ROTC and Concealed Carry Training

jchaff1134

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
39
Hello, all!

Contracted MSIII here. I am looking toward obtaining a concealed carry license in my state (Ohio) and under Ohio CCW laws, the process of getting a license can be expedited if one has:

"A document that shows the applicant is an active or reserve member of
the armed forces, or was honorably discharged within the past six years,
or is a retired highway patrol trooper, or is a retired peace officer or
federal law enforcement officer and who, through the position, acquired
experience with handguns or other firearms that was equivalent to the
minimum educational requirements."

It is my understanding that AROTC Cadets are technically in the reserve component of the US Army when they contract, but I wasn't sure if 1) Cadets are held in the same light as "true" reservists for this kind of thing and 2) If my BRM training with M16s and M4s through ROTC was sufficient for obtaining a CCW license.

I know my best bet is probably to bring these questions to the sheriff's office and ask there, but I wanted to see if other Cadets had experience/advice with obtaining a CCW license while in ROTC.

Thanks and have a great evening, folks.
 
Hello, all!

Contracted MSIII here. I am looking toward obtaining a concealed carry license in my state (Ohio) and under Ohio CCW laws, the process of getting a license can be expedited if one has:



It is my understanding that AROTC Cadets are technically in the reserve component of the US Army when they contract, but I wasn't sure if 1) Cadets are held in the same light as "true" reservists for this kind of thing and 2) If my BRM training with M16s and M4s through ROTC was sufficient for obtaining a CCW license.

I know my best bet is probably to bring these questions to the sheriff's office and ask there, but I wanted to see if other Cadets had experience/advice with obtaining a CCW license while in ROTC.

Thanks and have a great evening, folks.

I know when I was in AFROTC I got expedited for my FL concealed carry license. All I had to show them was my "reserve" ID and I brought a copy of the form I was given after my initial M9 qual. They said that was fine and started my licensing process without me having to take the 12 hour or however long safety course. A couple weeks later I got my license in the mail. I'm not sure how Ohio compares to FL but they do have concealed carry reciprocity with one another so it can't be too different Id imagine.
 
You should have signed a DA form 4 when you contracted. That is your enlistment, and I would imagine is something that may fill the bill. You should be able to get a copy of it from your HRA.
 
Thanks to you both for the information! I will snag a copy of my Form 4 and go see what the office says. :thumb:
 
Another idea

Thanks to you both for the information! I will snag a copy of my Form 4 and go see what the office says. :thumb:

DS paid $20 and took a quiz after watching a short video. He's in another state but you might look into that possibility. Quite frankly this was/would be easier than obtaining a copy of any form from HR.
 
Just beware, and I'm sure you've thought of this, of the laws of having a weapon on campus even in your vehicle. Don't want something to happen that would jeopardize your education or career.

In our state DS could travel with one to school but then would have to do something with it when he got there. If somebody knew he had it in his vehicle and blabbed then it would all be over in a heart beat. Just wasn't worth the risk.
 
For sure

Just beware, and I'm sure you've thought of this, of the laws of having a weapon on campus even in your vehicle. Don't want something to happen that would jeopardize your education or career.

In our state DS could travel with one to school but then would have to do something with it when he got there. If somebody knew he had it in his vehicle and blabbed then it would all be over in a heart beat. Just wasn't worth the risk.

Good reminder!

DS now knows the rules for each state, how to transport through each state and how to contact each college campus he plans on visiting as well as every other place he visits. Older sister graduated last month and it took one call/4 transfers to reach the person who actually knew what the rules were for that campus. The up side is that it was amazing to watch him explain to the father of his roommate how to best transport a gun from the east coast to the west coast. Proof that these cadets grow in ways never expected.
 
Just beware, and I'm sure you've thought of this, of the laws of having a weapon on campus even in your vehicle. Don't want something to happen that would jeopardize your education or career.

In our state DS could travel with one to school but then would have to do something with it when he got there. If somebody knew he had it in his vehicle and blabbed then it would all be over in a heart beat. Just wasn't worth the risk.

Very, very sound advice. I have been careful to review all of the laws for Ohio and luckily have a great PMS who was able to explain the laws to me before I left campus this year. That's the last thing a Cadet needs. Thank you!

And for those wondering: As a Cadet, you can download your Form 4 from HRC (hrc.army.mil) in about 2 minutes if you have your AKO username and password.
 
DS will be applying for a permit on his return from LDAC, we live in a will issue state. Thank you Clarkson for the info on which form to submit, hope it works, otherwise it’s the classroom for him.
His University Police Department are more than happy to store weapons for students if needed, downside being the amount of paperwork.
 
