Guidance on Marion Military Institute

ROTCmom97

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My son had decided to attend MMI in the ECP program and wrestle for them. He just found out last night that he was awarded a three year ROTC scholarship to his number one school. When he applied for the scholarship back in the fall, we knew nothing about Marion. Ultimately, we don't know what's the best path for him to take. Any advice?
 
I cannot speak to Marion vs his other school, but I just wanted to chime in about the sport vs no sport. My son had to make a choice about whether or not to play his sport in college, or go to a school where he ultimately would be playing at the club level or not at all. He chose the school where he would have the opportunity to play his sport (recruited). That is not the main reason he chose the school (SMC and he wanted the life style). To make a long story short...his sport was his passion in high school. In college he discovered he was not as passionate about it, that there were other things that he wanted to make a priority, such as ROTC activities. After one season on the team, he chose not to play next year.
He has many platoon-mates who played a sport in high school (most of them wrestlers or swimming), who chose not to go out for the team in college. He also has platoon-mates who chose to play their sport .
My thoughts to you would be to have him make his decision with wrestling OUT of the equation - which lifestyle does he want, what about a major and the opportunities at each school for that? Investigate whether or not the scholarship school has wrestling as a club sport, or if he could be a "walk-on" for their Varsity team and try out. Have him make a pros and cons list for each school. Go talk to the school, specifically the wrestling coach if you can. They are usually more than willing to talk to you - make sure they know you only have 30 days to make this decision.
Tough decision for a kiddo to make at this age - go where he can play the sport and give up the scholarship, or go with the scholarship and possibly not wrestle. Good luck, and I feel your pain!
 
My son had decided to attend MMI in the ECP program and wrestle for them. He just found out last night that he was awarded a three year ROTC scholarship to his number one school. When he applied for the scholarship back in the fall, we knew nothing about Marion. Ultimately, we don't know what's the best path for him to take. Any advice?

First, try and post on this board 6 more times so that you can use the Private Message feature, both receive and send. You may get some more specific information through the private message.

Has you son committed to Marion, if not has he had an opportunity to talk with the Cadre at Marshall, he should do this very soon. The biggest difference is that Marion is a 2 year school, as it has been stated before he would need to transfer to a 4 year school to complete his degree.

Does your son want to serve in the Active Duty Army (Full time) if so then he really needs to decide if he's willing to take the risk with a Junior College and ECP. As I mentioned before there is a parent of a cadet on this forum who's son is just completing his second year in the ECP program at a Junior Military College. Her son has been told that he may still have the opportunity to compete for Active Duty but has been told that the new classes coming in will not have that option.

Look through past threads, there have been a couple that have discussed the ECP program.

When you have enough posts I'll send to a Private Message.
 
My honest opinion and advice would be to accept the three year scholarship at his top choice, for what it's worth. ECP may be great for some, but I don't think it's the best path to take.
Good Luck either way.
 
My honest opinion and advice would be to accept the three year scholarship at his top choice, for what it's worth. ECP may be great for some, but I don't think it's the best path to take.
Good Luck either way.

I appreciate the opinion. I'm trying hard not to guide him in the wrong direction which is why I came to this forum.
 
I cannot speak to Marion vs his other school, but I just wanted to chime in about the sport vs no sport. My son had to make a choice about whether or not to play his sport in college, or go to a school where he ultimately would be playing at the club level or not at all. He chose the school where he would have the opportunity to play his sport (recruited). That is not the main reason he chose the school (SMC and he wanted the life style). To make a long story short...his sport was his passion in high school. In college he discovered he was not as passionate about it, that there were other things that he wanted to make a priority, such as ROTC activities. After one season on the team, he chose not to play next year.
He has many platoon-mates who played a sport in high school (most of them wrestlers or swimming), who chose not to go out for the team in college. He also has platoon-mates who chose to play their sport .
My thoughts to you would be to have him make his decision with wrestling OUT of the equation - which lifestyle does he want, what about a major and the opportunities at each school for that? Investigate whether or not the scholarship school has wrestling as a club sport, or if he could be a "walk-on" for their Varsity team and try out. Have him make a pros and cons list for each school. Go talk to the school, specifically the wrestling coach if you can. They are usually more than willing to talk to you - make sure they know you only have 30 days to make this decision.
Tough decision for a kiddo to make at this age - go where he can play the sport and give up the scholarship, or go with the scholarship and possibly not wrestle. Good luck, and I feel your pain!


