Meeting with the unit before orientation. NROTC College Program

I emailed the freshman adviser asking to set up a meeting this Monday at 1000. He responded:

Monday at 1000 would also work for me. I don’t necessarily think you need to do a special trip in to the unit to speak with an officer. We are more than happy to answer your questions via phone and email to save you the trip.

Should I still go through with a face-to-face meeting? He seems hesitant. I figure I should just reply:

Monday at 1000 would be fine with me. It is a short drive for me so it isn't a large inconvenience, and I feel it's important to talk to someone in person.
 
Here's my question for you, and only you can answer it.

Do you actually have specific questions, or is this gung ho excitement to start and get a feel for the det?

It is a short drive for me so it isn't a large inconvenience, and I feel it's important to talk to someone in person.

As someone that has been in management, you are telling them with that response that maybe there is an issue they need to be aware of which you only feel comfortable doing so in person.:eek:

Is that what you want to imply when you reply?

Personally, I think it is very important to visit the units as a HS when you are going through the school selection process, but right now you have made the decision to attend UIC and NROTC.

I think they were probably coming from a place of your path is set, and we will teach you everything you need to know when you get here.

They will send you a letter closer to when school starts regarding what you need to get together (sneakers, white/black socks, shoe polish, etc) and when you need to report.

The letter typically informs you of what the 1st few days will be like in ROTC. PT schedule, LLAB, etc.

As stated earlier most orientations have a free block of time, if you want to check in and say hi, than it is appropriate to do so, but even if the unit is 15 miles a way at this point I wouldn't go.

JMPO...throw it in the circular filing cabinet.

The fact is at a large det. unless you really connect with them, it isn't worth the time. Our DS's det. had 100 freshman, and about 100 sophomores.

The cadre works with a skeleton crew during the summer because they are PCSing, or on leave. The sequestration is also going to impact them. Meanwhile, they are still getting paperwork in order. Mids on summer training will get TDY pay. HSSPs will be contracting. Upcoming POCs will also be contracting. Finishing the out-processing paperwork for mids that just commissioned (DS AFROTC got his orders via his det....that occurred in Aug for his Sept report date).

Again, it maybe why they are saying any questions you have can be answered via email. As I said earlier, don't confuse asking questions for the sake of asking question as a positive reflection.
 
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I was College Program for two years until I picked up a scholarship. I also know that I called my unit when I first started and didn't have any problems.

Don't try to press yourself too much into them. They're busy people. You can do on the phone the same as what you can do in person, there will be time to meet and greet during your upcoming time.
 
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