Congratulations!! Now what..

-Bull-

10-Year Member
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Mar 13, 2009
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Congratulations to you ROTC scholarship winners! Your hard work and dedication towards the application process is beginning to finally pay off for the first board and many more to follow in the form of big checks to great universities. However, the work has JUST begun.

Remember, you all have not even entered ROTC yet and the journey is in its early stages. I urge you all, should you decide to except your scholarship, to exhale, enjoy your final months of high school, and prepare for some of the greatest years of your life.

Things to do before starting ROTC:

Get in shape! Or somewhat familiar with exercise. Your first couple weeks in ROTC, you will be given the APFT. Your money doesn't get turned on until you pass, so make this a big priority.

If you want to start learning military customs and courtesies, go right ahead, but don't make it a big priority. You'll be learning all of that soon enough. Same thing goes for Drill and Ceremonies.

Take a few glances of military/cadet rank structure, so when you show up, you have a general idea of how to address everyone.

Take care of yourself and be safe. The Army doesn't want broke down teenagers. I'm not saying put yourself in a complete bubble, but think before playing tackle football with 250lb juiceheads.

Most of all: RELAX! Don't stress out about anything! Enjoy everything about high school. Keep the grades up, but let loose, go to a party (or 100).

If you have any questions/things to add/comments/feedback, feel free to add! (The OC Josh... ha)

:thumb::thumb:
 
Here is one more very important piece of advice. Get your DODMERB done ASAP. I have two cadets in my battalion that are still messing around with DODMERB going into the end of their first semester. There is plenty of blame to go around, but the bottom line is we all didn't respond promptly to requests for information, and didn't anticipate issues.

Get your exams scheduled ASAP. Provide informations when requested (called remedials), and follow up if you think things have dragged on too long. If you have a condition you think might cause a problem, let your ROO know, and be prepared to explain your condition to DODMERB and Cadet Command. Don't hide things, don't lie, just be honest. Allergies, diagnosis of asthma, and learning disabilities/accomodations all can cause problems. Not time to party quite yet.
 
Congratulations!!...

clarksonarmy

You sure are right about that.

RGK
 
clarksonarmy - I noticed you mentioned allergies...would that include your standard seaonal allergies?
 
My suggestion is that you answer the question on your medical history honestly. If it asks if you have any allergies (I'm not sure exactly how it is worded), obviously the answer is yes. When you go in for your physical, the doctor will ask you (or should ask you) about anything that you said yes to. If you explain to her/him that you get stuffed up when you cut the grass in the spring you should be OK. If you tell him that you are frequently hospitalized because you can't breathe when you get near a tree in pollen season, you probably aren't qualified to serve. I think the current online medical history may screen out the seasonal allergy sufferers.

I'm sure there is a thread in the DODMERB discussion board that gives a better answer than this, but I hope this helps.
 
Very helpful - thank you. I am talking about the runny nose/watery eyes from seasonal changed (like when I cut the grass). No hospitalizations or anything, but have taken both over-the-counter and prescription medications to help. I will check the DODMERB site. Thanks, again.
 
Does the DoDMERB initiate contact to make the first appointment, or do we call them?
 
Does the DoDMERB initiate contact to make the first appointment, or do we call them?

You will receive a letter from DODMERB with instructions and a list of local clinics you can go to for your exam. It usually shows up in 2-3 weeks.

Yep, more waiting...
 
Since you asked for it Bull, here is some advice

Choosing a school
Your DS or DD will be extremely excited, and you will probably be more excited for them. You all seem very involved with your kids, which is great. But when it comes down to deciding schools, be careful to not force your dreams on them. A couple of days after getting the letter, I'd sit them down and go through logistics. Ex: Going to school A would cost us $8,000 Room and Board, you will have to pay X amount while going to school b would cost $3000 dollars room and board which will cost you y amount. And then let them decide. Yes, part of the money is your money, but they will be the ones who have to live on campus and then serve our nation. Support them, but please don't push them.