Thanks. We have actually met with the wrestling coaches there. That's how he learned about MMI actually, they contacted him. I'm not sure that wrestling is his passion as he was also a football player. He just happens to like wrestling and is pretty good at it if that makes sense. The military component is more important to him than the wrestling.
 
DS found out about MMI late last year after being waitlisted for USCGA. It has been a very good decision for him. He loved the military structure; the classes have been tough; the environment supportive and a good transition step. While USCGA denied him his 2nd time last week, he also awaits a decision from USMMA (hold status). He just turned 18 last month and we are thankful that MMI has helped him focus on his interests. He may return in the Fall if not picked up by USMMA, but he is happy with that plan and knows the direction he will take. MMI has also helped him improve his physical abilities immensely!
 
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DS found out about MMI late last year after being waisted for USCGA. It has been a very good decision for him. He loved the military structure; the classes have been tough; the environment supportive and a good transition step. While USCGA denied him his 2nd time last week, he also awaits a decision from USMMA (hold status). He just turned 18 last month and we are thankful that MMI has helped him focus on his interests. He may return in the Fall if not picked up by USMMA, but he is happy with that plan and knows the direction he will take. MMI has also helped him improve his physical abilities immensely!


Thanks for your reply. We visited a couple of weeks ago and my son liked it. Like your son, my son is young and doesn't turn 18 until the fall. MMI just seemed like a good fit. We had actually given up hope on the national ROTC scholarship so imagine our suprise when he got it.

Hope your son gets in USMMA.
 
First, try and post on this board 6 more times so that you can use the Private Message feature, both receive and send. You may get some more specific information through the private message.

Has you son committed to Marion, if not has he had an opportunity to talk with the Cadre at Marshall, he should do this very soon. The biggest difference is that Marion is a 2 year school, as it has been stated before he would need to transfer to a 4 year school to complete his degree.

Does your son want to serve in the Active Duty Army (Full time) if so then he really needs to decide if he's willing to take the risk with a Junior College and ECP. As I mentioned before there is a parent of a cadet on this forum who's son is just completing his second year in the ECP program at a Junior Military College. Her son has been told that he may still have the opportunity to compete for Active Duty but has been told that the new classes coming in will not have that option.

Look through past threads, there have been a couple that have discussed the ECP program.

When you have enough posts I'll send to a Private Message.


I just sent you a message I believe.
 
ROTCmom97,

I'm assuming your DS has not been given an ECP scholarship, if he had he would not have received the 3yr scholarship offer. If he does get the ECP scholarship he will be required to do SMP at the same time, limiting his free time for athletics. If he attends MMI without the ECP scholarship he will not do SMP, but in all honesty that is a big plus for the ECP cadets. They learn a lot doing SMP.
ECP is not for everybody. It is also an unknown right now as far as competing for active duty in the future. My son did it and will commission this May. He loved it. He's excelled at his endeavors. He is currently waiting for his GRFD number to be revoked to compete for AD. (my ds also went to the smaller JMC because he came from a small high school and didn't want to transition into a really large college)
My feeling is that unless you know you will be near the top of your class as an ECP active duty is not going to be possible in the near future.

If it were my son with what I know now, and active duty was what he wanted, and we could handle the one years worth of tuition with a 3yr scholarship, I would suggest going the traditional route. But everyone and their situations are different.

If you have questions on the ECP program and what is required feel free to PM me.

Good luck.
 
ROTCmom97,
If it were my son with what I know now, and active duty was what he wanted, and we could handle the one years worth of tuition with a 3yr scholarship, I would suggest going the traditional route. But everyone and their situations are different.
Very good advice and great point. It's definitely worth the extra time to run the options... and kudos to you for gathering all the facts.
Good Luck!
 
ARNG SMP Participants in the state of Alabama are assigned a Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty (GRFD) control number. This prevents them from competing for active duty.
 
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