Insight from an NROTC MIDN and Questions! Ask Away.

DMFD

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
6
Hello Everyone,

I have been lurking these forums since I was a high schooler looking to get into NROTC (Marine Option). Well, I have finally graduated OCS and graduate college in December. My process to get across the parade deck has been filled with a ton of experiences that I see a lot of people want answers to such as legal trouble, OCS related questions, what is a day like in NROTC, do you have time to do anything else on campus, etc. A lot of people going through the process and parents post here with information that is half correct and a lot of rumors that simply aren't true. I remember reading stories here from people posting and thinking I would never make it and added to the undo stress of applying and actually making it through. So, with that being said, I want to answer all the questions that people have that pertain to NROTC and making it through OCS. I will answer to the best of my ability and hope to make a positive impact on people nervous about their first year or anything else that is on their mind that they want to know! Ask away!
 
Hello Everyone,

I have been lurking these forums since I was a high schooler looking to get into NROTC (Marine Option). Well, I have finally graduated OCS and graduate college in December. My process to get across the parade deck has been filled with a ton of experiences that I see a lot of people want answers to such as legal trouble, OCS related questions, what is a day like in NROTC, do you have time to do anything else on campus, etc. A lot of people going through the process and parents post here with information that is half correct and a lot of rumors that simply aren't true. I remember reading stories here from people posting and thinking I would never make it and added to the undo stress of applying and actually making it through. So, with that being said, I want to answer all the questions that people have that pertain to NROTC and making it through OCS. I will answer to the best of my ability and hope to make a positive impact on people nervous about their first year or anything else that is on their mind that they want to know! Ask away!

Congratulations on completing OCS and posting here to contribute your knowledge. Lima Company first increment? Or was it India?
 
Thank you! OCS is challenging, to say the least. I was first increment, Lima Company. Lima Company is a combination of PLC Seniors and NROTC MIDN, and India is just PLC Juniors.
 
Thank you! OCS is challenging, to say the least. I was first increment, Lima Company. Lima Company is a combination of PLC Seniors and NROTC MIDN, and India is just PLC Juniors.

Yeah that's right. I knew that but had forgotten. About 30 minutes after I posted this I figured out you could only be in Lima.
 
Congratulations and thanks for offering to give your input on the many topics and questions that are posted here.
 
Congratulations and thank you for offering your knowledge!

We have learned there are differences from school to school, what school do you attend?
 
I'm starting this fall as a Marine Option on scholarship at Oregon State University, a few questions if that's okay!

1) Average day/week?
2) The Master Sergeant at my unit told me that more is expected of a Marine Option, especially those on scholarship. I understand that to an extent, but could you maybe expand on that for me?
3) I'm in an engineering major, but have heard that many Marine Options drop engineering due to the workload along with NROTC duties. How common is this? How bad is the time commitment actually?
4) What happens on weekends? If anything?
5) What is the relationship between freshman MIDN, and the older MIDN? Specifically Marine Options as well.

Thank you!
 
1) An average day in the Marine Option family isn't all that crazy. In NROTC, your main goal is to get that education and college classes take up most of your time as a full time student. An average day would be wake up at 0445, start PT at 0545 end it at around 0715 and head back to your apartment. After cleaning up, head out to class and stay on campus or do whatever you need/want and I workout again at night. The day is all yours really, you aren't doing NROTC stuff all the time, and a majority of your time is spent how you want to spend it. Time management is something that will become a make or break for your college experience. So recap, average day is wake up while all your buddies come back from a party and PT go to class and do whatever you need to do.
2) As Marines and Marine Options, you will always be held to a higher standard. PT, discipline, motivation, everything. When you check into your unit, you will understand this and it will be evident. More is expected of you, as it should be.
3) I started off engineering and switched my second semester. I realized that I could major in ANYTHING and still commission so why go crazy over a subject I don't enjoy. I switched to Business and love it. A lot of Marine Ops do switch because the work load of engineering and NROTC is tough, but there are some that do it. If you enjoy doing other things like fraternities or social clubs engineering might be too much. The time commitment of NROTC isn't bad, it's the time commitment of both that becomes too much for some people. But if your heart is set on engineering, I know Marine Ops that have done it quite successfully.
4) Weekends are interesting. Usually a unit will have OCS preps on one weekend a month for their Marine Ops. They are basically Field Training Exercise and they prepare you as much as they can for the rigors of OCS. Then you have other things such as judging JROTC Drill Meets, giving tours, Dining In or the Ball. It depends on the unit, but it never gets out of hand and you learn to enjoy the weekend stuff. I would say maybe 4-5 weekends out of the semester is doing something and usually it is bright and early in the morning so, do not fret, you will have most weekends to yourself.
5) This is the hardest one for me to answer because it is varies in every unit. I will tell you that you form very close friendships with your classmates and the older guys have their friends and aren't interested in making new ones. It is not like OCS where you snap to attention and call them Sir or anything of that nature. I would say it is a mutual respect thing and nothing more, nothing less. Show respect to the older guys that have been around for a while and they will do their best to teach and mentor you.

I hope that helps. I would say the biggest thing for NROTC is time management and get those grades at PT up and maintain them. IF you manage your time correctly you will have a lot of time to do whatever you please, but if you don't you will end up like a lot of poor NROTC freshmen and pull all nighters for subjects that are not demanding at all.
 