Working Out
Working out by yourself is really hard for me. I was well intentioned the summer before ROTC but never followed through. Quite frankly it showed up in my first PT test score. If you can do well, you will be a step ahead. Although most of you did well for the PT test, beware that there are minimum standards to even be in the program at all.

Military Customs and Courtesies
Like bull said, not a huge deal because you will learn them, but if you know who and when to salute, that's good too.

JROTC People
Look at these first few weeks as a way to help out your other freshmen. One of my teammates was a super high-speed JROTC girl. She came to our Bn and although she didn't brag about it, we knew that if we had a question about something she might know the answer. Bottom line: Help others. Don't show off just to show off.


Health
DODMERB. Get it done ASAP! Seriously, if you don't it's such a pain. Also, don't do anything stupid over summer. Don't be the guy showing up in that cast. Because that can change your DODMERB status...


Classes
If you are in contact with any of the current ROTC cadets, ask them which professors and classes to take. It can be EXTREMELY helpful!
 
To add on to what has been stated, beware FB. It can bite you in the arse. People believe that sites like this are anonymous, and with FB they join groups. Just to show you how viral FB can be:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-naval-academy-spice-20110228,0,5651106.story

That came from post 64 on this site
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?p=169756#post169756

As a cadet you leave marks.

IF I gave a crap I could easily put that FB post with a cadet. I don't have enough time to give a crap. Just saying...this poster CandidateinSD gave me a back door...all I need is to look.

Trust me we have an 06 friend that when he interviews he actually uses FB to get an eyeball.
 
I beg your pardon....all I did was share a link to a newspaper article that was on the official USNA FB page, where is the harm?
 
You took it the wrong way. What I was trying to show, is that FB or even this site it is not as anonymous as you believe.

People think by locking their FB site that nobody can not figure out who they are.

Kids especially think the people in their 30/40's are so old that they can't work the system to actually pinpoint someone.

I was just saying don't be a fool and post stuff on FB and think it won't bite you.

A couple of yrs ago, on FB for AFA 10 or 11, there was a cadet who posed by a 16 on a stick, and ranted about it. Months later he was a youtube sensation being berated on the bus for BCT because of that FB picture.

Also in 08 there were twins on collegeconfidential, where one brother crowed about how BCT would be no problem. Cadets said to him we will get you. He said no way. They came back and said, you are an Asian Male, with a twin brother also accepted and from NY, how hard do you think that will be? OBTW you just put your twin at risk.

Posters forget you give out info, and as technologically inept as I am, I know all you have to do is hit my post history. Within minutes because of posts by Bullet and Kevster, and my own stating DS got UPT. You can easily figure out who my DS is.

OBTW a very very close friend works for Homeland and he uses FB to do back door perview.
 
I see, forgive me, I'm a mom on a ledge right now, just looking for any excuse to jump...LOL...

I absolutely agree with you on this point, we are forever telling our son that everything he says and does on the Internet could potentially harm him if he speaks without thinking first! The Internet leave bigger footprints than dinosaurs.
 
Unfortunately, as parents all we hear from our kids is: Yeah, Yeah whatever you say.

We are too old and out of touch to be listened to. :rolleyes:

Get off the ledge, live for the moment. Whatever will be will be. Don't waste these moments. Time is the only thing you can never get back. If he gets it great! If he doesn't, are you going to love or respect him less? NO!

Trust me, I didn't listen 3 yrs ago and now I live with IF ONLY I DID. Don't be me! DS has his dream scholarship and his dream career, but I was so busy worrying that I missed out on the silly things...like when he would jump on the tramp with the dog, or listening to the laughter from his room as he and his buds played XBox.

Don't be me...walk away from the computer and live for today (pick out the tux, call the folks for firming up grad plans)...we will all still be here to hold your hand come August as you describe how hard it was to move him in.
 
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