Did JROTC and/or Boy (Eagle) Scouts accelerate your Army career?

Question

My friend has been in JROTC for all of high school. This year he is a senior. He's been in the Boy Scouts since elementary school, he made Eagle Scout back in September. He turns 18 in April.
He wants to join the army. He's been told because of his activities, he will attain the rank of PFC (E-3) right out of boot camp. Normally one has to be in 6-12 months with at least 2-4 months as Private (E-2) before eligible for promotion.
They also told him most E-4's were Specialists and not Corporals, but most people with his type of experience make Corporal, not Specialist within a year's service.
Seems a lot of average recruits will not make PFC until their rank automatically increases.
He sees this as a fast track to leadership in the Army. I tell him it was all an interesting experience, but he doesn't have to join the Army, and none of these promotions seem to be guaranteed. If you had this experience, did it help you? Thanks.

His first choice for MOS is 88M--Motor Transport Operator (truck driver) I keep telling him it would be easier to go to driving school.

Answer 1

Hello Eric:

Truck drivers are a valuable asset to a society, but your friend might be capable of more than becoming a truck driver. If he's invested four years in the JROTC program, and also earned the Eagle Scout rank, he should be setting his goals a little higher. What rank did he achieve in JROTC? Didn't the instructor tell him about other military career paths? If he doesn't want to attend college and become an officer, he might look into high-tech training in computers, radar, air traffic control, military intelligence, or the health field. If he is looking for a career post-military, one of these fields will be more lucrative than a vehicle operator.
If he is interested in the military as a career, look to military schools for their ROTC program. Texas A&M, New Mexico Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute, the service academies are also possibilities.

Answer 2

Wow, some of that is just a little off. I've been it the Army for 9 years, and from what I can tell the recruiter is really giving him a line. True JROTC and Eagle Scout will advance him to PFC, and then shortly after that to Specialist. Your friend will most likely never see the rank of Corpral, it's not that widely used in the Army anymore, it's almost pointless.

I joined the Army and was promoted one pay grade because I was an Eagle Scout. All your friend has to do is get the recruiter to put the advancements in his contract, and then it will be guaranteed. Really.

Also your friend may want to seek out a different MOS based on his prior experiance. 88M is a dead end MOS, meaning it's very difficult to rise beyond the grade of E-5. There are much better opprotunites out there.

Answer 3

I had this experience. It did not hurt, but over the long term, it did not help. I would say it was neutral. One does get leadership positions in basic training because of this extra rank, but everybody is a Private in basic even if one has a rocker under his mosquito wing.

It really depends upon the MOS, need, unit, and various other factors that determine whether or not your friend becomes a Corporal or a Spec 4. I ended up as a Spec 4, and shortly after that, a buck Sargent. I don't think the absence of E-3 going into Basic would have hampered my promotion experience at the time. As I reflect upon matters, it seems to me that a few guys got promoted to E-3 shortly after Basic or perhaps it was AIT.

I don't want to sound too cynical, but promotion to E-4 IS virtually guaranteed within a relatively short amount of time. The fast track to leadership in the Army revolves around ability. If one has exceptional ability, one will rise in rank whether one is enlisted or an officer.

Regards.

Answer 4

Ok, 4 years of JROTC will see you enlisted as a E-3 in the ARMY.

It won't help at all after that.

There are no corporal truck drivers.

He would be a specialist E-4

He would make E-4, sooner than those who joined the unit at the same time, who were only E-2's, but not all that sooner.

No one in the military cares about someone being in JROTC,

It has no bearing at all, once you enlist.

It will not put you on a fast track , only your performance after enlistment will do that.

Answer 5

In Australia, the equivalent of the JROTC is the Army Cadets program.

Ex-Cadets generally tend to do well during initial training, having had experience in drill, field craft and the like before, but are often targeted by the instructors if they're dumb enough to admit it. I'd go so far as to say that they're often despised by serving soldiers.

Answer 6

The accelerated promotions for participation in various programs prior to enlistment have been around for at least 30 years. It's a boost during that first enlistment, and the better pay is nice, but it's not a long-term advantage.

JROTC helped me a bit in transitioning to the military, especially in basic with drill.

Once your friend is in, it's his performance and initiative and drive and talent that will get him leadership opportunities.

Answer 7

I was in JROTC for two years. It influenced me to join the Navy. Never did. I really wanted to sign up but I am a little over weight and not determined enough to do anything about it.

Answer 8

He sounds like a University education and ROTC would be good for him. A 2nd LT outranks a PFC and he would have a college education. Just something to consider.

Answer 9

His advanced rank will be guarenteed to him in his contract as long as he can prove it on his highschool transcript.

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003

Answer 10

Some pretty good arguments here.