1) An average day in the Marine Option family isn't all that crazy. In NROTC, your main goal is to get that education and college classes take up most of your time as a full time student. An average day would be wake up at 0445, start PT at 0545 end it at around 0715 and head back to your apartment. After cleaning up, head out to class and stay on campus or do whatever you need/want and I workout again at night. The day is all yours really, you aren't doing NROTC stuff all the time, and a majority of your time is spent how you want to spend it. Time management is something that will become a make or break for your college experience. So recap, average day is wake up while all your buddies come back from a party and PT go to class and do whatever you need to do.
2) As Marines and Marine Options, you will always be held to a higher standard. PT, discipline, motivation, everything. When you check into your unit, you will understand this and it will be evident. More is expected of you, as it should be.
3) I started off engineering and switched my second semester. I realized that I could major in ANYTHING and still commission so why go crazy over a subject I don't enjoy. I switched to Business and love it. A lot of Marine Ops do switch because the work load of engineering and NROTC is tough, but there are some that do it. If you enjoy doing other things like fraternities or social clubs engineering might be too much. The time commitment of NROTC isn't bad, it's the time commitment of both that becomes too much for some people. But if your heart is set on engineering, I know Marine Ops that have done it quite successfully.
4) Weekends are interesting. Usually a unit will have OCS preps on one weekend a month for their Marine Ops. They are basically Field Training Exercise and they prepare you as much as they can for the rigors of OCS. Then you have other things such as judging JROTC Drill Meets, giving tours, Dining In or the Ball. It depends on the unit, but it never gets out of hand and you learn to enjoy the weekend stuff. I would say maybe 4-5 weekends out of the semester is doing something and usually it is bright and early in the morning so, do not fret, you will have most weekends to yourself.
5) This is the hardest one for me to answer because it is varies in every unit. I will tell you that you form very close friendships with your classmates and the older guys have their friends and aren't interested in making new ones. It is not like OCS where you snap to attention and call them Sir or anything of that nature. I would say it is a mutual respect thing and nothing more, nothing less. Show respect to the older guys that have been around for a while and they will do their best to teach and mentor you.

I hope that helps. I would say the biggest thing for NROTC is time management and get those grades at PT up and maintain them. IF you manage your time correctly you will have a lot of time to do whatever you please, but if you don't you will end up like a lot of poor NROTC freshmen and pull all nighters for subjects that are not demanding at all.

Thank you so much! That helps a ton. Also one last question if thats okay! A fellow midshipman to be and I were curious about PT. I run a 300 PFT and I'm in fairly decent shape due to sports and training this summer, but what does daily PT tend to consist of/how intense is it?
 
PT is a favorite among Marine Ops. Units all across the nation run it differently, but the main theme is that Marine Ops PT together most of the week. So you might only have green on green PT every so often (regular PT gear with go fasters) and then you will have boots and utes PT all the other times. PT is intense. It is more combat PT oriented, ammo can lifts, etc. I would suggest running in boots if you get the chance, once a week. Work on your endurance and body weight exercises. For example a type of workout that will get you ready to handle anything NROTC PT would be as followed.

20 minute warm up run.
5 minute stretch.
Body weight and free weight combination for around 20-30 minutes. Supersets, limit the breaks.
20 minutes of Intense Cardio or 20 minute fast run.

If you want a detailed workout that has worked for me, PM and I will send you everything I have.
 
DMFD,
Congratulations to you! My son is attending Jacksonville Univ. on an NROTC scholarship. He has not gotten any information about O&I other than what date to report, and been told not to bring everything because the time to move in is limited. Other than bedding and clothes for the week before school starts, what does he need to take? We live about 4 hours away from the school, so will have to make a second trip when he moves in to the dorm. Will the NROTC unit send out a packet with this information before O&I? Thanks so much for your information.
 
For Orientation, the packet should come in the mail, or in an e-mail. It will detail everything he needs to take. There are probably some items that you will have to have, running shoes, shower gear, etc. Military gear will be issued to him and mainly everything else he needs for the period of instruction will be given to him. If any information does not come by the week before he is scheduled to start, I would advise him to call the unit and get answers. Don't worry about having little information as of right now either. I didn't get my packet until a week before we started training. Good luck to him!
 
Rotc to nrotc

I am going to a college that only offers army rotc is it possible to switch to an nrotc unit after your freshman year?
 
"I would suggest running in boots if you get the chance, once a week. "

Thanks for all the advice, DMFD.
I am not a frequent poster here, but am lurking since my son will be heading of to NROTC MO in a month. So are you suggesting he buy some boots now and start running in them before he arrives at school? Seems like a good idea, can you recommend any specific type of boots?
Thanks!
 
DMFD,
Congratulations to you! My son is attending Jacksonville Univ. on an NROTC scholarship. He has not gotten any information about O&I other than what date to report, and been told not to bring everything because the time to move in is limited. Other than bedding and clothes for the week before school starts, what does he need to take? We live about 4 hours away from the school, so will have to make a second trip when he moves in to the dorm. Will the NROTC unit send out a packet with this information before O&I? Thanks so much for your information.

My son will be at JU this fall as well, and he'll be bringing everything. He's from Wisconsin and we're only driving once. If the situation is anything like my other son's NROTC experience (RPI in New York), he'll find a place to put his stuff before the dorm opens--if he doesn't have access to his room right away.
 
We had 90 minutes to lay carpet, build a futon and put all of my son's stuff in his dorm room before he showered and reported to be sworn in. Hectic but we managed. He had organizing to do after he got back from NSO but it wasn't a big deal. Helped that we are a family of 5 and everyone pitched in.
 
DMFD,
OSU is one of our DS Schools of choice for NROTC scholarship-still waiting to hear if he gets one, but if not, it's high on his list of schools to attend and major in history as a programmer and go for two or three year program scholarship.
Couple questions:
1. Which dorm(s) to select as a freshman to be close to the unit?
2. Does the unit fill all it's slots each year?
3. Do you think playing on the club lacrosse team would be doable(assuming he keeps his grades up)-that is our requirement.
4. If there was one thing you'd do differently looking back on it all(if anything), what would that be?

Congrats on your commissioning -you should be proud.

V/r
MJP
 
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