Yikes! need to understand AROTC quickly... NROTC might not be best

thanks, its not about the money. She already has some nice scholarships, especially the one to Baylor. It's a question of which ROTC program will allow her to have a non-technical major and still be part of the program. NROTC won't, at least not the way she applied for it.
 
Fastpitch,

Well it sounds like AROTC is the best bet considering her major. I have one son who is a third year cadet and a History major and one that was awarded the scholarship this year who will be a Political Science major.

We have been through this process twice now and if I may offer a couple tips.

Your daughter's application will be seen by only the final board which can mean a couple things.

1. Make sure you contact the ROO at each school she puts on her list, make sure they still have scholarship spots available, some of the more competetive schools fill up fast. She may need to choose a couple schools that she likes that still have slots available. That being said some who have received scholarships are also waiting to hear from an Academy for an appointment, or even other ROTC branches. These kids may turn down their scholarships and select the academy opening up a new slot for the school. All things to discuss with the ROO at each school.

2. When filling out the application, leave no stone unturned when it comes to listing her activities. Include everything that pertains to the Scholar/Athletics/Leadership. There will be a page where you can list activities that are not included within the boxes to check, include everything you can such as community service, church groups, athletics outside of school, clubs, any awards, you get the idea. She will only have one shot at this so be as complete as possible.

3. Get everthing done ASAP, sometimes things get lost at cadet command and you will need to send copies, the fax and email work well. Get a couple copies of her transcripts in case they misplace the first one.

4. Keep in contact with the ROO's, they can see from their end if everything is submitted and complete and help you fill in the balnks as needed.

She has good stats the question will be whether there is room at the schools she selects.

Good luck to your daughter and lets us all know how it goes.
 
Thank you again Jcleppe,

I'm afraid I'm a little in the weeds here. the AROTC online 4 year scholarship application site has been down since first checking it on Tuesday morning. We downloaded a .pdf copy, but it isn't accompanied by a necessary Booklet that it refers to several times. I was hoping the local recruiter whom we contacted would bring it tonight, but he called mid-afternoon to reschedule for Friday or Saturday, to discuss concurrent Army Reserve as well as straight ROTC.

I have today learned that after either electronically or via Mail sending in a paper application, a Fitness Test and Interview are quickly ordered by Cadet Command.

I suppose I had better advise my daughter immediately, that after three weeks of Christmas break eating and laziness (no softball or dance during this time, only been to the gym about four times), she needs to get back into the gym, asap! I don't know what she needs to target for that Fitness Test, and if you do, can you please advise?
 
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It is best to do the application online if possible. Try and call cadet command and see whats up with the site. Use the pdf copy of the application to get familiar with it and pencil in everything you can before you input to the online application. If all else fails just fiil out the paper app and send it in overnight night or see if you can fax it to them.

There is a spot in the GoArmy/Rotc site where you can request the booklet that has the application and all other information in it, they send it out pretty quick, I would request one right away in case the site does not come up for a while.

As far as the fitness test, it should be done by a coach or phys-ed teacher at her school. She just needs to do the best she can to show that she is in somewhat good shape. Tell her to start running, and if she gets the scholarship keep running and running, endurance is really important in ROTC, the run is what usually gets to most cadets. Once she starts ROTC she will need to pass the AFPT, she will not get the scholarship money, book money or stipend until she passes this test. The min. standards for female cadets are:

19 Push Ups in 2 min.
53 Sit Ups in 2 min.
18:54 2 mile run

The presidential fitness test is:

push ups for 1 min.
crunch style sit ups in 1 min.
1 mile run

She just needs to do the best she can for each.

Ask any more questions you like, we're glad to help when we can.
 
One thing I forgot to mention.

The deadline to submit the online application is Jan. 10th, I know thats only 4 days away. So keep checking the site, try a different computer just in case there is a problem logging on.

Now that's just the deadline to hit the send button to submit the online application. You still have until Feb. 28th to get all your test scores, fitness test, interview and transcripts submitted.

So keep trying and don't forget the application does not need to be perfect when you press send. You will be able to go back in and adjust, add, or edit things up to the Feb. 28th date, so don't be too stressed about having it perfect the first time just get the basics in before the dealing of Jan. 10th.

Good luck
 
An informed decision about how much risk you are taking on,
does not make you unpatriotic, sexist or greedy.

