Questions about ROTC

Louis1995

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
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12
So I just recently got accepted into IUP which has a fantastic ROTC program. My parents are on board with the idea of joining ROTC but there's a slight problem. I'm on a small dose of Prozac which treats depression. It's very mild and I should be off it by next year. I've only been taking it to help with stress and other issues. I really hope this wont hurt my chances of getting into ROTC because this my dream. I'm in great shape from wrestling for over 12 years, I'm and avid runner, and I weightlift farily often. How hard would it be for me to get a waiver and do you think I have a realisitc chance of being accepted into ROTC?
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Second question - My goal is to branch Infantry and join Air Assault after ROTC. How difficult would this be? I was born to be infantry and can't really see myself in another branch, although I know army needs come first. Also, even if you are'nt branched infantry but go Air Assault, would you still be doing the infantry like tasks? I would LOVE to join the 101st Airborne divison and be stationed at Ft. Campbell.

Lastly how time consuming is the SMP program and what are the benefits?

All comments are greatly appreciated,
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Thanks!
 
So I just recently got accepted into IUP which has a fantastic ROTC program. My parents are on board with the idea of joining ROTC but there's a slight problem. I'm on a small dose of Prozac which treats depression. It's very mild and I should be off it by next year. I've only been taking it to help with stress and other issues. I really hope this wont hurt my chances of getting into ROTC because this my dream. I'm in great shape from wrestling for over 12 years, I'm and avid runner, and I weightlift farily often. How hard would it be for me to get a waiver and do you think I have a realisitc chance of being accepted into ROTC?
*
Second question - My goal is to branch Infantry and join Air Assault after ROTC. How difficult would this be? I was born to be infantry and can't really see myself in another branch, although I know army needs come first. Also, even if you are'nt branched infantry but go Air Assault, would you still be doing the infantry like tasks? I would LOVE to join the 101st Airborne divison and be stationed at Ft. Campbell.

Lastly how time consuming is the SMP program and what are the benefits?

All comments are greatly appreciated,
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Thanks!

I'm just going to refer to the answers I gave you on the other site.

Welcome to this site, you'll learn a lot here.
 
Haha I had a feeling this would happen, thanks.
Just curious if anyone else had any experience going through this process
 
Haha I had a feeling this would happen, thanks.
Just curious if anyone else had any experience going through this process

Don't forget to look back through this forum at previous posts, you can find a lot of valuable information that way.
 
1. I want to know how you were born infantry

2. Ditto to Jcleppe

3. The military is very hesitant with issues such as depression especially in this day and age. Usually with SSRIs you can't just stop taking them, it's a gradual process.

4. Air Assault is never ever guaranteed perhaps a school will get 1 to 2 slots a year maybe and you have to beat everyone else out who wants one

5. Air Assault is a school nothing else. Air assault type tasks like fast-roping or sling-loading could be disseminated to a myriad of units

6. You can't choose a unit, however you can ADSO (serve extra years) for a guaranteed stint at Ft. Campbell (lovely place :rolleyes: ) and if selected for infantry you would probably be in the 101st.

7. SMP has been discussed ad nauseum on here
 
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I agree with others Prozac is going to be a big problem regarding a waiver especially since you are currently on it now, and expect to be on it for at least another yr.

Do not stop taking the meds thinking it will help your chances of not getting a DQ or getting a waiver if DQd because it won't. That is just not how the DQ/waiver process works.
 
I agree with others Prozac is going to be a big problem regarding a waiver especially since you are currently on it now, and expect to be on it for at least another yr.

Do not stop taking the meds thinking it will help your chances of not getting a DQ or getting a waiver if DQd because it won't. That is just not how the DQ/waiver process works.

I second what Pima says. Each service is different but I do know of an AFROTC college programmer who dropped out. She either couldn't get a scholarship or be selected for SFT (I can't remember which and maybe it was both) because she would not have been off her anti-depressants for a year before the decision date.
 
Thanks for all the responses. The main reason why I believe I would be a great candidate for infantry is because of my athleticism. Not trying to boast or anything, but wrestling has made me physically and mentally strong and I believe it would give me an edge. Also being a team captain this year demonstrates leadership which will help further down the road.
 
Kinnem, she probably was dis-enrolled because to attend SFT she would have had to go through the DoDMERB process and that is where it would arise her medical condition. Some units, once the cadre was made aware of the need for waiver, would not support the cadet for SFT, thus she would have been dis-enrolled.

