What was your experience at NROTC orientation?

I believe it will vary from unit to unit this year. I know my son's unit is going to be doing orientation very differently from when he joined two years ago. He seems to believe orientation at all units is changing but I remain unconvinced. Anyway, you'll PT, do firewatch, memorize Navy and Marine Corps knowledge, PT, have bunk inspections, PT, memorize unit history and knowledge, PT, get a haircut, be issued uniforms, PT, and then you'll have lunch... followed by PT for dessert. All this assumes the old style of orientation which your unit may or may not be doing. If you're doing the new style, it's coffee, bagels, and slide presentations, followed by a catered lunch.
 
Kinnem: I think there has always been a difference based on unit and always will be. I believe it based on the Cadre and there approach to orientation. I am pretty sure all NROTC units will expose freshman to inspections, haircuts, issuing gear, PT and knowledge. But whether it is akin to boot camp or summer camp will depend on the professional military instructors and the local command's philosophy on training.
 
Kinnem: I think there has always been a difference based on unit and always will be. I believe it based on the Cadre and there approach to orientation. I am pretty sure all NROTC units will expose freshman to inspections, haircuts, issuing gear, PT and knowledge. But whether it is akin to boot camp or summer camp will depend on the professional military instructors and the local command's philosophy on training.

Hey Grunt! From what my DS says, theirs is going to be more like Air Force... Sign some papers, see some videos, get some training on customs and courtesies, plus haircuts and issue. All done during the first week of school, before classes actually start, for a few hours a day. However, your comment suddenly made me think about why they may be changing it. The Master Sgt. AMOI they had the last three years is rolling out and back to the Fleet and a new guy is rolling in. Somehow I suspect that's the real reason despite my sons protestations.
 
The Master Sgt. AMOI they had the last three years is rolling out and back to the Fleet and a new guy is rolling in. Somehow I suspect that's the real reason despite my sons protestations.

That is exactly the experience my son had when the Cadre changed personnel at his unit. Different folks, different approach.
 
Spend your summer doing PT and running so you are in the best possible shape for orientation week. At my DD's school this past August they had about a 25% drop rate in the 6 day orientation. Comments I remember her talking about:
- learning to not have " eye liberty"
- very little sleep
- lots of running

Enjoy!
 
I too am a little worried about NROTC indoc and orientation week. Any help on what information we should start memorizing and learning? For the Naval Academy Summer Seminar we had just a taste of what to memorize with rates and ranks along with the chain of command and the mission of the Academy.
 
Don't bother memorizing anything until you get there. Some of it will be unit specific, and memorizing while there is part of the experience. Really. Don't start beforehand.
 
The biggest thing is just realize that you will get yelled at. A lot. It's basic military indoctrination designed to teach discipline and the willingness to take orders. Unfortunately a lot of kids drop after this experience because they've never truly been yelled at before. Don't quit or drop after it's over. You have to realize that you likely will never be yelled at again during your entire career. NMO usually only lasts 4 days or so, then you're on campus and acting like you're a regular college student and it never happened. You will get strong and direct counseling in your career, when necessary. But you will never be truly yelled at again. I speak from personal experience. Just know it's coming, accept it, get through it, then you move on. Later in your career you will fondly laugh about it.
 
And never, never take the yelling personally. It's not about you other than the question - can you handle stressful situations? Also, if your orientation is like this, you need to stay through it. My son's orientation was designed to make each of them question whether they really wanted to be there.. and each one of them did, as they found out later when they actually had a chance to talk to each other. Of course some folks didn't. I know of some incoming classes that lose half the class during orientation. Don't be one of them. Stick it out.
 
I'm really excited for this. Looks like a great start to my NROTC career.

Anyone else besides who I have talked to heading to University of Illinois?
 
I'm really excited too! Thank you for all the tips; I can't wait until August!
 
The biggest thing is just realize that you will get yelled at. A lot. It's basic military indoctrination designed to teach discipline and the willingness to take orders. Unfortunately a lot of kids drop after this experience because they've never truly been yelled at before. Later in your career you will fondly laugh about it.

And never, never take the yelling personally. It's not about you other than the question - can you handle stressful situations?

Both very true statements from DS point of view. We actually had a discussion about this recently and he said exactly what kinnem stated. DS said he had no problem with the yelling once he realized this. :thumb:
 
Folks, it not "yelling"

Its an attitude adjustment.

It can be (and often is) personal but there is always a greater goal in mind.
 
gettingmoregrayhair said: 25% drop rate in the 6 day orientation. Wow! Amazing that that many kids are clueless. What happens to those kids scholarship? I cannot image them being allowed to use the NROTC scholarship & just drop the 1st week they start!
 
gettingmoregrayhair said: 25% drop rate in the 6 day orientation. Wow! Amazing that that many kids are clueless. What happens to those kids scholarship? I cannot image them being allowed to use the NROTC scholarship & just drop the 1st week they start!

They do not contract and do not get their scholarship as a result of dropping. Of course not all the kids who drop are on scholarship anyway.
 
All of this is spot on. It's all unit specific, though. Understand that if things get tense and voices are raised, it's not personal at all. Just like there are X number of things you need to complete during orientation, there are X number of things the upperclassmen and cadre need to get done as well. I guarantee you unless you attract special attention to yourself, the "yelling" is not directed at you personally. Do what's asked of you in a speedy manner, and it will all go smoothly. I bet in a few weeks, the upperclassmen will still not recognize you.
 
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