General Officer Recommendation

They both went into detail about my adoption and an experience they've had with me in their letters:)


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Son was very fortunate to spend some time w/ a retired general he met while finishing up a merit badge. The general said "if I can help in any way..." and son took him up on it. Many months later, this general wrote a LOR for his MOC noms. Those 3 unopened letters on my table drove me insane! I so wanted to read what he wrote!
 
I bet!! They sent me scanned copies of their letters...humbled beyond words!


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jreffert said:
But it would be much easier to just be a permanent student at the academy (less traveling and hassle) Not to mention a better education...
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You've gotten away with this comment so far, because everyone is impressed by your friendship with generals. But, you need to realize this is a massive over-generalization. Yes, the academy can provide you with an excellent education, but so can any one of hundreds of other schools that have AROTC. If your desire is to actually be an Army officer, I cannot imagine you're not pursuing the ROTC option as an alternative. It's very short-sighted.
 
Jcc

I think most people saw a lot of shortsightedness, but chose not to go down the rabbit hole.

The idea, as far as I have read from their posts, that they did not apply for any MoC nominations because they have a service connected nomination is an :rolleyes: :eek::confused: idea to me.

It goes against everything everyone has been told. Granted with 3 flag officers as their LORs chances are the appointment is very high, but still why place every egg in that one basket when you have 4 more baskets to use?

I do agree with you regarding ROTC scholarship, but from a very different perspective. This forum is riddled with cadets that can become a medical turn back. It has been discussed very recently on the USAFA forum. Here are some of the stories.
1. Twisted their knee getting off the bus on I Day. Medically turned back that same day
2. A kid broke a bone at their last LAX game, of the season, was in a cast and DQd before they even showed up.
3. A cadet contracted Guillaume Barre Syndrome within days of arriving. They were DQ and sent home as a turn back.

These are all posters that were here with appointments. They all had ROTC and college acceptances in their pocket for the just in case scenario. I don't think there has been a year here that at least a couple of posters didn't finish BCT. Some were medical and some were personal.

That being said, I think the OP has decided not to go to college if not appointed and do the enlisted option route, at least that is what I am reading.
 
I agree with you on everything, Pima, except one point - Split Option is typically for Guard/Reserve only, not Active Duty. If he isn't appointed, he's going to find it extraordinarily difficult (read: impossible) to transfer to AD.

The OP didn't give any indication of his credentials, and all the LORs in the world won't help someone overcome subpar academics. Not saying this is the case, but I'd hope someone couldn't get in based on LORs alone. All the comments that he's a shoe-in based on LORs alone are a bit concerning.
 
I am making assumption that he has the academics. He stated he interned for a Senator when he was 16. If that is the case, you usually need the academics too to work as an intern on a US Senators staff as a HS kid.

That being said I feel the same as you, but I don't know how the Secretary of Army nom. works...is it like an MOC where they can say something along the lines of principal and as long as they are 3Q USMA will appoint them regardless of the WCS. Or is it like the Presendtial and the highest wins the appointment, which takes that shoe in out of the equation and now not applying for those 4 other nominations that every candidate had available to them makes it look short sighted.
~If it is like Presidential, I just can't wrap my cranium around the idea that they wouldn't apply for an MOC, especially if you interned on their staff as a HS student. It would have been the easiest path impo.
~~ Seriously, can anyone see an MOC committee not giving a candidate that worked as an intern on their staff and had 3 different flag officers LORs not getting a principal? I can't! Can you?
 
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Reserve/NG Split Option

Split option does not likely prevent him from converting to an ROTC contract later that would allow Active Duty upon accessions unless he accepts a GRFD contract.

He would be just like any other reservist that shows up at an ROTC unit/school and converts his contract later in AROTC to SMP.
 
AROTC Parent said:
Split option does not likely prevent him from converting to an ROTC contract later that would allow Active Duty upon accessions unless he accepts a GRFD contract.

He would be just like any other reservist that shows up at an ROTC unit/school and converts his contract later in AROTC to SMP.
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You're correct. Except he already stated he's not pursuing an ROTC option.
 
