March 8th, 2011 AROTC Board

I forgot to re-iterate for the umpteenth time remember ROTC is manpower for 4-5 yrs out. Again, if they fall short on their numbers for 15 in 12 and 13 they can offer IS. If they still fall short they can do OTS. If they still fall short the Army is not like the AFROTC or NROTC program where all cadets go AD, they can up their numbers that are IRR.

The Army has a lot of wild cards that they can utilize compared to their sister services.

No I don't want to be President. As most of you can tell I am very vocal in what I believe in, and that doesn't make a good politician.
 
The person I would vote for is Bullet. He is the guy who knows how not to offend while offending the opposition.

Back on topic.

You are all coming down to the final lap for 2011 scholarships. Some will get the TWE. It is what you do when you get the scholarship or don't get it that will determine if you will ever be an outstanding officer.

Use history as an example. I am pretty sure Gen Colin Powell who went to a no-name state college never thought he would have ever been the JCS, let alone the SoS. I bet he had many commanders write him off since he was not a WP graduate, and let's be honest he was a minority too. He never let them quash his goals. He kept fighting another day. It is what you do when they hit you down that matters.

You can take your marbles and leave. Nobody will think anything less of you, because maybe it just isn't really your fate in life. Or you can decide to use this opportunity, contact those directly involved (for AFROTC it would be Maxwell) and ask where did I fall short re: scholarship.

Not everyone is meant for the military life. Sometimes you have to remember the path we choose is not necessarily the path chosen for us.

Best thoughts, hopes and wishes that all of you are coming into the station for this one roller coaster ride.
 
Pima said:
It is what you do when they hit you down that matters.
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"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."
- Harry S. Truman

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. ~Author Unknown

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~Newt Gingrich

We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are.
Tobias Wolff, 'In Pharaoh's Army'

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."
— Walt Disney

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. "
~ Flavia Weedn

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."
~ Alexander Graham Bell

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
~ Aldous Huxley

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
~ John Wooden

"You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there."
~ Edwin Louis Cole

These are in no particular order. Hope the thoughts help any of you waiting like my family. It may even be "bad" news we end up waiting for, but along the way we do grow as people. I would love to add more quotes to my collection - post away.:smile:
 
That is what I am writing about!

:worship::worship::worship::worship::worship::worship::worship::worship::worship::worship:

As a military wife trust me, there were times I was angry and upset that they could not see the value in Bullet that I saw. The hardest thing to live through as a loved one is to watch someone else get that "spot".

It is going to happen. be it scholarship, BN positions, career,etc. The only thing you can do is to say to them, okay dust yourself off, now what?

Don't push it because you believe you know they want it. It is a very hard position for loved ones, it is literally a tight rope you are walking on. You need to support them, but you need to be honest and at the same time you need to know this is their ultimate goal.

It is even harder with children. Honestly, some have the wrong motivation which leaves the parents in a lurch.

It is even harder if this is the 1st child to go to college. Mom speaking again, but kids change when they get to college re: majors and careers. 2nd child in college for parents are like 2nd time newborn parents, we tend to twist easier in the wind.

I really cannot stress enough my biggest regret with our DS who did the SA/ROTC route. I lost sight that by June I would be sitting in the audience hearing his name called, and by July he would be at orientation, by August 1st my sitting room would be a collection point for bed linen, and crap to take with him to school, and come Labor Day I would walk past a bedroom with a perfectly made bed that would stay that way until Thanksgiving.

Trust me you want off this roller coaster. I want back on, because that would mean one more day with him.

I know that sounds very melancholy. It is not meant to be that way. It is meant to say get off now, go out as a family. The mailman or the internet will still be here tomorrow.

Laugh and have fun. Seriously, Prom will never happen again. This is actually the fun time as a parent...picking out tuxes and gowns, buying corsages and getting their hair done. We make BEAACCH about the cost, but heck isn't that what parents do?

ROTC will be there scholarship or no scholarship come September.
 
Pima said:
Laugh and have fun. Seriously, Prom will never happen again. This is actually the fun time as a parent...picking out tuxes and gowns, buying corsages and getting their hair done. We make BEAACCH about the cost, but heck isn't that what parents do?
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Okay, seriously OT....but what is up with prom???? DD went 2 years ago with friends-had a blast etc...

DS has a girlfriend of several months...asking her to prom is requiring more planning and pomp and circumstance than my DH put into my marriage proposal:eek: It is quite amusing, but really...is this just in our area or has this craziness spread??? Would love to hear more ....
 
I do have to say that, while stressful, this truly has been one of the best experiences with my son ever. In the past year, when it became apparent he was actually leaving the nest soon, I had a "Holy Crap" moment when I realized that time was running out to teach him a few things. The ROTC application process was truly a good teaching vehicle to cover some things that he will carry with him for some time.

