non-scholarship ROTC advantages

D

dlt

5-Year Member
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Dec 20, 2010
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Hello. DD is a college sophomore. Lately, she has become interested in a possible career in the armed services. Could someone please explain the advantages (besides the scholarship) of joining ROTC in college? How would this help my daughter vs joining after graduation? Thanks!
 
If she enrolls in ROTC she could be on track to commission as an Army Officer (I'm assuming Army). If she "joins" after college she will be enlisting. She can try to enlist for OCS, but she would be required to attend Basic Training, then OCS, then her officer basic course.

A couple things to keep in mind. You don't just join ROTC as a sophomore. She may have to attend a 4 week camp (LTC), which will get her caught up on the semester and a half she missed. She will also compete for a scholarship when she attends LTC (no guarentees).

What are the advantages
-guaranteed mid level management job upon graduation
-world class leadership training
-some financial benefits (stipend) with the possibility of scholarship

Hope that helps. Not sure what the lateral entry options are for Air Force or Navy/Marines, so maybe someone else will chime in.
 
Thank you for your quick response. I have so much to learn.

The scholarship portion of ROTC is not what is drawing her to the armed service. She has worked hard and earned academic scholarships that pay for college. I believe it is her interest in Intelligence Securities Studies that opened the door to this potential career path.

She discussed the LTC and how it will "catch her up" for the past semesters. Then, would she take an additional ROTC class per semester? What are the typical additional commitments of a ROTC student per week? And, is she correct in stating that she would not have to decide until graduation in reference to pursuing a career with the military? Are positions within the military intelligence branch highly competitive?

I do apologize for the number of questions. This is just very new to me. Again, thanks.
 
dlt said:
Thank you for your quick response. I have so much to learn.

The scholarship portion of ROTC is not what is drawing her to the armed service. She has worked hard and earned academic scholarships that pay for college. I believe it is her interest in Intelligence Securities Studies that opened the door to this potential career path.

She discussed the LTC and how it will "catch her up" for the past semesters. Then, would she take an additional ROTC class per semester? What are the typical additional commitments of a ROTC student per week? And, is she correct in stating that she would not have to decide until graduation in reference to pursuing a career with the military? Are positions within the military intelligence branch highly competitive?

I do apologize for the number of questions. This is just very new to me. Again, thanks.
Click to expand...

All of your answers can be easily answered through the official site:

http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/courses-and-colleges/curriculum.html

She would have to take Physical Training about 2-3 times a week at around 5 am in the morning, depending on the school's detachment.

Also once a week she would take Leadership Lab as well as an ROTC course. Junior and Senior year, the ROTC course will be longer.

Some additional commitments that I can think of on the top of my head are going to bases for a visit, a formal dinner, etc.

And as a non-scholarship cadet, she will have to make a decision before the summer of Sophomore-Junior year, which is Field Training (A required camp during the summer). After, she will contract.

I believe Military Intelligence is one of the most competitive branches in the Army when commissioned.
 
Thanks for the link! Any other information that would help me "get up to speed" would be appreciated.
 
Since she is a sophomore, and we assume will attend LTC, she will have to contract to enroll in Junior year of ROTC (she should be able to take spring sophomore year and see if it's for her). When she contracts she is agreeing to accept a commission and serve when she graduates. She will serve either in the active force, or she can choose to serve part time in the guard or reserves. If you've got a little time I would suggest you poke around my blog a little...start with this post

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/the-contract/

and let me know it the info helps

As far as Military Intelligence, it is typically around the #3 most popular of 16 basic branches. Your daughter will not serve in the Infantry (usually one or two),
 
clarksonarmy said:
Since she is a sophomore, and we assume will attend LTC, she will have to contract to enroll in Junior year of ROTC (she should be able to take spring sophomore year and see if it's for her). When she contracts she is agreeing to accept a commission and serve when she graduates. She will serve either in the active force, or she can choose to serve part time in the guard or reserves. If you've got a little time I would suggest you poke around my blog a little...start with this post

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/the-contract/

and let me know it the info helps

As far as Military Intelligence, it is typically around the #3 most popular of 16 basic branches. Your daughter will not serve in the Infantry (usually one or two),
Click to expand...

By any chance would you have the list of branches that ranks that from on their level of competition?
 
clarksonarmy said:
As far as Military Intelligence, it is typically around the #3 most popular of 16 basic branches... Infantry (usually one or two),
Click to expand...

Clarksonarmy, do you have a ranking of the 16 branches by popularity that you can share?
 
After asking I remembered seeing it somewhere...
Powerpoint LINK Page 9
(hopefully this is accurate data)


Branch/#Allocations/#1st Choice/Odds for 1st choice

Aviation Officer AV 133/239/0.56

Medical Service MS 190/308/0.62

Military Police MP 94/149/0.63

Infantry Officer IN 275/426/0.65

Finance Officer FI 35/50/0.70

Armor Officer AR 124/175/0.71

Military Intelligence MI 346/457/0.76

Signal Officer SC 235/171/1.37

Field Artillery Officer FA 178/110/1.62

Adjutant General AG 139/64/2.17

Air Defense Artillery AD 68/30/2.27

Quartermaster Officer QM 152/62/2.45

Engineer Officer EN 166/214/4.42

Chemical Officer CM 53/12/4.42

Ordnance Officer OD 165/34/4.85

Transportation Officer TC 183/35/5.22
 
America'sFinest had numbers about the branches that he posted somewhere in the Westpoint forums last year if anyone is desperate and/or bored. :wink:
 
Engineer officer numbers do not appear to be correct in terms of the math percentage and thus the placement order on the list.
 
oops...dyslexia again

Branch/#Allocations/#1st Choice/Odds for 1st choice
(hardest to easiest)

  1. Aviation Officer AV 133/239/0.56
  2. Medical Service MS 190/308/0.62
  3. Military Police MP 94/149/0.63
  4. Infantry Officer IN 275/426/0.65
  5. Finance Officer FI 35/50/0.70
  6. Armor Officer AR 124/175/0.71
  7. Military Intelligence MI 346/457/0.76
  8. Engineer Officer EN 166/214/0.78
  9. Signal Officer SC 235/171/1.37
  10. Field Artillery Officer FA 178/110/1.62
  11. Adjutant General AG 139/64/2.17
  12. Air Defense Artillery AD 68/30/2.27
  13. Quartermaster Officer QM 152/62/2.45
  14. Chemical Officer CM 53/12/4.42
  15. Ordnance Officer OD 165/34/4.85
  16. Transportation Officer TC 183/35/5.22
 
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