Louis1995,

I don't think anyone is saying you wouldn't be, but where you stand is an opinion, and the Army is looking at facts. Medically you are a risk.

How hard would it be for me to get a waiver and do you think I have a realisitc chance of being accepted into ROTC?

We can blow smoke up your arse, but the reality is the answer is HARD.

You need to leave your military career aspirations aside, and get on the DoDMERB forum for guidance on how to get a waiver.

No waiver = no ROTC commission.

Right now you are putting the cart before the horse...career plan is the cart, medical issues are the horse.

Talking about this from a daydream perspective is great, but sooner or later reality needs to be the only perspective.

Leaders, true leaders, don't talk, they act upon their plans. You need to act on your medical condition.
 
Kinnem, she probably was dis-enrolled because to attend SFT she would have had to go through the DoDMERB process and that is where it would arise her medical condition. Some units, once the cadre was made aware of the need for waiver, would not support the cadet for SFT, thus she would have been dis-enrolled.

Louis1995,

I don't think anyone is saying you wouldn't be, but where you stand is an opinion, and the Army is looking at facts. Medically you are a risk.



We can blow smoke up your arse, but the reality is the answer is HARD.

You need to leave your military career aspirations aside, and get on the DoDMERB forum for guidance on how to get a waiver.

No waiver = no ROTC commission.

Right now you are putting the cart before the horse...career plan is the cart, medical issues are the horse.

Talking about this from a daydream perspective is great, but sooner or later reality needs to be the only perspective.

Leaders, true leaders, don't talk, they act upon their plans. You need to act on your medical condition.

Pima - you may be right. I only relate it as it was told to me by the gal in question. That doesnt necessarily make what she said true, but she's entitled to explain it anyway she wants for reasons of privacy if nothing else.

Louis1995 - You say you take the anti-depressants for stress. Don't know the source of your stress and it probably doesn't matter, but I wanted to point out that doing ROTC can be stressful. College alone can be stressful enough. Getting papers, projects and readings done on time. Making friends. Fitting in. Adjusting to a new environment.

Add the demands of ROTC on that. Up at 0'dark:30 1 - 5 days a week for PT. Then off to a full day of classes. Wearing a uniform you need to keep immaculate and pressed 1 day a week. Attending military lab for up to 2.5-3 hours one day a week. Reporting at 7AM on Sunday mornings to clean a football stadium after a home game. And that's just for the guys on the bottom of the totem pole. Take on some responsibilities/billets and now you're passing word up and down the chain of command, worrying if your subordinates got things straight and are performing up to snuff. Providing education, correction and counseling when they aren't, or sometimes even if they are. Preparing performance reviews for members of your squad/flight. Worrying about maintaining your GPA and if you will be able to get picked for that summer training.

My only point here is that you should be aware of this and if you're able to proceed you'll need to find other ways to deal with the stress. It's designed to be somewhat stressful (IMO). It's what they do to weed folks out before their commissioned and potentially facing combat (talk about stress). Of course the PT will be one way to help deal with the stress so ROTC can also be helpful in that way and you'll eventually learn what really matters and focus on that.

I know my DS was totally stressed as a squad leader last semester while he was performing poorly in a course which he eventually dropped. I think he's mastered it for now, but then he's not taking the toughest courses this semester either. Just some things for you to consider. I do hope all your dreams come true.
 
So if I talk to my doctor about getting off the meds by this year, I shouldn't have trouble signing up for ROTC? I'm also pretty confident I'll be able to balance my work with ROTC because I've learned to do the same with my academics during wrestling season. Hopefully ROTC will be a little less physically demanding
 
So if I talk to my doctor about getting off the meds by this year, I shouldn't have trouble signing up for ROTC? I'm also pretty confident I'll be able to balance my work with ROTC because I've learned to do the same with my academics during wrestling season. Hopefully ROTC will be a little less physically demanding

Can't say how difficult getting into ROTC will be. Too many variables.

I knew an NROTC Navy Option cadet who once made the following statement while doing ROTC....
"As a wrestler I thought I had been to hell and back. I've since learned the road to hell is a little longer than I thought."
It's doable though.
 
I feel that I can give some helpful insight because I face a very similar situation. About two years ago I took zoloft for 3 months. I was medically DQ'd. I am in the waiver process as we speak. Yes, it will hurt you. The fact that you have been taking it for some time and are still taking it will hurt you, yes.
 
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