Future of Cadet Training

Jcleppe

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Feb 10, 2010
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I read this quote on another board, I realize that everything heard these days is only second hand but I found it interesting.

Just got back from Knox after CULP and we had a General brief us. LDAC will be now replaced with CLC which will consist of standardized tests, a lot of garrison, and only a few days of patrolling. Most of the accessions will come from the GRE, Miller's Analogy Test, and a College Aptitude Test as well as a final ROTC exam administered at Knox. GPA will count for much less and there will be much, much lest emphasis on tactics. To quote the general "The days of running around campus with a rubber duck are over." Also for accessions they are looking at making your branch orientated towards what you majored in, although they did not really explain how that would be determined. Welcome to peacetime army.

Things are going to be real different next year. I'll be real interested in seeing how they work the branch/major part of accessions, curious as to what majors will go with Infantry, Armour, Field Artillery, Ordinance, and such.

The Final Exam for ROTC along with all the other testing will be a real switch from the current system.

My guess is that since they don't release the OML anymore, they just put the names in a big hat and start pulling them out, would cut down the number needed to sort through all the accession packets.
 
As stated there would be less emphasis on GPA but your branching and accessions would be based on your major, which in my thinking you would need a good gpa to get ranked higher.

I agree with the curiosity about infantry and such. Maybe the tech. majors that have high APFT scores get those slots.

DS is going to major in political science. Not sure what branch that would favor.
 
I'm majoring in Sport Management. One of the reasons I wanted to join the military was to do something besides show up to a desk job everyday. I understand that LTs do quite a bit of paperwork, but personally, I don't want to branch anything that really aligns with a management degree. This thought kind of makes me uncomfortable because had I known 3 years ago that when it came time for me to choose an Army branch I probably would've chosen a different school and major. Instead, I chose a school I liked and a major I enjoy, and would enjoy in the civilian world. Now it seems as if it might lead to a military branch I'm not a huge fan of; all because I have multiple interests in life and don't really agree with forcing 17 year olds to pick and choose one thing they're interested in to pursue a career in. Just because I, or any other Cadet, majors in one thing doesn't mean we wouldn't be good at something else. A major doesn't make a good leader.

Just my two cents...
 
I'm majoring in Sport Management. One of the reasons I wanted to join the military was to do something besides show up to a desk job everyday. I understand that LTs do quite a bit of paperwork, but personally, I don't want to branch anything that really aligns with a management degree. This thought kind of makes me uncomfortable because had I known 3 years ago that when it came time for me to choose an Army branch I probably would've chosen a different school and major. Instead, I chose a school I liked and a major I enjoy, and would enjoy in the civilian world. Now it seems as if it might lead to a military branch I'm not a huge fan of; all because I have multiple interests in life and don't really agree with forcing 17 year olds to pick and choose one thing they're interested in to pursue a career in. Just because I, or any other Cadet, majors in one thing doesn't mean we wouldn't be good at something else. A major doesn't make a good leader.

Just my two cents...

That's life man. The real world doesn't care about your interests or what major you prefer. Just how it is. My sister is still at home with her comm degree making 10 bucks an hour while my younger brother is on his way to a finance firm in NYC with his finance/accounting degree (he started sports management by the way but was dissuaded by a relative). I work with a RN who also has a degree in sports management...

Over the years cadets have kind of of been blinded by branch preference, quality of pay, GPA inflation, and lack major specificity. In life you have to choose and choose early. The days of career military might be over for a while except for a select few who can dodge the cuts and OER politics. This touchy feely entitlement to hand 60K+ jobs to 22 year olds over the last decade will just get harder and harder to obtain. You make yourself competitive regardless of interests.

LITS seems to have a good perspective on this usually.
 
Not saying the world does care about my interests, but in 2011 when I enrolled in ROTC, neither did the Army. At least not until my senior year. All I'm saying, is if I would've known then what I know now...

As for choosing what I did, I chose it because I knew a military career wasn't exactly the most likely career. I knew whether it be after 4 years, 6 years, or however many years, at some point I'd just be a civilian. If I would've known what I wanted to do in the civilian world would matter to the Army, I probably would've majored in something a little more military-esque. That's all I'm saying!

I just hope I do still have some say in my branch when I do access.
 
I'll be real interested in seeing how they work the branch/major part of accessions, curious as to what majors will go with Infantry, Armour, Field Artillery, Ordinance, and such.

I am real curious about that too. Business majors maybe to handle the power points. Also the aspect of of one day test to determine your future sounds alarming.
 
I am real curious about that too. Business majors maybe to handle the power points. Also the aspect of of one day test to determine your future sounds alarming.

During my older son's 4 years of AROTC the matrix was simple, straight forward and transparent, it seems to be none of those things anymore. During his scholarship interview I was asked to meet the PMS to have a talk. During that meeting he explained ROTC, Accessions, and how the cadets are evaluated, all in a short meeting. During the 4 years things did not stray far from that first discussion. It would take a lot longer meeting to even begin to get a handle on how things looking now.

I have a feeling that after scholarship cadets, recruitment and retention in AROTC could be a challenge for a lot of programs.
 
Whatever comes out of this mess should make for some great big long forum threads this fall/winter...:rolleyes:

I agree with NorwichDad about basing too much on a few test scores, but my DS can kill a standardized test so this system would favor him. Doesn't sound like the rising MSIVs will get in on this part of the changes however.

