SLCDA

Amesbury67

Candidate
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Dec 15, 2014
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I heard about this week long summer program the Marine Corps does called SLCDA -Summer Leadership and Character development Academy and was wondering if it is program that I should try and get into. Also would it be a good thing to have on my resume for applying for ROTC scholarships?
Thank You very much
 
Definitely! I received a Marine Option NROTC Scholarship and I attended it in it's second year. Apparently the board was really impressed, and I now know it's something recruiter's encourage applicants to do.
 
I heard about this week long summer program the Marine Corps does called SLCDA -Summer Leadership and Character development Academy and was wondering if it is program that I should try and get into. Also would it be a good thing to have on my resume for applying for ROTC scholarships?
Thank You very much

This is a new program (couple of years old) and there has been a lot of positive chatter on it. You can search this forum for some commentary from people who have attended.

I have to disagree with Bakslash - I do not think it strengthens an application very much. Attending the course might help with your essays and answering the question of "Why do you want to be a Marine Officer" but I just don't think it will make much of a difference in and of itself.
 
I just received the Marine Option Scholarship and I attended the SLCDA. You will get to do a lot of "once in a lifetime" activities. We got to talk to multiple Generals, SgtMaj, and even a Medal of Honor recipient. The Marines do a very good job at instructing you on how to utilize leadership. There is room for improvement at this academy but in all it was a great experience. Let me know if you have any other questions.


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I heard about this week long summer program the Marine Corps does called SLCDA -Summer Leadership and Character development Academy and was wondering if it is program that I should try and get into. Also would it be a good thing to have on my resume for applying for ROTC scholarships?
Thank You very much

Aside from resume building, this was a very cool and enjoyable experience for me. I made some friends last summer that I talk to daily despite the long distance. Very nice to be put in an atmosphere with like-minded students
 
I would have to think that for a 16 yr old coming off sophomore year it would be a worthwhile activity that shows interest in the field you are pursuing. I don’t think there alot of similar summer activities for after sophomore summer. We plan to apply next year
 
While I know one of the original SLCDA organizers (who also used to sit on the MO boards), I agree with @USMCGrunt that attending doesn't necessarily help your resume that much. Seeing things like SLCDA, Young Marines, JROTC, etc are good things to have on your resume', but ultimately the interview is a major part of your competitiveness.

Now, the experience can help you as a person to really learn more about what you want. It also gives you exposure to some of The Culture and chances to develop some of your communication skills when given opportunity to interact with Marine Officers. Don't schmooze, but take the opportunity to interact and build confidence for your future interview.
 
My daughter went to SLDCA last year, she loved it and learned a lot from it. She was Alpha Company, First Platoon, Platoon Sergeant. It helped her feel more confident, and taught her to keep her head in order under external pressure. Her MC JROTC instructors told me that her good boards became excellent after that summer.

SLDCA alone did not stand out on her high school resume. What stood out was that she went to out of state military camps, did volunteer work and participated in school MC JROTC camps every summer since eighth grade year. Her senior summer, when most of her friends were going on vacation trips, working part time or going to the beach, she went to four straight weeks of Military camps out of state, in addition to two weeks of MCJROTC camp at school, training a platoon of Young Marines and taking two summer school courses. She spent two weeks in Oregon for Young Marines Advanced Leadership School, flew into Connecticut for a week at the Coast Guard Academy for AIM, I picked her up in CT, and drove her to Virginia. She had a night to sleep, wash underclothing, dump that, her hygiene kit and sneakers into a prepacked sea bag and get dropped off at the Marine Corps Museum.

In her interviews, one of the things that was commented on the most was the number of summer things she did, as well as after school activities. The fact that SLDCA was the LAST camp in the four weeks seemed to weigh heavily in her favor.

The thing I personally find amusing about SLDCA is that she keeps complaining that the distance between the bars on the monkey bars were too far apart for a 5'4" female, even when she was swinging her body to reach. She ended up going to the end to do pull-ups.
 
Aside from resume building, this was a very cool and enjoyable experience for me. I made some friends last summer that I talk to daily despite the long distance. Very nice to be put in an atmosphere with like-minded students

My daughter was there last year too. What Company were you in?
 
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