Zero week started today for my AROTC son. Who else?

tjb1975

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Zero week will begin in 3 minutes at 0745 Mountain Time at the Univ of Wyoming. I'm not there, my ex took my son to school. I'm so excited for him and can't wait to hear what is happening. He takes the APFT on Wednesday at 0530.

Who else has a cadet off to school for their "first day?"
 
He is living on the ROTC floor in the door with other cadets. His roommate is from Los Angeles, so already, there is much to learn! He cut his hair before he left to show up in reg.
 
Zero week will begin in 3 minutes at 0745 Mountain Time at the Univ of Wyoming. I'm not there, my ex took my son to school. I'm so excited for him and can't wait to hear what is happening. He takes the APFT on Wednesday at 0530.

Who else has a cadet off to school for their "first day?"
My daughter moves in tomorrow and her ROTC orientation starts at 0630 on Wednesday! She has been texting with the other 4 incoming AROTC nursing freshman, and they are meeting up tomorrow night, so she will at least know a few faces before it all begins Wednesday morning! It has seemed like such a long process to get these kiddos to this point, so excited it now begins...
 
Dropped DS off on Saturday at his new apartment across from campus. He is now an MS-II.

Zero week doesn't begin until 8/29 though. He already has a full schedule and is being assigned responsibility over a few MS-I's. Now that he has a car, he can transport them to LDX and other AROTC events. He also has a commitment to "Dorm Storm" where the returning Cadets help incoming Freshman students and their parents move stuff into the dorms. A year ago, DS was the new kid. How fast time flies!
 
Today was DS's first day of his second week. Today was the first day for PT and Thursday will be first MS Lab two of the feeder schools did not start till this week which is why the PT and Labs don't start till this week. His dorm mate is also a military brat but was not wanting to do ROTC till he met DS at orientation he was thinking about it and then at the Welcome party after move-in DS and his dorm mate met up with a friend of dorm mate who is also in ROTC so now his dorm mate was more thinking he should do ROTC but is going to wait till next semester or next year depending on his grades. The hard part for me was second day of school was his birthday so this was first of his birthday I wasn't with him. Sad face pouty mom but he was having a great day I ordered him a Cheese cake sampler to go pick up for him to share with his new friends. He is also Rushing Lamda Chi Alpha with a few other ROTC cadets. So far classes and ROTC going strong :) Look forward to hearing everyone's info. Oh and he got his summer shag 1 on the sides 2 on top all shaved off.
 
We dropped out MS-2 off Sunday. It was much easier on me this year. He couldn't wait to be back at school. His ROTC group is amazing, supportive and
is the reason he loves college so much. I hope your young adults enjoy it as much as my DS has. I was debating about the long college drop off drive due to other kids at home, it was worth the long drive to see the joy on his face when his ROTC buds bear hugged him hello. The smile on DS face was priceless!
Sounds like the MS-1's have a busy week ahead!
Best wishes as they start their journey. Honestly, the support from the other cadets is remarkable for people so young to get that concept so early-amazing people and we are very lucky that these people have chosen to serve-the impressive resumes, dedication to others-these young adults could do well anywhere. They watch out for each other and it allows them to thrive and grow so much while being away from home.
 
Well the only update I can provide (it's been radio silence from my son) is that he needed his birth certificate and social security card. I sent his passport with him to satisfy the request for 2 forms of picture ID, as it was indicated an acceptable document. I guess someone changed their mind on that. Beyond that, I know nothing. But the BN is posting pics on their flickr page so I will be carefully scanning them for images of my son. Oh, and on the BN org chart, they have his first name mistakenly listed as Noah. LOL. We'll see how long that takes to be updated. It makes me giggle to think of anyone calling him Noah.
 
Well the only update I can provide (it's been radio silence from my son) is that he needed his birth certificate and social security card. I sent his passport with him to satisfy the request for 2 forms of picture ID, as it was indicated an acceptable document. I guess someone changed their mind on that. Beyond that, I know nothing. But the BN is posting pics on their flickr page so I will be carefully scanning them for images of my son. Oh, and on the BN org chart, they have his first name mistakenly listed as Noah. LOL. We'll see how long that takes to be updated. It makes me giggle to think of anyone calling him Noah.

We did get a list of stuff to bring and the birth certificate and SS card were on there, the one thing that surprised me was that she needed to know her blood type, which I had NO IDEA! Amazing what you can get on Amazon these days, for about 6 bucks and a little blood from her finger, we now know her blood type. This is all a learning experience, that is for sure!
 
