MSIV Ascension Decisions approaching

gstudent99

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This is more of a comment than a question but I would welcome comments from others.

My AROTC MSIV son has to submit his final ascension choices on Friday of this week (I assume it is the same date for everyone but not sure) and he is definitely feeling the weight of his decision. Based on discussions with him this week he is realizing that his "future" is now. It has been easy to imagine life after graduation but now he has to make a choice that will have direct effect on what he does over the next 6-8 years.

We've talked at various times about what he wants to do and over the last year or so he has been all over the board from choosing NG and various AD branches. Just after this semester of school started a few weeks ago he was dead set on Signal Corp branch.

He is an EE major and his understanding is that with ADSO he can be fairly confident of branch and AD if he chooses Signal or Engineer. He is excited about either of these but then someone put a bug in his ear about making sure to consider civilian transferable skills and he is second guessing himself. Now he isn't sure between Signal, Engineer, Transportation, and Ordinance.

He called and wanted to talk through his thought process. I think he just needed to express his thoughts out loud to make sure they made sense even to himself.

I realize this is just part of the process of any big decision but I can sense the hint of stress and tension. Kinda like the day before your wedding (or maybe it is more akin to the day before "popping the question" to get engaged).
 
Too funny!! My oldest son called home last night wanting to know what I thought about him proposing to his girlfriend.:shake: Although they say they don't need us, that is not the case.

I have no clue how to do accessions or how to offer advice when the time comes for DS. He still has 4 yrs to go. I'm learning more each day, but I believe that things maybe really different when it is his time to make those decisions. Kinda like LDAC has changed.

Best of Luck to you guys. That is a hard decision to make.
 
I feel your pain

I realize this is just part of the process of any big decision but I can sense the hint of stress and tension. Kinda like the day before your wedding (or maybe it is more akin to the day before "popping the question" to get engaged).

The wedding was last month for DS! This month is hard as the cadet has limited information and yet is supposed to request branch, maybe detail, possibly ADSO and then throw in a geographic request as well. (Not to mention all the other possibilities on the list like Ranger, Air Assault, etc.)The cadets have been trained to use their resources but then learn they are quite limited when it comes to these life changing decisions! Welcome to the real world.

PMS meeting today, should be interesting.
 
Too funny!! My oldest son called home last night wanting to know what I thought about him proposing to his girlfriend.:shake: Although they say they don't need us, that is not the case.

I have no clue how to do accessions or how to offer advice when the time comes for DS. He still has 4 yrs to go. I'm learning more each day, but I believe that things maybe really different when it is his time to make those decisions. Kinda like LDAC has changed.

Best of Luck to you guys. That is a hard decision to make.

Cajuncarrier, it's more like 2 years until he has to decide about branch choices. Tempus fugit.

To gstudent99: There probably isn't a perfect branch for your son, and even if there is, he may not know it until years later. It sounds like he has the potential to do well whichever branch he selects. I do hope it's more of an accession than an ascension, though.
 
Good Luck with the decisions. It is interesting times. You did bring something up that I have a question about. The ADSO for AD for engineers. Do they have to put that in place this Friday? And if so is it a done deal if they do. My DS may face a similar decision next year (Assuming it is the same). He is really waffling about committing to 7 years when he is not sure if its a good fit for him. Not that he wouldn't serve longer, its just he doesn't know if he can say this is what he wants to do for the next X when he hasn't really done it.
I guess I hadn't thought that this early in the year is when he will need to know. Thanks for the heads us.
 
Getting excited about these decision

After reading the information posted I asked my DD about her accessions. She apparently decided to ask for AD with NG as a second choice. As many people advised me earlier, she had a great experience at CTLT. She especially had nothing but good things to say about being a PL in an artillery unit. She thought she had the best platoon and best Lt. They threw her a going away party before she left and gave her a really nice unit photo. She led a few unit runs and they did some stuff in the field near camp. She loved it. :smile:
 
@NewCollegeParent I think they have to include their ADSO choice now with their choices.

As for the done deal question: My understanding is that if they would have gotten their choice without the ADSO then it is not applied. If it is needed then it is applied. I have no idea if that is actually true or just based on other comments I've read here. As a side note, the 1LT who he shadowed when on CTLT with was on an ADSO but they were releasing him from it.

My son isn't concerned if it is applied or not. He views it along the lines of if he stays beyond 4 years then he will move beyond "junior officer" status and is fine with that.
 
Also on a complete side track:

I am usually very aware of using the correct word for the situation (for example There-Their-They're).

I have to admit that I had no idea there were 2 separate words: Accession - Ascension (and as a Catholic I know the difference between Ascension and Assumption). But I did look it up as recommended by Bill O'Reilly.

I learned something today. Thank you EDelahanty
 
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@NewCollegeParent I think they have to include their ADSO choice now with their choices.

As for the done deal question: My understanding is that if they would have gotten their choice without the ADSO then it is not applied. If it is needed then it is applied. I have no idea if that is actually true or just based on other comments I've read here. As a side note, the 1LT who he shadowed when on CTLT with was on an ADSO but they were releasing him from it.

My son isn't concerned if it is applied or not. He views it along the lines of if he stays beyond 4 years then he will move beyond "junior officer" status and is fine with that.

I believe that if the cadet uses the ADSO as part of the Special Branching Program that assures they will get Active Duty and their requested branch (Engineering) they would be required to use the ADSO.

If a cadet is going through normal accessions (Not the Special Branching Program) and they sign an ADSO for a certain branch but end up being able to get the branch without the ADSO, they would not be charged the ADSO.
 
your house

I believe that if the cadet uses the ADSO as part of the Special Branching Program that assures they will get Active Duty and their requested branch (Engineering) they would be required to use the ADSO.

If a cadet is going through normal accessions (Not the Special Branching Program) and they sign an ADSO for a certain branch but end up being able to get the branch without the ADSO, they would not be charged the ADSO.[/QUOTE

What's the dream at your house jcleppe? As of today I think it's MI with infantry as detail at mine.
 
To be honest...he's still thinking hard about it, only a few days left though. He said they have to sign it and submit by the 11th.
 
Due to a mountain bike injury, I'll be home from work for the next 2-3 months and I've been doing a lot of reading, internet searches and watching military related videos where deployments are discussed. Based on a lot of what I've seen, I don't think I would encourage my kids to ADSO. Giving up (7) years when you have no idea where we are heading as a country or where we are headed to fight for an untold number of years isn't something I would encourage. There are many, many soldiers being deployed repeatedly to countries where Democracy will NEVER work.

Based on my own personal experiences working for the government, I'm not a fan of downsizing. I'm a huge proponent of military spending being the LAST item to be cut. It turns my stomach to see the direction our country is going. Downsizing and veterans benefits being cut or not delivered as promised while people in the country illegally can score every benefit under the sun is deplorable.

Based on the way things are currently being handled but the current Administration and the way political correctness now rules supreme over common sense, I'd want to do my (4) years and get out.
 
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