So I'll be starting Army ROTC in the fall can I am wondering what the weekends will entail? I'm sure there is some commitment, like will cadets go away to train on some weekends or does this not happen often? I'm unfamiliar and any clarification on what ROTC does on weekends would be appreciated. Thanks.
Weekends
- Thread starter Mairborn
- Start date
It will depend on your Battalion, but for the most part your weekends will be free. There will be some Training Exercises that will take place on a weekend but usually only a few per semester and some will only be for one day. You may have one that will require you to leave early on a Friday, the ROTC Dept. will give you paperwork to be excused from class if needed.
If you sign up and join Ranger Challenge you may have some additional training scheduled for a period of time during the weekend. There could also be an occasional practice for Color Guard or and event that requests the Color Guard during a weekend. Again it all depends on the Battalion and what extra activities in which you choose to participate.
It varies from school to school. SMC to traditional college.
You will have one weekend each fall and spring that will be field training. As long as funding holds up this has been the norm.
Some battalions will have events spotted thru out the year that you will be required to participate in or can participate in for extra points. Some may require extra training on certain weekends. If you are on the ranger team you will spend extra time training. If you are on the color guard you may attend other events or parades. Some schools may require you to attend certain home athletic events.
As I said, it varies so much from school to school and size of battalion that it's hard to cover with one defining answer.
If you have a school picked out, talk to the ROO or cadets there and see what that specific school is like.
Jcleppe and I crossed
You will have one weekend each fall and spring that will be field training. As long as funding holds up this has been the norm.
Some battalions will have events spotted thru out the year that you will be required to participate in or can participate in for extra points. Some may require extra training on certain weekends. If you are on the ranger team you will spend extra time training. If you are on the color guard you may attend other events or parades. Some schools may require you to attend certain home athletic events.
As I said, it varies so much from school to school and size of battalion that it's hard to cover with one defining answer.
If you have a school picked out, talk to the ROO or cadets there and see what that specific school is like.
Jcleppe and I crossed
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So, when you visited the campus of the school you plan to attend, I'm sure you met with the ROTC Battalion to make sure Army ROTC was going to be a good fit for you, and I'm sure you asked them about weekend obligations. What did they tell you?
I did and I was told it really does vary. For example the weekend before a visit they had something scheduled but it was cancelled (Said by PMS). He said ranger challenge events are held but nothingn about extra training, although I assume some sessions are thrown in there
At DS's school on Sunday after a home football game it is understood that you will attend the stadium clean up party. This is a fundraiser for the unit. Other that that most of his weekends are free. Like others have said training every now and then and whatever other activities you choose to do.
Vista123
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It seems that it depends on you and what you choose to be interested in. DS was gone a lot but only a handful were mandatory. Others he signed up for Ranger Challenger, German Badge testing (right in the middle of spring break ugghhh), Bataan Memorial March in New Mexico, Ranger Buddy (I'm missing some) so he was gone about half of the wkends.
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