Regardless of active duty or guard/reserves, our kiddos still have received a lot of great skills and experiences through AROTC. In the real world not everyone can put 2LT on their resume. Still feel like my DS got a great deal and opportunity even with all the crazy bumps and curves so far in his path and the upcoming ruck march to the finish.
 
I think this whole plan was invented by someone who has a kid who is a great test taker but his/her grades suck.

My older son got a 34 on his first ACT his junior year that he was taking "for fun" just to see where he stood. So this would be a great system for him.

My younger son, who will be a sophomore, even though he is in all honors and AP classes, cannot take a test to save his life! His dad and I are terrified of the ACT/SAT prospects for this one! So, this son could have a 4.00 in engineering but not do well on the tests and he is out of luck.

Another issue I wonder about is, isn't the GRE a sum of everything you know or learned in college (or something along that line?) what about the schools that don't really require a well-rounded education? My son will be attending the Univ of Michigan and for his major he is not required to take writing classes, or history or health;so, theoretically, he will not be learning many of the questions on the test. Am I right, or just panicking for the kid who isn't even out of high school yet? :redface:
 
During my older son's 4 years of AROTC the matrix was simple, straight forward and transparent, it seems to be none of those things anymore. During his scholarship interview I was asked to meet the PMS to have a talk. During that meeting he explained ROTC, Accessions, and how the cadets are evaluated, all in a short meeting. During the 4 years things did not stray far from that first discussion. It would take a lot longer meeting to even begin to get a handle on how things looking now.

I have a feeling that after scholarship cadets, recruitment and retention in AROTC could be a challenge for a lot of programs.

One thing that I think about for DS's experience in ROTC is the influence of upper classman and their ability and willingness to share their knowledge and experience. DS was a little late to the party starting ROTC the beginning of sophomore year. He was greatly helped by many upperclassman at Norwich which continued with one even in Afghanistan. They were always a ready resource. He tried to do the same with those behind him. The upperclassman now must be scratching their heads on everything. No way they can answer questions now.
 
My younger son, who will be a sophomore, even though he is in all honors and AP classes, cannot take a test to save his life! His dad and I are terrified of the ACT/SAT prospects for this one! So, this son could have a 4.00 in engineering but not do well on the tests and he is out of luck.
I'm in the same boat your son is.

I can't answer your GRE question, but I'm sure that there will be more than a few cadets in that same boat.

... this kind of sucks since I don't want to be an engineer in the Army ...

Part of life, I think, is taking a leap of faith. I mean if you think about it, all of the cadets took a leap of faith and put that faith in the system (Army). We placed our hopes in it, thinking that the Army would help guide us on our way to our butter bars. So I guess we still got to have that same level of faith and hope for the best.

In hindsight - I suppose this was what (former) CG Smith was talking about, regarding changes to ROTC.
 
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Now I'll throw this into the mix, I wonder if the changes will effect the "guaranteed active duty with PMS approval" of SMC graduates.

Will they be "guaranteed" based upon their major? Just a thought
 
These new changes won't really affect nursing majors correct?
 
Now I'll throw this into the mix, I wonder if the changes will effect the "guaranteed active duty with PMS approval" of SMC graduates.

Will they be "guaranteed" based upon their major? Just a thought

The guaranteed active duty of SMC grads will not be changing. The only thing that might is how they are accessed into their branch.
 
Now I'll throw this into the mix, I wonder if the changes will effect the "guaranteed active duty with PMS approval" of SMC graduates.

Will they be "guaranteed" based upon their major? Just a thought

Nope- that won't change- they will still have that guaranteed AD because it is a law not an Army policy.USC10Sec 2111A: (http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/10/A/III/103/2111a)
(1) The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that a graduate of a senior military college who desires to serve as a commissioned officer on active duty upon graduation from the college, who is medically and physically qualified for active duty, and who is recommended for such duty by the professor of military science at the college, shall be assigned to active duty. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary of the Army from requiring a member of the program who graduates from a senior military college to serve on active duty

What branch they go into is another story. And of course Congress could always change the law though I don't hear any rumblings of that happening
 
The guaranteed active duty of SMC grads will not be changing. The only thing that might is how they are accessed into their branch.
The one thing that can be controlled by the Army is PMS approval. I also believe the SMCs have been restricted inthe numbers of the contracts they can offer the last couple of years. That would not effect active duty but restricts numbers. That said if you contract, do the right things you will get active duty.
 
I remember reading about the number of contracts offered being restricted the past few years.

Might they start restricting those to STEM majors? That would kind of lead into their overall plan.
 
I remember reading about the number of contracts offered being restricted the past few years.

Might they start restricting those to STEM majors? That would kind of lead into their overall plan.

NOOOOOO!!!:mad:
 
I remember reading about the number of contracts offered being restricted the past few years.

Might they start restricting those to STEM majors? That would kind of lead into their overall plan.

Oh I think I misunderstood. You mean restricting the contracts to those with STEM majors, not restricting the amount of stem majors going active???
 
Yes, restricting the contracts to stem majors was what I meant.

I'm not sure if they can do that but it seems like a possibility.

Kinda like ROTC now giving a certain percentage of cadets with majors in related branches active duty regardless of their OML standings. (at least that was the plan at the beginning of the year).
 
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