JROTC

cravius

5-Year Member
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Oct 17, 2011
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If one completes 4 years of JROTC, are they eligible to enter MSII as a freshman?
 
My instructor and a college PMS told me that if I had 4 years of JROTC I could skip the first year of ROTC.
 
Ya and what Marist is saying is that the skipped year only matters if you are of college "Sophomore" status which is around 30 credits. MSII status as a freshman wouldn't really be of help to you.
 
My instructor and a college PMS told me that if I had 4 years of JROTC I could skip the first year of ROTC.

Since you'll be in college 4 years (presumably) what advantage is there in skipping the first year of ROTC classes. I would take the classes and also of my head start to excel if it were me. It might give you a leg up on battalion commander later on. If you skip the classes and get lumped in with the sophmores it seems to me you would lose your competitive advantage. Just my personal opinion of course.
 
I would not recommend skipping MSI year. JROTC does not cover everything you will learn your first year. Additionally, no one in AROTC cares if you did JROTC. In fact, I would recommend not telling anyone when you get to your BN.
 
I would not recommend skipping MSI year. JROTC does not cover everything you will learn your first year. Additionally, no one in AROTC cares if you did JROTC. In fact, I would recommend not telling anyone when you get to your BN.

I second that. Whenever we do JROTC events, the cadets are always focused on ROTC rank structure or their current rank (i.e. c/LTC). Any MS I who boasts about JROTC in my BN immediately gets flagged by the MS IVs/cadre. Just come in with a ready to learn attitude and you'll be fine.
 
What JROTC allows you to do is walk in the ROTC office at your college as a junior and get put in the advanced course (if the PMS allows). If you are a freshman you need to progress with the rest of the freshmen. If you are a sophomore you need to be with the sophomores. The goal for us is to have you graduate and commission at the same time. Enjoy that MS I class, get an "A" to help your GPA, and keep a good attitude.
 
What JROTC allows you to do is walk in the ROTC office at your college as a junior and get put in the advanced course (if the PMS allows). If you are a freshman you need to progress with the rest of the freshmen. If you are a sophomore you need to be with the sophomores. The goal for us is to have you graduate and commission at the same time. Enjoy that MS I class, get an "A" to help your GPA, and keep a good attitude.


Thanks thats what I needed to know. Lots of resentment for JROTC kids on this thread haha.
 
What the hell?

There is not really any resentment for JROTC itself, ROTC is filled with cadets that have done JROTC of some sort prior to going to college.

The problem comes more the attitude some JROTC have when the get to the battalion their MS1 year. The other cadets gave you good advise, don't talk about it endlessly, don't ever say "This is how we did it in JROTC". think of it as starting fresh.

It's not just JROTC either, SMP cadets that have attended BCT, come back to the battalion and start telling everyone they know it all now are just as annoying if not more to the other cadets.

Use what you learned in JROTC, it will help you in your first semester, after that it won't really be an advantage anymore, just don't yell it from the roof tops.

Oh and ignore blanket dumb remarks from posters like bjb2016.

Good luck.
 
Like Jcleppe said, it's not a resentment towards JROTC, but towards the type of cadet it normally produces.

I did four years of Army JROTC. When I got to my senior ROTC Bn, I told nobody about my years in JROTC. Why? Because it didn't matter (It eventually came out because the Cadre know). JROTC is nothing but a citizenship course (Don't believe me? Look at the mission of Army JROTC). However, I did take away some things I learned in JROTC that have helped me in the senior level course. Drill and Ceremonies, Customs and Courtesies, and basic Land Nav. Other than that, it means nothing and those days are behind me. I have not, however, used the fact that I have been doing D&C for a few more years than my classmates as a pawn that I am better than them. I used it as a tool for me to help my friends/classmates and make them better so we all are successful.

Bottom line: Be thankful for your JROTC years, I'm sure they have been fun for you, but if you step foot onto your college campus with your Drill Team Commander shirt and think that anyone is going to buy the BS spewing from your gums, you're mistaken.
 
What JROTC allows you to do is walk in the ROTC office at your college as a junior and get put in the advanced course (if the PMS allows). If you are a freshman you need to progress with the rest of the freshmen. If you are a sophomore you need to be with the sophomores. The goal for us is to have you graduate and commission at the same time. Enjoy that MS I class, get an "A" to help your GPA, and keep a good attitude.