And when my DS started preparing for the CFA last year, I ultimately decided to sign him up with a personal trainer based on advice from a friend (who also has a DS at USMA). At that point, my DS told me (as he smiled) that he would only do the "personal trainer" thing if I agreed to do it with him, and I reluctantly agreed. Now, he does PT almost every day (always dragging me out the door!!) as he prepares for R-Day at USMA (although no final decision has been made on the ROTC front). We have had many, many intense father-son conversations this past year while doing PT together that I expect I will cherish for the remainder of my life.

This has also had an unexpected impact on my daughter. She now has expressed an interest in being a fighter jet pilot -- a subject about which I've got ZERO experience!

Some may argue that it is better to be hands off with our kiddos this year and let them just do their thing as we do our's. I couldn't disagree more.
 
Pima said:
Use history as an example. I am pretty sure Gen Colin Powell who went to a no-name state college never thought he would have ever been the JCS, let alone the SoS.
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I take exception to that description of Colin Powell's (and MY) alma mater!! :wink: The City College of the City University of New York has a long and illustrious past, with many accomplished alumni - and now home to the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies: http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/ci/powell/index.cfm

Nevertheless, point taken, CCNY is certainly not West Point or one of the Ivies - it is a public school which offers the opportunity to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, as Colin Powell did. Pima is right - our kids will be successful as long as they have that inner drive. (And Bullet's story is an inspiration to all!) I think it's our job as parents to keep reminding them that they can accomplish whatever they make up their minds to do.

Good luck to all those still waiting and hoping, both caring parents and their sons and daughters.
 
Hear more?

Ohio2015Parent said:
Okay, seriously OT....but what is up with prom???? DD went 2 years ago with friends-had a blast etc...

DS has a girlfriend of several months...asking her to prom is requiring more planning and pomp and circumstance than my DH put into my marriage proposal:eek: It is quite amusing, but really...is this just in our area or has this craziness spread??? Would love to hear more ....
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$400 dress, $100 tux, $90 tickets, $30 flowers........now you are really going to need your heart meds.
 
patentesq said:
I do have to say that, while stressful, this truly has been one of the best experiences with my son ever. In the past year, when it became apparent he was actually leaving the nest soon, I had a "Holy Crap" moment when I realized that time was running out to teach him a few things. The ROTC application process was truly a good teaching vehicle to cover some things that he will carry with him for some time.

Some may argue that it is better to be hands off with our kiddos this year and let them just do their thing as we do our's. I couldn't disagree more.
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Would completely agree with you. I wouldn't have traded a minute of this time with my son. I know his strengths and weaknesses better than anyone and have seen where he's grown and where the work still needs to happen. When he's three hours away next year and calls ('cause even those "independent" ones call when the **** gets deep) I have a clue who is who in the cadre, what the program is and can tell him to buck it up with some authority. Never will be a helicopter - but I will always be their "consultant" and mom. :smile:
 
paradoxer said:
$400 dress, $100 tux, $90 tickets, $30 flowers........now you are really going to need your heart meds.
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Your getting off cheap on the tickets - $120.00 for a couple(no dinner or after prom included) so dinner another $50.00 minimum(his date is tiny and doesn't eat much) after prom $20.00 couple -- tux, lord only knows. She hasn't bought a dress, so I have no idea what her parents are going to do. Technically he hasn't asked her, yet, but the asking so far has cost $30.00 for personalized dog tags with the date and theme of prom, plus some poem he likes... there will be a scavenger hunt thru our community for her until she finds him at some location TBD where he will "ask" her to prom. As mentioned, his father didn't put this much effort into asking me to MARRY him....This is hysterical. DD bought a $200.00 dress, went with friends, had a blast until all hours of the night and cost maybe $300.00 total. DS is turning this into a bad episode from MTV or some such nonsense...oh, to be young and in love...:yllol:

oh, and at least $20.00 for the damn flower....Mom's extra prescription drugs - priceless
 
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Ohio2015Parent said:
Your getting off cheap on the tickets - $120.00 for a couple(no dinner or after prom included) so dinner another $50.00 minimum(his date is tiny and doesn't eat much) after prom $20.00 couple -- tux, lord only knows. She hasn't bought a dress, so I have no idea what her parents are going to do. Technically he hasn't asked her, yet, but the asking so far has cost $30.00 for personalized dog tags with the date and theme of prom, plus some poem he likes... there will be a scavenger hunt thru our community for her until she finds him at some location TBD where he will "ask" her to prom. As mentioned, his father didn't put this much effort into asking me to MARRY him....This is hysterical. DD bought a $200.00 dress, went with friends, had a blast until all hours of the night and cost maybe $300.00 total. DS is turning this into a bad episode from MTV or some such nonsense...oh, to be young and in love...:yllol:

oh, and at least $20.00 for the damn flower....Mom's extra prescription drugs - priceless
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DS has an Uncle that has classic Corvettes..the begging to borrow one begins:smile: So what's wrong with my Nissan:biggrin:
 
"What are my chances" twist

TV Ticker just reported there were 5.9 million March Madness entries and 2 that correctly predicted the final four teams. I'm hoping that the chances of our DS/DD's being awarded a scholarship are better than that.
 
paradoxer said:
TV Ticker just reported there were 5.9 million March Madness entries and 2 that correctly predicted the final four teams. I'm hoping that the chances of our DS/DD's being awarded a scholarship are better than that.
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Hi, paradoxer! I am confident the odds for AROTC scholarships are much better than 2/5.9 million. By the same token, I'm also confident that the Army won't offer scholarships to 5.9 million DD/DSs (so odds of 100% are equally unlikely).

