Not able to do JROTC

Trey

5-Year Member
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Aug 26, 2013
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Hi. I'm not sure where this should be posted or if it should be posted at all. Please remove it if it is not relevant. I am unable to participate in AF JROTC because it is at a school all the way across town and I am not able to get transportation there and back to my home school. I'm wondering, now that my schedule is cleared up, I have a few questions. Would doing CAP or volunteering in multiple programs such as at my local VA do more for me and raise my chances of getting an ROTC scholarship? I'm sorry if this is wrong to post here but I need to make some decisions quickly and I am lost. Thank you in advance, Trey.
 
JROTC takes up alot of time and only satisfies a small amount of what ROTC wants in a resume. Playing a sport and volunteering would be better.
 
Hi. I'm not sure where this should be posted or if it should be posted at all. Please remove it if it is not relevant. I am unable to participate in AF JROTC because it is at a school all the way across town and I am not able to get transportation there and back to my home school. I'm wondering, now that my schedule is cleared up, I have a few questions. Would doing CAP or volunteering in multiple programs such as at my local VA do more for me and raise my chances of getting an ROTC scholarship? I'm sorry if this is wrong to post here but I need to make some decisions quickly and I am lost. Thank you in advance, Trey.

I didn't take the ROTC route but I believe their selection process is similar in the sense that they want a "well-rounded" individual. Doing CAP or volunteering at your local VA can only help you so I would say go for it. CAP will give you some exposure to military structure and uniform standards. Volunteering at your VA will at least give you volunteer hours and it helps you getting to know the veterans in your community. They might even be willing to write a stellar recommendation letter :shake:
 
I literally found out that JROTC and CAP existed my senior year of High School :). Still managed to get an AFROTC scholarship! What matters is showing that you are committed and working hard in a few extracurriculars. Volunteering is always good too. I also know there are AF cadets who participated in Navy JROTC or Army JROTC if AF JROTC was not available.
 
What year are you in? CAP is an amazing program that I've been a part of for two years if not boosting your chance at a scholarship but gives you leadership opportunities and opportunities to explore the military firsthand. I've spent more time at a base than anywhere else in the summer and a lot during the year and have done training and did a lot of fun aerospace courses too. CAP is a phenomenal opportunity and will definitely make you into a better cadet and prepare you for ROTC well. I highly recommend it if you can join!
 
I am currently in 8th grade. Thank you all for the comments!
 
It is not the end of the world if you do not do JROTC. There are SOOOOO many other programs and opportunities out there that can prepare you for the college/military life even more than JROTC. You can join your school's student government, volunteer in the community, play high school sports and be a captain, get a job, pick up a few hobbies that have always sounded interesting to you, all the while keeping your grades up in school and doing other things that I may not have suggested.

Participating in JROTC only limits your ability to get involved in other activities. I thought about joining halfway through my junior year of high school, but I thought about everything else I've done and didn't think it was worth it or that I would have that much time to participate in the activities. Personally, I don't like JROTC kids that much because after my experience at Boys State, I saw that MOST kids in JROTC make it their life and don't broaden their horizons or socialize outside of JROTC.

It is your decision. Due to the fact that you are still in 8th grade, I would consider JROTC to be a worthwhile experience because you are starting early. However, keep in mind that you must expand out and do more than just JROTC if you want to earn the 4-year scholarship or attend an academy and become and officer in the military.

I am only a senior in high school and I am still waiting for that acceptance letter. Good luck on your adventures.
 
I'm a JROTC hero, or at least that's what they called me at SLE. (that and Jarhead b/c I'm MCJROTC :shake:) If you have the opportunity to take JROTC, I would take advantage of it. I disagree with Pickle because I'm in the fourth year of the program and have never felt "limited" at all. It's a big part of all of our lives, especially for those of us holding command and staff billets, but I've been able to hold a part time job, serve as President of the NHS, maintain a solid GPA etc. all while maintaining a balanced life away from "the pit" (what we call our classrooms). However, he is right regarding some kids "making it their life", and the impressions left by those Cadets doesn't always resonate well with others, especially non-JROTC students. As a senior I can say most Cadets, at least in my program, DON"T let it consume their life. You will get out of it what you put into it, as you would any other program. No matter what path you choose, make well-roundedness your ultimate goal, as it has worked wonders for me and countless other applicants.
 
Thank you all so much! I may look into Sea Cadets. Luckily there is a division where I live. Same with CAP. I'll talk this over with my parents.
 
Pickle, Seawings, and others have brought up many valid points. First thing that should be paramount is: "Do JrROTC, CAP, Sea Cadets, or WHATEVER you do...... because you WANT TO. Because you have some PASSION for it. If you have passion; you'll most likely excel in it.

If you do any of these things because you think it's going to give you some leg up on an academy application; then you are quite wrong. Being in JrROTC, Cap, Scouts, etc... is not going to give you any more "Brownie Points" compared to being in 4H, FBLA, aeronautics club, DECA, Junior Statesmen of America, Orchestra, Marching band, etc.... What matters in ALL of your extra curricular activities, is that you demonstrate "passion, growth, leadership development, excelling, etc...". Same with volunteering time to the community, to the needy, hurricane victims, etc... You need to demonstrate your desire to excel in the activities and take on more responsibilities.

But as everyone pretty much has mentioned, your life has to have balance. You have to be well rounded. Yes, some individuals get truly consumed in whatever activity they have passion for. But as Seawings mentioned; they were able to do JrROTC and still have time for part time job, President of the NHS, and maintain good grades. This has to do with ANY activity you're into.

Of course, 2 areas that are extremely important are academics; "including good gpa, high class ranking, and excellent ACT/SAT scores"; and athletics. This includes not just being on an organized and competitive athletic team, but excelling in it and hopefully taking on and developing leadership roles and skills.

So again; join JrROTC, CAP, Scouts, or WHATEVER because you want to. If you're doing it because you believe it's going to give you some edge or leg up on your academy application, you're incorrect. Whoever told you it would, is wrong. All those activities I mentioned earlier in this post; none of them gets you "More Points" over another. The only activity that will get you "more" points, or I rather should say "LESS POINTS", is if you aren't involved in some form of organized/competitive sports/athletics. FWIW: I'm all for JrROTC, CAP, and scouting. I loved doing many of those things growing up. I just don't want you to try and equate:

"JrROTC, CAP, Scouts, etc... wear uniforms, take orders, have a pseudo military form of structure, etc... + I want to attend a military academy and become an officer; thus = I have a better chance of receiving an academy appointment if I have one of these pseudo military activities on my application".

You don't. Truth is; if you're passionate about the marching band or similar, and have done that for many years, and have worked your way up section leader, drum major, or whatever the leadership role is of that activity; you'll have more points on your application than a person in JrROTC, CAP, etc... who simply is "Part of it" and doesn't have the leadership roles in that activity. This is the same with ALL activities. "MEMBERSHIP" is nice. "LEADERSHIP" is desirable. So, be a part of whatever you have a passion for. The list of activities you can get into is almost endless; and NONE are given more points than others. Leadership gets more points than membership however. Best of luck.
 
Thank you so much for the reply, I have alot of researching to do.
 
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