ROTC

jreffert said:
....but I could also participate in ROTC...AFTER my AIT, and I would still have to report to my current drill station every month. Could I do ROTC? Yes....... (Recommended)
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This is not the complete quote but I believe he never took ROTC off the table as a back up to the academy. He may not be pursuing a scholarship but he does have other options to pursuing the commission.
 
Pima said:
I do agree with you regarding ROTC scholarship, but from a very different perspective. This forum is riddled with cadets that can become a medical turn back. It has been discussed very recently on the USAFA forum. Here are some of the stories.
1. Twisted their knee getting off the bus on I Day. Medically turned back that same day
2. A kid broke a bone at their last LAX game, of the season, was in a cast and DQd before they even showed up.
3. A cadet contracted Guillaume Barre Syndrome within days of arriving. They were DQ and sent home as a turn back.

These are all posters that were here with appointments. They all had ROTC and college acceptances in their pocket for the just in case scenario. I don't think there has been a year here that at least a couple of posters didn't finish BCT. Some were medical and some were personal.

That being said, I think the OP has decided not to go to college if not appointed and do the enlisted option route, at least that is what I am reading.
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PIMA, this is a pretty good point. Many people who were in the Guard or a contracted ROTC cadet that leave ROTC or the Guard to pursue USMA don't realize that deep down in their contracts and in the regulations, if they fail to graduate from USMA and accept a commission for whatever reason, they are immediately referred back to their previous contracts and must fulfill those. The release from their previous obligations (SMP/ROTC/Guard/Reserve) is contingent on them completing USMA and accepting a commission.
 
-Bull-

So what exactly happens in this case?

Let's say they break their wrist at the last drill in June. This medically DQs them for USMA. If they enroll in AROTC does how does that work?

I assume they will still drill, but if their unit is in PA and they go to TAMU do they have to come home monthly for drilling? If so, than doesn't that basically kill your AROTC scholarship options once you go split? You know when applying to colleges you have to be close to drilling location. The scholarship candidate OTOH has time on their side and could go SMP if not picked up on scholarship.

Sorry for diverting the thread, but this is the first time I have read about split option and I think for all posters/lurkers that have an SA as plan A it is important to understand why the split would benefit a candidate more than AROTC scholarship as their plan B.

I get financial needs, but if there is no financial need why go this route? If there is a financial need why not wait it out and go GRFD or SMP?

Jreffert, this is not an attack on your decision. It is just me trying to understand the benefits from a big picture aspect.

Like I said this is more about WHY take this route as plan B.
 
Pima said:
-Bull-

So what exactly happens in this case?

Let's say they break their wrist at the last drill in June. This medically DQs them for USMA. If they enroll in AROTC does how does that work?

I assume they will still drill, but if their unit is in PA and they go to TAMU do they have to come home monthly for drilling? If so, than doesn't that basically kill your AROTC scholarship options once you go split? You know when applying to colleges you have to be close to drilling location. The scholarship candidate OTOH has time on their side and could go SMP if not picked up on scholarship.

Sorry for diverting the thread, but this is the first time I have read about split option and I think for all posters/lurkers that have an SA as plan A it is important to understand why the split would benefit a candidate more than AROTC scholarship as their plan B.

I get financial needs, but if there is no financial need why go this route? If there is a financial need why not wait it out and go GRFD or SMP?

Jreffert, this is not an attack on your decision. It is just me trying to understand the benefits from a big picture aspect.

Like I said this is more about WHY take this route as plan B.
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Yea, if they are turned away from USMA for the injury, then they are still on the hook for their Guard contract, they are free to pursue whatever they want in addition to the Guard (ROTC, school, work). If they decide to enroll in AROTC without contracting, then they just continue on with their Guard obligations. If they were to go to TAMU, but joined the Guard in PA, they would need to work to transfer units. Usually, not a big issue since they are staying in the Guard especially if they are a contracted cadet in ROTC. Transferring to a different state could affect their educational benefits as states offer different incentives to Guard students. It would be between them and their losing and gaining units to complete the transfer.

The Split Option only refers to completing basic training and AIT when a high school student joins the Guard. They enlist in their junior year of high school, usually at age 17 with a parents signature, begin month drilling (usually learn things that will help them be successful in BCT, then go to basic training in the summer between their junior and senior years, complete high school, then attend their AIT the summer after graduating high school. After that, they are the same as any other member of the guard. There isn't anything other split to this option. This was created to get more high schoolers to enlist while allowing them to stay on track to graduate high school on time, and complete their training in time to start college (if they choose) on time, though college is not a requirement to this program.