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;

Total US casualties 5670 (10/07/01-9/28/10) link
(260 self-inflicted)

Total US female casualties 130 (about 2.3% of all casualties) (as of 9/28/10) link

-AD US Army is 13% female link

-AD US Army officer corps are also 13% female

-AD US Army female officers serve in dangerous positions,
including Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and as MP's guarding convoys
(one of the most dangerous jobs) Link

-Female soldiers do end up in combat, fight and win Link

Not to be insensitive, but a little perspective:

-In 2008 the annual death rate for Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom was 1.6% (469 deaths/294,000 deployed theater wide.) Link,
Link(obviously much higher and even more tragic for front line troops)

-In 2008 of the 1,683,144 in the US military there were 1,441 deaths (9/10ths of 1%)link

-In 2008 the Domestic USA all 21 yr old death rate was about 1% 100/100,000 Link
(of those 20/100,000 are suicides)

- US Army reports 47/100,000 suicide rate Link

My takeaway from all this is;
-My kid may be a little safer in the army than not.
-If he is forward deployed, his risk may double (+/-)
-If he is deployed, I am more concerned about
Suicide, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury's,
than being killed outright.
 
Serving in the military is the real honor, no matter what branch he chooses. Getting a paid for education is just a bonus.

Just a side note:
I never knew how much service meant, even though I am a veteran, until I worked as an Activity Director in an Alzheimer's/Dementia Community. And until you see a man or woman who can't remember their sister, brother and worse daughter, and son, stand up and salute the flag, because though all their memories are lost, they still remember their service. This holds true to every veteran I worked with even through the late stages of Dementia, for some reason they never forget their military service, though they might not remember the branch of service they served in, they remember that they served. They remember the training and pride they had and have for their country.
Yes, this scholarship offers an education, a job when finished, but what it truly offers is memories, that will stay with them until the end. No matter what branch you or your child serve in, they gain so much more than freedom from dept, they gain the right to fight for our freedom, and to remember even when all memories are seemingly lost.
 
Fastpitch -
I am the Mom of a daughter in the Army who will be commissioned in 2012. She just turned 22 years old and has been on this journey since she was about 12 years old.

In many families, emotions run high when a daughter wishes to engage as opposed to a son. The risks are present and real but perspective is everything. Please feel free to send me a PM if you have an specific questions.

Did you know that about 5,000 teenagers are killed in automobile accidents EACH year? About 400,000 are seriously injured. Yet, we willingly allow our children in cars and even allow them to drive.

Sure, serving in harm's way is dangerous. But so are lots of other occupations. Knowledge is power and it's not fair to your daughter's mother if the facts and figures are sugar-coated to her. That said, I encourage her (the mother) to seek out her own information and look inward and examine what her hopes and dreams are for her daughter and juxtapose them against her daughter's hopes and dreams.

Over the years, I have met many kids whose parents are or were opposed to their choice of military service. Some parents are even *gasp* anti-war. But they all came around to encourage their children to follow their own path, even if it differs from their own.

Lastly here is a website dedicated to women who have given the Ultimate Sacrifice during the GWOT:
http://www.nooniefortin.com/iraq.htm

http://www.nooniefortin.com/afghanistan.htm

Lastly, remember your daughter does not need a scholarship to join ROTC. Most cadets do not have one.
 
My takeaway from all this is;
-My kid may be a little safer in the army than not.
-If he is forward deployed, his risk may double (+/-)
-If he is deployed, I am more concerned about
Suicide, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury's,
than being killed outright.

Over the years, I have met many kids whose parents are or were opposed to their choice of military service. Some parents are even *gasp* anti-war. But they all came around to encourage their children to follow their own path, even if it differs from their own. (quote Just a Mom)

Personally, I completely agree with Gojack and Just a Mom, a child can unfortunately be killed in any activity. My DS driving record would make it likely an accident behind the wheel, and yes we do still let him drive, he will not become a better driver by not driving....slowing down will help him become a better driver:wink:

But in all seriousness, I was seriously opposed to DS joining the military until about 18 mos. ago - his dreams are different than mine for him, as Just a Mom brings up in her post. It is the hardest thing for a mother to do -- let go and let them live their own lives.

