actually pretty funny. Thankfully at my school it’s taken pretty seriously (minus the kids who just want to get out of gym) and we have a really strong program. Meh, wish I had the room to be apart of it</p>
<p>“and I’m planning on it for college because I want to work in the military”</p>
<p>The application for a scholarship is pretty competitive, so I wouldn’t assume you’re going to get one. Unless you mean simply take ROTC classes (which, I do believe works just like it would if you were on scholarship minus the money).</p>
<p>I don’t just assume I’m going to get scholarships.</p>
<p>Dunno which branch you’re gunning for, but I don’t think you can get a scholarship if you haven’t done JROTC.</p>
<p>I’m totally biased because i’m in JROTC myself, but it’s changed my life in so many ways. It was scary at first, my freshman year (I was up all night before the first day imagining evil drill sergeants and grueling physical regimes), but i’ve learned so much and i’ve had so many wonderful and different opportunities (and no, it is not like my early nightmares). However…I don’t think the military is for everyone, and I just worry that people who don’t feel passionately about it won’t enjoy it. I don’t know you personally so I can’t say that about you (so please don’t take it negatively!), but the military isn’t just a part of someone’s life, it IS their life (and sometimes we joke that one of our instructors still thinks the Vietnam War is going on, but that’s beside the point). Either way, I wish you the best if you decide to join ROTC in college and I hope you enjoy it. :)</p>
<p>I really do think I’m passionate about it. Honestly, I’m not the most in shape person but I have been working my butt off to get in shape just so I can be prepared for ROTC (and I’m only finishing up my sophomore year). At my school, the only requirement to be in ROTC is taking Naval Science but we have PT twice a week before school and the drill team does their thing after school. My boyfriend is a part of it all (no, he is not the reason I want to be in the military haha) and is on good terms with the teacher so I was actually thinking about seeing if I could go to the PT sessions next year, but I don’t know if that would be allowed. Do you think that would be a good idea? Or is training on my own enough?</p>
<p>I think it would be a good idea to get the feel of how they work out. We do a specific PT routine each class and at the start and end of the year we do both the Presidental Fitness test and a benchmark/baseline in all of the parts of physical fitness that the Air Force likes to test, and being familiar with that is helpful. I’m not in shape either (i’m a cyclist, not a football player or a weight lifter), but i’m working on it through PT. It’s also fun to work out with people in your class, because I always feel awkward working out by myself.</p>
<p>But also, if you can wiggle it into your schedule, you should try that! At our school we recently added a ‘minor’ class which meets half as often as the normal class (and gives half the credit), but allows you to participate and still be considered in the program, while working in graduation requirements and other classes. It’s definitely not that way at other schools (our school is weird with scheduling), but any way you can participate is great, as it shows interest and will be more enjoyable for you. :)</p>
<p>I’m curious, though - how on earth does the drill team manage afternoon practice with school sports going on? All we can ever do is morning and Saturday practices. :(</p>
<p>Just realize that JROTC, ROTC, and being an Active Duty officer are very different things.</p>
<p>
False.</p>
<p>I know it’s possible to take ROTC instead of lunch at my school, but I am in band and that is the same way 
I really think the only time I could take it would be senior year but it would basically be an all freshman class and eh I dunno… as for the drill team, I know most of the kids don’t do a lot of sports (seriously, in my school ROTC is life for those kids, and that is ALL they do) and usually if they do they can kind of work it out with the coaches (of the kids who do sports I think most of them run track so they have a more flexible schedule as long as they are at the meets)</p>
<p>I see! We have a lot of people who do sports so it’s hard to get them in. The people who are already in drill don’t do sports during drill season (which seems to never end, as ours was extended until March), but a lot of people who want to join are already playing them.</p>
<p>It sucks that you can’t work ROTC in there (wow, you must have the longest lunch periods ever), though.</p>