In this guys case, if he was planning to attend USMA all along, there isn't much benefit to this program, unless he just wanted to make a few extra bucks a month. With only attending BCT, he has learned about as much as what USMA would have taught him during Beast. Usually when split-option people drill prior to BCT/AIT, they are in the Recruit Sustainment Program, not necessarily placed in a line unit training in specific MOS's. They are not MOS qualified so they aren't much help in that role to a unit. The RSP is split into phases and focuses on teaching new "recruits" the basics of the army prior to BCT and AIT. They drill separately than the Guard units who are doing their normal unit specific training. If for whatever reason he does not matriculate to USMA, he will have to attend AIT.

*not directed at any one person*
Joining the Guard and doing a few drills is not the prior service experience that many people feel they need to be a successful officer. Time is better spent focusing on the actual goal, not checking boxes to make you feel better about your goal. Being a prior service active duty soldier, or spending multiple years in a guard unit and serving as an NCO or deploying is different because that experience is beneficial and will have an impact on the applicant/cadet.
 
Im still pursuing ROTC as well and have been accepted by many universities as well as Corps of Cadets.


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Jreffert,
Have you applied for scholarships?

Just asking because the way I read -Bull-'s post it would be easier as a contracted cadet. IE you said you have been accepted to SMCs. There are only if I am right 6 or 7 Corps., most of them are east coast {VT, VMI, Citadel) if you are from Washington State that wouldn't be an easy option for drilling. If you are on scholarship, you would be contracted and that makes it easier.
~ IF the Army is like AF, going to an SMC does not equate to contracting as a freshmen. Passing the PFT on scholarship does equate to contracting. Key word for AFROTC at an SMC is scholarship.

I am not picking on you, but there are many posters that will follow in your shoes and it is going to come down to the details.

Poster Iam Airborne and Lurker Get Tanks in 10th grade are looking at this thread and seriously considering this as a viable option.
~ Would you recommend this path if you did not have 3 General LORs in your pocket?
~ Would you say it is common for à split option candidate to get 3 General LORs?
~~ Think about it. If the answer is NO, than 2hy should they do it? If you say yes, and ONLY did the Secretary of the Army nom, where they only have 85 appointments and could have 500 nominations, than your chances drop a lot!

Just saying it can't be both ways.

I am someone that hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst. I just don't get why any candidate would not apply for an MOC and VP nomination, nor an AROTC scholarship.
~ Unfortunately you have not answered those questions and I am left wondering what is it in the split option that makes you not do this, or is it the LORs makes you feel that there is no need.
 
Pima,
You accidentally left UNG off your list of east coast SMCs. =) UNG offers in-state tuition for all ROTC cadets.

Mom (whose cadet hopes to be c/o 2019 USMA)
 
I would STRONGLY recommend NOT putting any names of serving officers on this or any other public forum. Jreffert, while you seem to have many options available to you, putting names like those you've listed on this forum makes me very nervous!

Can you please tell us why you have not pursued a nom from the US senator for whom you've interned? (at 16! Not a page, but an intern?)
 
I agree with fencer on this one.

It is considered BAD FORM to publicly acknowledge anyone's name on a social media forum without approval.

Military members that are AD are very aware of social media and how much they can say. They can and will assist when possible, but are basically silent on opinions. You just threw a spotlight on a general.
~ Granted it was about them writing an LOR, but did you stop for a second to realize by stating his name, candidates that are posters and lurkers may contact him and ask for a rec? Worse yet, that with two clicks of a mouse they can ask why you?
~~ I would contact the mods now and ask to change your moniker.
~~~ I would change my avatar TODAY!

My avatar is my DS. I am sure you can figure out my name, due to how much I have posted about him, but to figure him out would be insanely hard with two clicks. Plus, this is me, Mom...not him. You could literally bump into him and not know that is Pimas DS. I OTOH could run into you at the grocery store in Cleveland and know it is you!

Just saying forums like this are not as anonymous as you may believe.
 
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