ROTC experience?

Question

I have been seriously considering the ROTC program when I go to college. I am a junior in high school now but I would like to know as much information about it as I can before I graduate. Has anyone been in the ROTC? Or known someone in the ROTC? If you have or known someone, I would love if you shared your experience or your friends experience with me thanks.

Answer 1

Excellent decision to consider serving your country as an Officer!
As a 4-yr Army ROTC scholarship recipient, I feel it is a better deal than going to West Point or Annapolis. Better selection of college majors, more rounded college experience, and great leadership experiences while attending school. Contact your local university that has a ROTC program and talk to the active duty 'recruiter'. He's probably a Captain or Major. DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH GOING TO A RECRUITING OFFICE IN A STRIP MALL, or you might end up enlisting for four-years (nuthin wrong with that if that's what you want, but you want ROTC). If I remember, you are in the timeframe to complete SAT/ACT testing, apply for colleges over the summer. This is also the same time to prepare for ROTC Scholarship. During teh selection, you'll fill out tons of forms, get interviewed, have to complete a physical fitness test; if you pass those hurdles, then you'll complete a medical examination (usually at a military hospital-the government pays for it). I remember missing several half days during my senior year to go to medical appointments. If you've had serious body damage, broken bones, concussions, mental impairment, psychological issues, criminal record, or even relatives who are from outside the US-all will get scrutenized (as it should...)

Talk to the ROTC recruiter on campus-they love to talk to potential candidates-The more they can recruit, the better it looks for their campus program. In fact, ideally, you should try to talk to the ROTC guys at the campus you actually be attending. It makes it easier for them to process you if they know you are staying at their program-kind of a bummer to process a scholarship candidate for another campus's program. Good Luck-I am confident my two daughter will be able to get their Army ROTC scholarships in three more years.

Answer 2

Rotc Experience

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
ROTC experience?
I have been seriously considering the ROTC program when I go to college. I am a junior in high school now but I would like to know as much information about it as I can before I graduate. Has anyone been in the ROTC? Or known someone in the ROTC? If you have or known someone, I would love if you...

Answer 4

I enjoyed ROTC

I enlisted in the national guard at 17 while still in high school and did ROTC at the same time and got a 2 year ROTC Scholarship. Because I was in the Guard All of my time counted for time (for pay) in the Army.

You will have a commitment to the Army for 3 or 4 years depending if you get a scholarship.

Answer 5

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Im in jrotc now so i dont know if it will help but i am in a navy unit. Its not as bad as i though it would be. Sometimes it is scary when my warrent officer gets pissed and starts to yell at us. When we get yelled at we just do anything he says and he will usually calm down. But i got more things that were good for myself. I have learned attention to detail, how to march, and also got a nice six pack from physical training. But thats just JROTC not ROTC.

Answer 6

If you have good academics/extracurriculars, apply for an ROTC scholarship (USAF, USA, USN have them). 4-yr tuition and books, plus a monthly stipend. I went to college on this plan, served 7 yrs as a USAF officer, then left for civilian life. It's a great way to get an education and gain valuable leadership experience.

Answer 7

In addition to what Scooter said, check on what state you apply for, most states also offer free room and board for ROTC scholarships, but not all.

Also, there is a National Guard Scholarship that goes through the same program but is less competitive to get since not as many apply for it. This may have changed but with the NG Scholarship, you had 5 years to join the National Guard after you graduated, if you did not, then you had to pay it back, but you could take some time before you joined after college with that. If you take a national guard scholarship and change your mind and want to go federal, you apply to have it changed to a federal as well.

If you don't get the four-year scholarship, go to school and apply again the next year. Compitition for the 4 year scholarships is high, but not as many people apply for the 3 and 2 year scholarships.

In general, you do not have to have perfect grades for it, but it helps a lot, having activities helps a lot, expecially leadership activities, Student Council, captain of one of the sports teams, JROTC experience if you have it at your HS.

The program is 4 years, the first two years are free and you contract at your Junior year. So if you change your mind in the first two years, you are not penalized in any way. After you contract, they military will decide what happens next. They may just release you or you may have to serve. I have not heard of a case where they made somebody serve. I knew some people who only wanted the experience and did Year 1 and 2 of ROTC as just part of thier college experience and never contracted. They did not have scholarships either though.

For me, I went to a community college for two years and applied for a 2 year Army ROTC scholarship. Since I had 3 years of JROTC, I did not have to go to Basic Camp. You have to go to Basic Camp, have prior service, or 3-4 years of JROTC to enroll in ROTC as a Junior.

The program at my school was class 2 times a week on Tue and Thu, as well as a drill class on Thu. Often the Thu class and drill would be merged into one class. We had to do PT in the morning on Mon, Wed, and Fri, but it counted as on credit as well and was a good GPA booster.

The summer of your Junior year, you have to go to Advance Camp, which is like Basic Training for officers. It is 6 weeks longs. Your senior year you find out what your job in the military will be.

Years 1 and 2 are like JROTC, mostly drill and ceremony and history things. Year 3 is the real training year, where you prepare for Advance Camp, focus on tactics and leadership. In your 4th year focuses on leadership and being the trainers for the 3rd year students.