The up side is that it was amazing to watch him explain to the father of his roommate how to best transport a gun from the east coast to the west coast.
I'm sure you probably know this already. But for the benefit of others who may not already know: be careful about transporting firearms across state lines. On the subject of conceal carry, make sure you know what states have reciprocity with that state you applied for Conceal Carry License. (Reciprocity is the idea that a CCL obtained in one state is honored in another state.)

There are some states that are great on reciprocity (ie: PA, AL, AZ come to mind) ... and there's others that you probably wished you could have lived elsewhere to obtain your CCL (ie: MD, CA, NY).

An awesome site that illustrates that is: Armed Citizens United

Also for all of us 2nd Amendment folks out there, be weary of what constitutes of "registration/paperwork" that has to be filled out and filed with the college/university police department. I can't say with certainty, but some departments may put all of that information into a database, or some (ie: PSU) may require just basic information (ie: owner, firearm, contact info) on a piece of paper that will never come anywhere near registration.
 
Just an update for all interested: I was approved for a conceal carry by Ohio via providing my DA Form 4 (as I said above, you can download it in a few minutes on hrc.army.mil). They were confused at first because they are used to seeing a DD 214, but they called to confirm and said that the Form 4 was just fine. The process was very easy and painless.

And I echo what others have said: Cadets who are interested need to understand concealed carry laws for their state, the protocols for crossing state lines, the places you can and cannot carry, and especially the use of deadly force as it can ruin your life should you choose to try and do what seems like the right thing.

Thanks for all the help and comments, folks!
 
and especially the use of deadly force as it can ruin your life should you choose to try and do what seems like the right thing.
Whoo hoo! Glad things went off without a hitch! Congrats Sir.

The statement you made above CANNOT be stressed enough. I think out of everything you should and could understand about being a conceal carry holder, and moreover - a responsibly armed citizen - is what is considered justified for the use of "deadly force."

Deadly force can ONLY be used (and subsequently justified) if and only if you feel that your life is in imminent danger. Putting 2 holes in the door when someone is trying to break in is not considered justified (someone did this and the shooting was not justified). Nor is, after presenting your firearm, the bad guy runs and then you go to shoot him. Saying that your life is in imminent danger will not be justified.
 
use of deadly force

If you carry and use a firearm be prepared to articulate the follow in the event of the use of deadly force.

Ability: Did the person(s) you fired upon poses the ability to cause you or others imminent serious bodily injury or death?

Opportunity: Did the person(s) you fired upon have the opportunity to cause you or others imminent serious bodily injury or death?

Jeopardy: Did you feel your life or the life of others were in danger of imminent serious bodily injury or death?

If you cannot articulate these things in a court of law then you will have serious problems. Be safe in all that you do.
 
If you carry and use a firearm be prepared to articulate the follow in the event of the use of deadly force.

Ability: Did the person(s) you fired upon poses the ability to cause you or others imminent serious bodily injury or death?

Opportunity: Did the person(s) you fired upon have the opportunity to cause you or others imminent serious bodily injury or death?

Jeopardy: Did you feel your life or the life of others were in danger of imminent serious bodily injury or death?

If you cannot articulate these things in a court of law then you will have serious problems. Be safe in all that you do.
+1
 
Sheriff3,

Since this thread seems to be resolved I wanted to go off topic for just a bit, thought you might enjoy this.

My older son who commissioned in 2012 is currently at NCT with the 2-6 Cav. He just returned from The Box and called us yesterday, when we asked how it went he chuckled and said "Your going to love this"

While they were in The Box they had to move some equipment, the only vehicle available was a civilian Ice truck, my son got a driver and they took off. There had been a pretty hard wind storm and there were a lot of sand drifts. To get where they were going they had to go on a short stretch of civilian highway that ran along the training center.

They had just got on the road when they saw the blue lights behind them, the driver pulled over and the officer told him that they had a tail light out. My son, sitting in the passengers seat noticed the officer give him a strange look so he figured it was best to be proactive, he turned to the officer and said "Officer, I am letting you know that I have a M-4 in my right hand and a 45 on my belt, we are in the middle of a training exercise" He said the look on the officer was priceless and a bit anxious. The second officer took his weapon out, the first officer started yelling to see his license and registration for the vehicle, they had neither and my son had no ID on him other then his dog tags let alone any permit for carrying and he said the 45 was pretty concealed from sight. Neither officer knew quite what to do at that point.

Lucky for them a vehicle carrying a couple of the TACs pulled up behind them and cleared everything up.

You would think this would not be that uncommon considering the proximity of the training center.

I do not carry anymore, I used to because of my job. One thing I always did if I were pulled over when I was carrying was to give the officer my license, ID, and permit all together, they would ask if I was carrying, I'd say yes and that was that. Only happened twice, but something to remember.
 
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