PMS, ROO and Cadet Command Contact?

nkoch03

5-Year Member
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Aug 3, 2011
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What advice would you give about contacting the PMS, ROO and/or CC-Contact.

If my DS has questions about his AROTC scholarship in general, or specifics about how it pertains to a specific university etc.......

Who should be the main contact for asking question?

When someone here on the boards says "Stay intouch with the ROO" or "Stay in close contact with the PMS"..........is that both of them? once a month? weekly? every 3 months?

For instance: Right now - My DS wants to know how many Out of States scholarships are still on the table at his 1st choice school after the 1st boards......who would that question be answered by?

Or how come some applicants on this board say they "aced" the interview and got max points. Who told them that info? Or are they just assuming?

He said he doesn't want to irritate them with too many questions.
 
You should always go to the source for questions. You'll get redirected if appropriate. Or, you'll get ideas on who else to call. It's not a bad idea to ask identical questions to different sources then see if you get similar answers.

The interviewing PMS told my son he was giving him highest possible score the next day when my son emailed him thanking him for his time.
 
I would simply phone the ROO, explain that their school is my #1 choice, and ask him/her for an update on that school's scholarship situation. The ROOs should know how many scholarship allocations they have, by type, and whether they were taken up by offers out of the 1st Board. However, that information isn't definitive, b/c if an offer out of 1st Board is turned down, that would free up another scholarship for 2nd or 3rd Boards.
 
The PMS is the commander, the ROO works for him. In the Army we usually follow a chain of command, and my advice is try the ROO first. With that being said, some ROOs are less proficient than others, so if you aren't getting help from the ROO it can't hurt to try the PMS. I would feel more comfortable contacting a ROO at a small school than a large school. I would not recommend contacting the PMS at one of the SMCs, but I know my PMS would not be upset if you tried to contact him, although he would just refer you to me. Your contact at Cadet Command is one of 5 people who are managing 10000+ files. They are who you need to contact about file specific issues, but don't expect a prompt reply, and I would recommend working with a ROO to confirm you problem gets solved. I believe the ROO is key because I'm a ROO and I try to be the best ROO in Cadet Command. Your mileage may vary.
 
If my DS has questions about his AROTC scholarship in general, or specifics about how it pertains to a specific university etc.......

Who should be the main contact for asking question?

ROO or PMS if ROO does not respond (emailing the ROO w/a CC to PMS seems to work on ROO's who are 'less responsive' :smile:)

When someone here on the boards says "Stay in touch with the ROO" or "Stay in close contact with the PMS"..........is that both of them? once a month? weekly? every 3 months?

Once or twice a month, dream up some good pithy questions if necessary

For instance: Right now - My DS wants to know how many Out of States scholarships are still on the table at his 1st choice school after the 1st boards......who would that question be answered by?
ROO

Or how come some applicants on this board say they "aced" the interview and got max points. Who told them that info? Or are they just assuming?
Were most likely told at completion of interview, or during a follow-up call or email.

He said he doesn't want to irritate them with too many questions.
The ROO is a Recruiter, it's his/her job to answer questions and recruit great candidates, so go ahead and be a pest, they are used to it.
 
The PMS is the commander, the ROO works for him. In the Army we usually follow a chain of command, and my advice is try the ROO first. With that being said, some ROOs are less proficient than others, so if you aren't getting help from the ROO it can't hurt to try the PMS. I would feel more comfortable contacting a ROO at a small school than a large school. I would not recommend contacting the PMS at one of the SMCs, but I know my PMS would not be upset if you tried to contact him, although he would just refer you to me. Your contact at Cadet Command is one of 5 people who are managing 10000+ files. They are who you need to contact about file specific issues, but don't expect a prompt reply, and I would recommend working with a ROO to confirm you problem gets solved. I believe the ROO is key because I'm a ROO and I try to be the best ROO in Cadet Command. Your mileage may vary.

And you set the bar very high Clarkson! Thanks for all you do! :thumb:
 
I will say, as an MSIII that has talked to many ROOs from multiple brigades, through my own recruitment and time as a cadet, that clarksonarmy provides the best advice and most support I have seen. Way better than any advice I got from my battalions ROO, who is a full bird COL.
 
Nothing beats a weekday visit to the school with a trip to the ROTC office included. You will get to see what daily business looks like. If you are greeted at the door, directed to a waiting area, and then helped within 10 minutes, you can be sure that the Battalion is well managed. If nobody helps you right away, you are kept waiting without being given a definite time when someone can help you, different staff members give you different answers, and you eventually leave without receiving anything other than excuses, then you can expect the same treatment as a Cadet when you have questions about your MS Schedule, the OML, Airborne School, Accessions, etc.

Sometimes the school of choice is 1000 miles away and requires a $300 plane ticket and a $50 rental car to visit. That is money well invested. It beats paying $30,000 to attend a school because the brochure looked nice.
 
Sometimes the school of choice is 1000 miles away and requires a $300 plane ticket and a $50 rental car to visit. That is money well invested. It beats paying $30,000 to attend a school because the brochure looked nice.

Couldn't agree more.

I have a couple nice souvenirs from our trip to Florida to look at a school with our younger son, he ended up not selecting the school but the trip confirmed his decision.

Many thanks to both Clarkson and Marist for all the terrific advice and information they continue to give on this board.
 
Thanks for all of the advise. We have taken our DS to his #1 choice 4 times in the last 1 1/2 years just to make sure it was the right fit for him. It does require airplane tickets, rental cars and hotels. All and all he's probably spent 10 days on or around the campus.

He did a "spend-the-night", we went to a football game, hung out on campus, took tours, went to open house meetings, visited the department for his major of choice. The works.

He'd love to get started today :shake:
 
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