IMHO, the odds this year are likely somewhere in between. Hope that helps! :smile:
 
Love your Confidence

patentesq said:
Hi, paradoxer! I am confident the odds for AROTC scholarships are much better than 2/5.9 million. By the same token, I'm also confident that the Army won't offer scholarships to 5.9 million DD/DSs (so odds of 100% are equally unlikely).

IMHO, the odds this year are likely somewhere in between. Hope that helps! :smile:
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DS visits first choice school again this week and hopefully he will have a similar confidence after this visit that this is where he should be - scholarship or not. Values: School first, ROTC program with or without scholarship and no bubble wrap so he can continue to play hockey. DS's parent wouldn't mind board results being released during visit so ROO could chime in with options.
 
Ohio2015

I love that descriptor....Consultant parent.
 
Pima said:
Ohio2015

I love that descriptor....Consultant parent.
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Do you find it difficult to transition from Directive Parent to Consultant Parent? Some times that part is hard for me. I call it parenting 'semi-adult' people!
 
TrpRMom said:
Do you find it difficult to transition from Directive Parent to Consultant Parent? Some times that part is hard for me. I call it parenting 'semi-adult' people!
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Teenagers are a different creature that is for sure, and they tend to hide in their rooms and only come out for food:biggrin: So by their recluse nature they are difficult to figure out sometimes.

They need us now more than ever I think, not to order(unless the level of stupidity deserves it..and my son knows when he has it coming and why without asking)...DS knows I am his biggest advocate and he takes what I say to heart, but the decisions are his to make now. What Pima posted earlier is so true. My DD is grown and gone OOS with her own family for 6 years already. Its the hardest thing to do..letting them go. Seeing the vacant bedroom, 1 less place at the dinner table is hard. Trust what you've given them for 18 years to hold them in good stead. If you are a parent member here that alone is evidence that you've done a GREAT job, because you've taught them how to succeed is through hard work and sacrifice. I wish there was a set formula for this transition period...I just pray a lot.
 
Pima said:
Ohio2015

I love that descriptor....Consultant parent.
Click to expand...

TrpRMom said:
Do you find it difficult to transition from Directive Parent to Consultant Parent? Some times that part is hard for me. I call it parenting 'semi-adult' people!
Click to expand...

bjkuds said:
Teenagers are a different creature that is for sure, and they tend to hide in their rooms and only come out for food:biggrin: So by their recluse nature they are difficult to figure out sometimes.

They need us now more than ever I think, not to order(unless the level of stupidity deserves it..and my son knows when he has it coming and why without asking)...DS knows I am his biggest advocate and he takes what I say to heart, but the decisions are his to make now. What Pima posted earlier is so true. My DD is grown and gone OOS with her own family for 6 years already. Its the hardest thing to do..letting them go. Seeing the vacant bedroom, 1 less place at the dinner table is hard. Trust what you've given them for 18 years to hold them in good stead. If you are a parent member here that alone is evidence that you've done a GREAT job, because you've taught them how to succeed is through hard work and sacrifice. I wish there was a set formula for this transition period...I just pray a lot.
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I've been working my way out of a job for years!! But, yes, transitioning from directive parent to "consultant" is DIFFICULT. Letting them fall on their face wasn't easy when they learned to walk, either. Kids don't learn decision making overnight with the big stuff, it started years ago with little things - and then making the consequences stick when they decided something stupid(which all 3 have done in spades:wink:). DS is hard 'cause he's my only boy and well, he's been momma's boy since forever.(He will still hug me in public:thumb:) and he's a great helper around the house with guy stuff like carrying the grocerys in, taking the garbage out in the snow...he takes good care of mom while Dad's out playing fireman. I'll miss that. But, my kids all talk to me -- non stop sometimes -- about EVERYTHING - drugs, sex, school, friends and stuff. Thanks goodness they still take my advice and understand why those decisions are right for them. Prayer -- everyday goes without saying. Footprints and Serenity are literally printed everywhere in our home.

Wow, I'll only have one left at home after next fall....youngest DD is 15 and will be a junior next year. Its gonna be really quiet here soon.
 
WOW so similar, first DD off working on PhD, DS going off this year with ROTC and DD remaining will be a junior in HS next year. Not only will it be quiet but entire schedule changes as DS's activities dictated schedule for the last 7 years. I'm hoping there is still some hockey watching left as I'm saving vacation for next fall and winter to watch college hockey.
 
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