Status Update

So, I thought I'd share my ROTC/college decision with this very helpful community that I've come love.

Some of you may remember a couple months ago, when I was in a deadlock between serving in the Army (scholarship) vs AF (no scholarship). For the longest time I was dead set on joining the AF, but after a solid month's worth of soul searching and further digging, I have decided to join the Army - hopefully 20 years AD + 10 Guard (or whenever I have a family).

I will doing my studies at Penn State - Main this coming school year, starting with summer session. I have also heard from CC two days ago, that my scholarship transfer request was approved! I am very excited and proud right now! In case anyone is wondering, I transferred my scholarship from ERAU (6th Bde) to PSU (2nd Bde) --> so yes, transferring between different brigades is possible!!! ... I only wish that I could contract this year so that I could be officially in the Reserve.

I am also fixing on switching from Aerospace to Mechanical engineering (part of the reason why I decided on Army). The recent proposed "assault weapons" ban inspired me to do tactical shooting after college. My plan after AD is to develop firearms with a small arms company (Magpul, Remington, Trijicon, Barret, etc.) while concurrently being in the Guard. I haven't quite figured it out, but I'm looking at possibly branching in Infantry, Corps of Engineer, or MP. But I have 3 years to figure that out

I've also established a good relationship with the cadre, to the point that according to the Deputy PMS and PMS, in their 3 and 2 years as cadre respectively, they consider me as the most impression, motivated/driven cadet to ever go through the program. And this is, as the Deputy PMS put it, "just scratching the surface". The 4 year outlook is looking great!

I will also be joining the AROTC running club when I get up there in the fall (since cross country is a passion). I will also be doing photography for both PSU yearbook and Bn public affairs. ... so that's my 4-year plan in a nutshell.

I am sooo glad that I stumbled upon this website way back then. If it wasn't for all of the wonderful folk on these forums, I would have been walking into ROTC blind. I must say that I have definitely learned a lot - but still much more to learn yet.

Thank you for all of your help and determination to advise others. I would like to list names, but I do not want to forget anyone and offend them! Hope you can understand

Respectfully,
Thompson

... and don't worry, I'm not going to be one of those guys who just takes off and leaves the forums permanently. I've learned/will learn so many valuable things that I will have to share with future prospective cadets.

Is this a GRFD scholarship? If not, I don't believe you will be able to be in the Reserves while on scholarship.

I thought technically Army ROTC is a component of the Army Reserve?

Congratulations Thompson. It was a long road but you weighed it all out and made it happen. Good for you. Looking forward to hearing about your future successes on this forum.

Thompson said:

I thought technically Army ROTC is a component of the Army Reserve?

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Actually you will not be officially in the Reserves as a scholarship cadet. You can be issued an ID card but it is not required as a cadet unless you go to training or CULP. As a scholarship cadet you get no Reserve rank or privlidges. If you do get an ID card you can use a base PX or Exchange, but that's about it.

The only time a cadet is officially in the reserves or NG is if they are a SMP cadet and have enlisted in the NG/Reserves.

Don't worry at all about not being technically in the Reserves, it really doesn't mean anything. What counts now is doing your best, try to get that scholarship upgrade to a 3.5 year and work hard so you can sign that contract.

Gojack,

Just read your post, funny thing about those ID's. My older son's first ID listed him as an E-6, he renewed it the next year and he was listed as an E-3. The NG office that issued the ID said they just pick one.

When my younger son got his CAC Card when he went to CULP, it lists him as ROTC/Cadet, no rank. The nice thing about the CAC Card is that it doesn't expire until the day he graduates. For the Green ID card they just seem to pick a rank out of a hat.

Oh ... interesting - like I said, still learning! And yes, will be shooting for a 3.5/4 year upgrade! Will definitely help out my parents.

@Kinnem - will be certainly sharing my future with the folks on this forums of my future adventures as a Nittany Lion!

Great news to hear! Looking forward to having you with us next semester.

bfrat93 said:

Great news to hear! Looking forward to having you with us next semester.

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You bet! ... also, just thought you should know that the cadre only had great things to say about you last I spoke with them

Cadets are, technically, enlisted in the Reserves, just as west point cadets are active duty. You can look in your contract, you are assigned to US Army Cadet Command Control Group (ROTC). This is why cadets are authorized ID cards. While all of this means nothing, he can, technically, feel "cool" about being in the Reserves.

-Bull- said:

Cadets are, technically, enlisted in the Reserves, just as west point cadets are active duty. You can look in your contract, you are assigned to US Army Cadet Command Control Group (ROTC). This is why cadets are authorized ID cards. While all of this means nothing, he can, technically, feel "cool" about being in the Reserves.

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Certainly nothing wrong with feeling cool.