Fall Semester 2012 xROTC updates

Took DS to school for early move-in on Saturday and handed him off to the Navy on Sunday. DH was disappointed he didn't get chance for "final" good-bye, but I think it was best for all involved. This has been easier for me than DH - not sure why.

They are gone through Thursday pm for Orientation and will have 1st official PRT today. DS hoped to max out on the run and have pretty high sit-up count. Push-ups will be more of a challenge, but he had been working hard on them.

We go back for swearing in ceremony on Friday - this will be my chance to have emotional overload! I will have an update at the end of the week.

Found out that his battalion has 34 new 4/Cs and 6 are College Programmers. A lot higher scholarship count than I expected!
 
FlyingWildcatDad said:
I talked to my DS this weekend and got an update on what took place this past week for AFROTC. Monday- new cadet orientation, took up most the day and all the new cadets were issued uniforms (80+). Early Wednesday morning- First PT Session with all cadets and a practice PFT administered. DS said that he passed it, but it was not recorded. Wednesday was also the start of his first university classes. Thursday morning all HSSP cadets had to meet at the detachment for another height and weight check, and then went over and signed contract papers. Later on in the day during Leadership Lab, all HSSP cadets were sworn in in front of the entire detachment. So he is now officially a contracted cadet! :smile:
Click to expand...

Congratulations to your son. Sounds like he had a busy week.
 
Just checking in everyone. DS is back from BCT and had his first class today(monday is a light day:smile:) He is anxiously awaiting info from his cadre about signing the AROTC contract, MSII class meets tomorrow so hopefully something will be said. Another cadet spoke with HR and was told 8 should be contracted by end of Sept. - also DS noticed several SMP hopefuls were not at school, they were informed that the BN would not be funding their room grants this year due to failure to meet standards(mostly GPA issues) so they are done with them. These kiddos I guess had no plan in place for how to pay for rooms without the grants and are simply not attending. The good news is rumored that if they have kept you(and your room grant) they are planning to contract you either in the group of 8 now or later in this school year. So once again pins and needles waiting to hear....although I'll admit its easier now than it was back during 2011 Boards:wink:

Take care everyone - great to read how the school year is starting off for so many, saw a lot of 3yr campus based scholarships mentioned in another thread so hopefully things are looking up for AROTC. Oh, on that note, while DS was at BCT, several members of his platoon were OCS bound(like 5 or 6) so obviously someone thinks they still need officers soon.

Will check back in when/if DS has any new information.
 
First feedback

Just heard back from my son (NROTC-MO scholarship student) he just finished up his 7 day orientation session. Sounds like he had a tough week. Is this normal? This is something he has wanted for a long time, don't know what to say to him - thoughts?
 
Just be you and listen to him, he probably just needed an ear to vent to about the past week without him being judged in a negative light.
 
Mckensw said:
Just heard back from my son (NROTC-MO scholarship student) he just finished up his 7 day orientation session. Sounds like he had a tough week. Is this normal? This is something he has wanted for a long time, don't know what to say to him - thoughts?
Click to expand...

Sent you a PM.
 
Mckensw said:
Just heard back from my son (NROTC-MO scholarship student) he just finished up his 7 day orientation session. Sounds like he had a tough week. Is this normal? This is something he has wanted for a long time, don't know what to say to him - thoughts?
Click to expand...

I agree with Pima, just listen. He needed an ear. And yes, it is meant to be a tough week... it's normal. I think they try to push everyone to the point where they begin to ask themselves why they are there. The folks who really want to be there remain. Good luck to your son.
 
Mckensw said:
Just heard back from my son (NROTC-MO scholarship student) he just finished up his 7 day orientation session. Sounds like he had a tough week. Is this normal? This is something he has wanted for a long time, don't know what to say to him - thoughts?
Click to expand...

NROTC-MO orientation ain't beanbag?
 
Mckensw said:
Sounds like he had a tough week.
Click to expand...
If it wasn't tough, the Unit leadership didn't do their job! I have two separate reports over the past four years, one from Annapolis and one from AROTC, that tell me the officers are trying to push the mids/cadets to the point of breaking. This lets the Battalion leadership get a read on each officer trainee and the put a plan in place for each individual to work on whatever weaknesses are revealed under that stress, whatever weaknesses are shown near the breaking point, so the can work through those weaknesses before commissioning.

So, yeah, it's all by design, and in fact the officers aren't quite sure what to do, since it's a little unusual, if they fail to identify weaknesses in a mid/cadet who is under stress.
 