I also worry most about PTS, suicide and loss of limb/use and brain injury if he is forward deployed during his service (DS plans an Army career, not just 8and out). If this were one of my daughters I would be more concerned - not a sexist, but a realist. I'm so glad to see the support Just a Mom is offering to FastPitch and his wife. These forums have been a huge blessing to me and DS.

Take care.:smile:
 
Update:

DD completed her PMS Interview at UCLA in late Jan. with 195/200 , and completed the PFT with decent scores of 42 situps, 31 pushups, and 8:57 mile run. Got everything into Ft. Know by the 1/28 deadline and confirmed via email.

DD has been accepted into the following Universities and Colleges:

4/5 of her NROTC choices: UCLA (replaced Florida), Tulane, USD, George Washington, and Boston U. Denied at Florida for what reason I cannot guess.

9/9 of her AROTC choices: Wake Forest, Baylor, TCU, SMU, Miami (FL), Fordham, plus four AROTC duplicates from the NROTC list: UCLA, USD, Tulane, and Boston U

also accepted into Berkeley, but that was not anticipated and was therefore not part of the original AROTC list of 7 Units. Since Cadet Command allowed her to informally add two add'l schools, I'll email them to add Berkeley to the current list of 9.

We have on-going conversations with three of the AROTC schools who seem eager to offer a 3 yr. scholarship if a 4 yr. is not awarded by Cadet Command out of the last Board.

NROTC does not seem to offer partial scholarships, and we haven't heard anything from Pensacola other than that she is still a viable candidate.
 
Good luck, hopefully the results will be out soon. Great job on your daughters part getting everything done so quickly. Hope you hear good news soon.
 
also accepted into Berkeley, but that was not anticipated and was therefore not part of the original AROTC list of 7 Units. Since Cadet Command allowed her to informally add two add'l schools, I'll email them to add Berkeley to the current list of 9.

Congrats on the Cal admission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would push 10000000000000 percent for Army ROTC at UC-Berkeley. Cal has a truly outstanding AROTC PMS. REALLY OUTSTANDING PMS!!

Here is LTC Negin's email address: jnegin@military.berkeley.edu

I strongly advise that you email him and get on his radar asap. :thumb:
 
thanks Patent... do we have a Cal alum here? or is your enthusiasm sparked by good interaction with the PMS there?
 
thanks Patent... do we have a Cal alum here? or is your enthusiasm sparked by good interaction with the PMS there?

I am not a Cal alum and try very hard (VERY HARD) to give advice to others without any agenda (at least I aspire to be that way). I am just making an observation based on my DS's very brief experience with that AROTC battalion.

In any event, my DS has had a wonderful experience with LTC Negin over the last six months. In some past posts, I have said on other threads that some AROTC PMSs are good and some are not so good (by far, most are very incredible). The PMS at UC-Berkeley is EXTREMELY good. Responsive, cares deeply about cadets in his command, etc. Two thumbs up. That said, the only way you can know for sure is to contact him yourself and form your own impressions. :thumb:
 
Hey all, I didn't forget you.

I won't post where my daughter is since I gave up so much identifying information in my prior posts, but...

She is on a 3 Yr. AD scholarship to her first choice. Patent, sorry, she just couldn't get any enthusiasm behind attending Berkeley, so she's not taking advantage of that great PMS there that you mentioned. She does feel she has a great PMS where she is, and on top of that has done very well on her APFT and is so far getting very good grades in her classes. :thumb:
 
Hey all, I didn't forget you.

I won't post where my daughter is since I gave up so much identifying information in my prior posts, but...

She is on a 3 Yr. AD scholarship to her first choice. Patent, sorry, she just couldn't get any enthusiasm behind attending Berkeley, so she's not taking advantage of that great PMS there that you mentioned. She does feel she has a great PMS where she is, and on top of that has done very well on her APFT and is so far getting very good grades in her classes. :thumb:

And a belated congratulations to her. :thumb:

This Cal alum (wasn't a ROTC cadet though I had a NROTC roommate) holds nothing against her choice. Ultimately, you have to have to deal with the school first and if the People's Republic of Berkeley isn't going match up with her personality (this cynic became a cynic in my 4 years at Cal) she shouldn't go.

Sounds like she made a good choice all around for her. Hope she continues to enjoy the ride. Stick around and share experiences.
 
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