officers only?

Question

okay i am 15 and am planning to go into to the military(army). I plan on doing ROTC getting my degree and then being an officer. but does an officer go through boot camp? and if so are the requiments to pass boot camp the same as enlisted? And anyother info will be very helpful. Thank you so much! and the service that you have given out great nation!

Answer 1

The Army ROTC program varies by school, but follows the following basic structure:

Mon-Wed-Fri: Morning PT (Approx 0630-0730)
- Exercise with fellow cadets and Officers
- Led by class juniors/seniors
Tues: Squad Tactics Training (Approx 0630-0730)
- Accomplish training goals for the semester
- Activities include
-- Learning to march/Learning to lead marches
-- Learning land navigation
-- Learning combat tactics (ambushes, flanking maneuvers)
-- Learning about your weapon/employing your weapon
-- Other "Army" training

You will enroll in one class each semester which will teach you about the armed services, Army history, and what it takes to be a successful officer.

Each Spring/Fall you will most likely "deploy" to a local Army fort for a weekend. During that weekend the Juniors will lead the cadet corps through a series of activities intended to validate the training they received throughout the Semester. You will setup camp, eat MREs, execute Squad Tactics Lanes (STX Lanes), and basically act as if you're active duty Army.

After completing 1-3 years of Army ROTC you will go to a 4-6 week course during the Summer after your Junior year. The intent is to provide very intense and necessary training aimed at validating your ability to lead.

During that course (which is very boot-camp like) you'll get yelled at and forced to get up at dawn to work out. It's challenging but can be accomplished. Roughly 600-1500 cadets go through it every Summer and pass. The first 3 days are hard and the last 3 days are hard. The first 3 because you're still not used to your environment and don't know your fellow cadets very well. The last 3 because you have everything down and you're tired of playing the game. It's like the last three days of football practice at the end of a season.

The primary difference between the summer training camp for officers in ROTC and boot camp is this: Boot camp is intended to prepare recruits for life as an enlistee in the Army. They are PT'd to get them in shape, yelled at to instill discipline, and trained to follow orders. ROTC Summer training is intended to prepare cadets to LEAD enlistees. You're expected to already be in shape and to display discipline. You're expected to know how to follow orders as well as how to ISSUE orders.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I can only speak for the Navy... When I joined I went through Officer Candidate School. I already had my degree though. If you get your commission via ROTC you may well go through boot camp. Don't let that deter you though. You just have to realize they are going to try and make you quit. They are going to run you ragged, physically and mentally. The key is to not let it get to you. Do the PT, get your uniform squared away, learn to get your rack made right. To toe the line you are going to have to be in motion, effectively. Eventually you will gain momentum and there will even come a moment when you realize "this is cool!"

My military experience has been so rewarding that after getting out in 1992, I started to miss it, and I got back in in 2000. Since then I've been all over the world, and even though I'm in the Navy, I've been to Afghanistan as well, which required a little "boot camp" of its own, to train me and other Navy people how to be in the Army...

It's a rewarding career choice, and I commend your thoughts on becoming an officer. Good luck!

Answer 3

You do have to go to boot camp. Then, after you get through boot camp. You go to OCS, which stands for Officers Canident School.

Answer 4

Part of the ROTC course will be doing the equivalent of enlisted "boot camp" mostly during the summers, although military drill (marching and formations) happen all along. Plan to be in good physical condition before you get to college, that will make not only ROTC easier, but the whole college experience. Good Luck

Answer 5

ITS CALLED OCS--OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL---VERY SIMILIAR TO BOOT CAMP--ITS QUITE AN ADVENTURE---GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

Yes you will go through boot camp. It will be hard. Now, Please don't thank me for being in the military because it was a waste of time.