Last edited:
Mckensw said:
Just heard back from my son (NROTC-MO scholarship student) he just finished up his 7 day orientation session. Sounds like he had a tough week. Is this normal? This is something he has wanted for a long time, don't know what to say to him - thoughts?
Click to expand...

Of course your DS could have been bragging in a back handed sort of way. We were fortunate enough to spend a half day with our son when he completed orientation. He told us all about it over dinner. He sure complained... but he also had a grin on his face and pride in his eyes. Perhaps if your's was a phone conversation you didn't get to see that part of his communication?
 
I think kinnem has the right idea. Just the fact that he finished is reason for lots of pride. The original post inthis thread mentioned a 50% rate of non- finishers. In my daughter's Navy ROTC group for orientation week at an Illinois university, the group started with 34 and finished the week with 26. Almost a 20% drop rate.

Along with everything elseshe accomplishedduring the week, my daughter learned that it is possible to get clean with a 3 minute shower!
 
Gray,

Yes, but the problem is because she has to do that now means when she gets home she will be taking 30 min showers since it will be a luxury! Tell everyone in the house get into the shower before your sister because there will be no hot water left when she is done!:biggrin:
 
gettingmoregrayhair said:
I think kinnem has the right idea. Just the fact that he finished is reason for lots of pride. The original post inthis thread mentioned a 50% rate of non- finishers. In my daughter's Navy ROTC group for orientation week at an Illinois university, the group started with 34 and finished the week with 26. Almost a 20% drop rate.

Along with everything elseshe accomplishedduring the week, my daughter learned that it is possible to get clean with a 3 minute shower!
Click to expand...

Our DS said they had 30 seconds to lather with one hand, the other was hanging out of the shower with his towel. He had 10 seconds to rinse. His comment was he is now used to taking cold showers!
 
kinnem said:
Of course your DS could have been bragging in a back handed sort of way. We were fortunate enough to spend a half day with our son when he completed orientation. He told us all about it over dinner. He sure complained... but he also had a grin on his face and pride in his eyes. Perhaps if your's was a phone conversation you didn't get to see that part of his communication?
Click to expand...

I agree - our DS (NROTC - Navy Option) was very proud of what he accomplished this week. He said it was not what he expected. It was MUCH more intense; others he spoke with felt the same way. Our DS tends to be quiet and doesn't share a lot, but boy did he talk during dinner the night after NSO finished! My father, former active-duty marine and retired naval reserve was there with us. There was a different, stronger bond between them while talking about the things our DS learned in those 5 short days.

BTW, our DS said at first he wondered "what did I get myself into" but ended the NOS feeling that he "enjoyed" it. He also realizes now how much he has to learn. It was exhilarating and humbling at the same time. The ride continues!:shake:

Oh, and the PRT at NSO was a practice one. They take the real one at a later date.
 
Last edited:
I continue to learn something new everyday. Evidently in NROTC, if your non-freshman initial inventory PFT score is high enough you can be excused from 1 of 3 weekly PT sessions. DS no longer has to attend the unit's Wed PT sessions. Given he works out every day I have no concern about it and it will let him focus on what he needs to improve as opposed to what the PT Instructor feels the unit needs to improve upon. Freshman PT 3 times a week regardless of their score. I never knew this was a possibility and thought I'd mention it for others who may not know.
 
Started school this past week and with that came along the start of ROTC. This past week even though very physically demanding was awesome to say the least. I love the PT 3 days a week and a 10k race for trying out for Ranger Challenge. Now the focus is to gear up for a diagnostic APFT on the 7th. I can't wait until the year really starts to pick up and labs to start.
 
kinnem,

AFROTC does that too, but watch out because if his unit is like our DS's was, guess what his job will be in the unit next semester? PT instructor! That is exactly what happened to our DS. He maxxed fall semester, and spring semester he was in charge of PT.

The only difference for AFROTC at our DS's was you were excused from all of them, and they allowed even C100's this option.
 
Pima said:
kinnem,

AFROTC does that too, but watch out because if his unit is like our DS's was, guess what his job will be in the unit next semester? PT instructor! That is exactly what happened to our DS. He maxxed fall semester, and spring semester he was in charge of PT.

The only difference for AFROTC at our DS's was you were excused from all of them, and they allowed even C100's this option.
Click to expand...

The AF lets people skip PT? You don't say... :wink:

Policies like that are fairly common in the services. In real life, it's not uncommon for a commander to offer an incentive where maxing your PT test means you don't have to attend Friday PT or some variation on the theme.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top