Wait, I was always under the impression that only completion of ROTC basic course, prior service or LTC can immediately bump you to advance course. Just curious, how does JROTC qualify a cadet to receive MSIII status? The only transferable skills I have seen in JROTC are D/C and rank structure knowledge. I help recruit sometimes and I have never seen that in the literature from my ROO. Not doubting...just wondering.

I never did JROTC because I was too busy with all year round sports, consequently my knowledge of the program is just observation form ROTC grading.
 
Cadet Command Reg 145-1...I think it might be in there, or in AR 145-1.
 
JMPO why do it? People tend to forget or create a false illusion that the straight A HS student will be a straight A college freshman student. Yes, some are, but the majority aren't, the majority in their fall semester are finding their bearing between academics and the 1st taste of freedom.

Many gorge on the freedom and have issues academically.

Why not take a class that you can get that A?

Second reason why to not jump IMPO.

You will come into the unit as a name with no face connection. You can use this time with your experience to shine and have a face connected to your name.

Jumping would be like skipping a grade in school, let's say in middle to HS. Are you 100% sure you know what the HS expects of their students? The child that didn't skip was spoon fed their freshman yr. The soph is expected to be on board since they are a soph. ROTC is no different regarding expectations.

A few months back on the ROTC threads it was all about how the cadets/mids with scholarships were busting their PFT. Parents of the freshman were shocked, the older posters were not. It is not uncommon for them to bust because of 2 reasons.
~ The evaluating person was not being a stickler on form, which ROTC is.
or
~ The cadet/mid worked out for the PFA, and once completed stopped, so they were not prepared for it.

JMPO, but if your child is going to be there for 4+ yrs due to academic requirements, I see no reason to jump.

Here is also one more negative when it comes to jumping. ROTC cadets bond together that 1st yr. They create friendships because they are in the same ROTC classes together. If the unit is small or even medium size, the majority of the sophs are sophs in college. They spent a yr together already. ROTC and College are also social. They don't just talk about what the class assignment is, but they talk about X prof :eek: or how last yr when they played FB against another school Y happened. Experiences he does not have and will feel awkward to join in the conversation.

I am not saying it is right or wrong. I am saying that he will be living between 2 worlds...he is a freshman, but for ROTC purposes he is a soph, however, for ROTC cadets they MAY see him as a freshman. The freshman cadets will see him as being above them, since he won't be taking the same ROTC classes. He can't relate to their ROTC classes since he is not in them.

He would be floating in 2 worlds.

With our 3rd entering college, and our 1st commissioning this May, I just feel that this is the last time for them to be kids. Nobody in the AD world will know he jumped due to HS JROTC. Nobody will care.

On topic, but off topic.

This is really for MARIST and CLARKSON

How does it work for branching? If the cadet enters as an MSII, he is a yr ahead for ROTC purposes. What if he does engineering, typically a 5 yr program, that would mean he was done with ROTC a yr or 2 prior to graduation. How do they keep them in the ROTC program? In this instance he would enter as an MSII, he would have MSIV completed with 2 yrs left in college. If he took a 4 yr program, he would still be an MSIV as a jr.

How do you work that? I guess I am asking if this poster is an engineering candidate and the Army accepts it is a 5 yr program, but because he jumped MSI is there an MS VI? Will they pay tuition, or stipend for his 5th yr?

I know that is confusing, in essence I am asking if the child elects to enter as an MSII could there be a financial disadvantage because the Army only pays to MS whatever?

I would think as a parent with a child in college that would be the true make or break decision for us. If they say he would not contract until soph yr under 1 scenario or we would have to pay the last yr because ROTC would no longer pay, I would go with not contracting due to the fact of college tuition rates inflating at such a high rate compared to the COL increase. 1 dollar today may be 1.50 in 4 yrs.

If you said that they would continue to pay until he graduated, and by becoming an MS II would get him to contract earlier, I really would have to weigh the pros and cons from a fiscal POV. I think most parents would agree that in this economy $$$ matter.

Your answer may be the real reason why their child doesn't go MSII. They may say branching and financially it makes no sense at all, or it makes perfect sense.
 
Could there be a financial disadvantage because the Army only pays to MS whatever?

This is decided on a case by case basis, same as if a cadet switches majors and now requires additional semesters.

I have had 2 experiences with this.

Case 1: Really good student on 4 yr scholarship decides to switch to Nursing. Requests and receives extension of benefits for 3 additional semesters in order to complete nursing requirements.

Case 2: Really poor student on 2 year scholarship switches majors from poly sci to criminal justice. Requests extension of benefits for 1 semester. Request denied.
 
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