ROTC Rifle a "sport"?

Four2Go

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Our daughter is a sophomore in her 2nd year of high school and junior ROTC. She is on the rifle team and will letter in this sport. When she applies for an ROTC scholarship (Marine option), will the board consider this sport at the same level as other sports? I know it seems early to worry, but she is very focused and determined to achieve an ROTC scholarship. She has the grades, leadership, and took the ACT for practice as a freshman (score 27, will improve), so in all other areas I think she has a good profile. She also participates in Venturing (boy scout co-ed program for adventure activities and service).

She participates in no other team sports. Will rifle suffice? I'd love for her to simply continue to follow her passions (loves rifle team and venturing), rather than try to pad her application with things she is not really interested in. Thank you in advance for the input!
 
No JROTC activates are not sports. It will help her application though.

Team sports really help your application but its not a deal breaker by any means.
 
FloridaDad,

Thank you for your quick reply. It's something to think about. I will let her know that she may wish to explore the team sports option.
 
I would pretty much agree. I'm a senior this year, just won an Army scholarship from the 1st board, and I have NO sports. Can it be done without sports? Obviously, the answer is yes. Did I make up for it A LOT in other areas? I think so. Leadership and academics were both well above average.

I wouldn't advise you to have nothing athletic. She can get points even for individual (not school related) stuff. For example, if she trains up and runs a few 5K's, not only will this get her more ready for ROTC, but it will also get her athletic points on the scholarship.

Here's a link to the NROTC interview form: http://web.mit.edu/navyrotc/prospective/scholarship2yr/interview.pdf

That might give you a better idea of what's required. The Army one seems MUCH clearer, so that may give you more concrete stuff to go off of. I added the Army interview form below:

http://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/benefits/forms/cc159-R.pdf

Hope this helps!
 
Team sports at Varsity level help you lot though. The recruiters know the level of training and abuse the kids go through for something like Varsity football. Three plus hours every day for several months including through the summer and public holidays shows a lot of commitment.
 
Hey four2go, does your daughter get involved with NYLT at all thur Venturing? My DS is involved and here in Dan Beard Council, Cincinnati, OH area, they are opening up National Youth Leadership Training to the female Venture Scouts for the second summer. Just a thought - DS is waiting to hear on a AROTC scholarship (fingers crossed for January Board) he's doing he DoDMERB physical stuff tomorrow. Typically they don't do the medical stuff until after a scholarship has been extended, but the powers that be changed the order for some prospective cadets out of the October board. DS has no varsity sports either -- he has been encouraged by all of the Recruitment Officers we've met with to con't on since he has strong stats otherwise (academic 32 ACT 3.9 gpa, leadership: Eagle Scout, student gov. president, NYLT staff 3rd year and he has passed the APFT already this past summer and did well on the Presidential too). As mentioned above, self training for 5ks or other activities (ie Boundary Waters, sea kayyaking, Philmont) also get noticed. Good luck!
 
Ohio-your son has pretty similar qualifications to me in terms of no athletics but strong academics and leadership. I would say he has a really strong chance of getting one on the next board (depending on schools of intent on his application).

FloridaDad-The interview comprises 200 of your 1,000 points which are used to rank applicants nationally. This is the list that is used to award the scholarships, and a similar one is used for college ROTC grads to determine branching.
 
FloridaDad-The interview comprises 200 of your 1,000 points which are used to rank applicants nationally. This is the list that is used to award the scholarships, and a similar one is used for college ROTC grads to determine branching.

250 points for your ACT/SAT
200 points for your scholar/athlete/leader evaluation
200 points from your interview
350 points are determined by the board of officers

The two bold sections are very vague. My son's JROTC Colonel is a former President of the Board, and he said in his time on the board no one that lettered in football and met the academic criteria was over looked.

The amount of points available at the boards discretion gives them a hell of a lot of leeway to manipulate it any way they wish on the day.
 
Soxfn2041 - yes, I've seen some of your post and thought you sound a lot like DS...from you lips to the boards ears in January. His 1st choice is Ohio University, he interviewed there and the ROO has been a great help. Now just waiting out the clock and hoping to see no major remedial on his DoDMERB exams.
 
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