Speedyspiff
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2013
- Messages
- 7
Hey everyone, I was recently lucky enough to be awarded a 3 year Army ROTC scholarship. My family is in fine economic shape, and I have been constantly reminded by my parents that they could afford to help pay for college.
For the last year and a half, I've been seriously considering joining the military and have been able to imagine myself having a great time in the military. However, recently I've been starting to get cold feet. Whenever I think about service, I'm terrified of dying or being crippled and horribly disfigured from an IED. I've also been finding myself fearing that I won't be able to fit in with my fellow cadets, and that I will ultimately come to hate ROTC. And lastly, I've been worried about what civilian opportunities I am "losing" by dedicating my early youth to the military. At the same time, I can't help but feel like I'm going to regret not doing ROTC for the rest of my life.
Please don't get me wrong, I love the United States and I understand the unique privilege that I have been given as a scholarship recipient. I'm just not sure if my interest in ROTC or the military is truly based on my desire to lead, or is just based on superficial reasons like the bravado and honor that comes with service.
Based on this, would you say that I have what it takes to make it through ROTC, or if I'm better off in the civilian world?
For the last year and a half, I've been seriously considering joining the military and have been able to imagine myself having a great time in the military. However, recently I've been starting to get cold feet. Whenever I think about service, I'm terrified of dying or being crippled and horribly disfigured from an IED. I've also been finding myself fearing that I won't be able to fit in with my fellow cadets, and that I will ultimately come to hate ROTC. And lastly, I've been worried about what civilian opportunities I am "losing" by dedicating my early youth to the military. At the same time, I can't help but feel like I'm going to regret not doing ROTC for the rest of my life.
Please don't get me wrong, I love the United States and I understand the unique privilege that I have been given as a scholarship recipient. I'm just not sure if my interest in ROTC or the military is truly based on my desire to lead, or is just based on superficial reasons like the bravado and honor that comes with service.
Based on this, would you say that I have what it takes to make it through ROTC, or if I'm better off in the civilian world?