Dropped off DD on Thursday for the Wheaton Rolling Thunder battallion. Great help and welcome from ROTC upperclassmen moving her stuff into the dorm. Informational dinner Thursday night and then the APFT at 0630 Friday morning. DD reports that some of the other incoming freshman guys who were talking big beforehand were puking on the track as she passed them in the two mile run. Of course, there were other guys who lapped her, so she wasn't happy about that. She will try out for the Ranger Challenge team and wish we had known she has to have AR670-1 compliant boots by this Friday. Very difficult to get the ones that were recommended in that time frame. Not sure how we missed that but still, off to a good start and happy with her choice to pursue AROTC.
 
" the one thing that surprised me was that she needed to know her blood type..."
For future reference, anyone who needs to know blood type, DONATE BLOOD. They'll type it, and you're helping others.
 
... She will try out for the Ranger Challenge team and wish we had known she has to have AR670-1 compliant boots by this Friday. Very difficult to get the ones that were recommended in that time frame. Not sure how we missed that but still, off to a good start and happy with her choice to pursue AROTC.

If she is on scholarship she should be issued boots from the ROTC unit! Maybe the urgent need is because of Ranger Challenge.

What size does she need? I live near Wheaton and I've got a new pair of Rocky 782's, men size 4, that are AR670-1 compliant - free. They are sand color for use with the UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern) ACU. They are only authorized for wear until 30 September 2019 but ROTC may be using that pattern longer depending on when they are issued the new OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) ACU.

If they fit they would be good enough til she is issued boots or you could get them to her. Uniform wear out regulation here.
 
" the one thing that surprised me was that she needed to know her blood type..."
For future reference, anyone who needs to know blood type, DONATE BLOOD. They'll type it, and you're helping others.

We had to scramble a couple years ago to figure out my oldest son's blood type for contracting. Pediatrician had no record of it. He ended up donating blood as well. Now the Red Cross is relentless in contacting him to donate more. He has a desirable blood type apparently.
 
" the one thing that surprised me was that she needed to know her blood type..."
For future reference, anyone who needs to know blood type, DONATE BLOOD. They'll type it, and you're helping others.
That doesn't work for those under 18 and/or that have spent more than 5 years in areas with mad cow or born there (My DS is a both under 18 and born in Germany during Mad Cow years. But in Germany his blood type was on his MutterPass *a booklet with the EKGs and ultrasound pics and all other med stats during pregnancy
 
Red Cross stipulates 17 yrs old or 16 with parental consent. And yes, they have donor eligibility criteria (weight, lifestyle, travel, medical conditions or treatments etc.).
 
If she is on scholarship she should be issued boots from the ROTC unit! Maybe the urgent need is because of Ranger Challenge.

What size does she need? I live near Wheaton and I've got a new pair of Rocky 782's, men size 4, that are AR670-1 compliant - free. They are sand color for use with the UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern) ACU. They are only authorized for wear until 30 September 2019 but ROTC may be using that pattern longer depending on when they are issued the new OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) ACU.

If they fit they would be good enough til she is issued boots or you could get them to her. Uniform wear out regulation here.

AROTC Parent, thanks for the response. DD is not yet on scholarship. I believe the urgent need is Ranger Challenge and recommendations for boots that are ostensibly better-suited for that than standard-issue. Wow, your offer is very generous--I wish she wore mens size 4! We have some on the way thanks to Amazon Prime. The uniform regulation link is very helpful. We are a non-military family except for my dad serving in the National Guard and my wife's grandfather who served as a medic in WWI (not II!), both now deceased, so we are heavily dependent on information passed on from DD.

Where did/does your DD/DS do AROTC?
 
Thanks for the info on donating blood, we didn't even think of that! I work around medical professionals all day (I am in sales) and they all told me typing is easy you just need an Eldon Card test kit and got one on Amazon for $6.00. I watched a "how to video" they had the link for in the kit and it was really easy.

DD just called, she did her first PT session this morning, said everyone is very helpful, had her first MS1 meeting and she is super excited, feels like she made the right choice where she decided to go. She did say she is the only freshman female that met the minimum for pushups and situps during their practice session this morning. Test isn't until next Friday so there is time, but she was glad she spent the summer training and focusing on the maximums not the minimums all summer long.
 
My son is enlisted Army National Guard and currently completing his AIT at Fort Sill. He is a Minuteman Scholarship recipient and already enrolled in ROTC/college. Unfortunately, classes started at his college last week, and he won't be back from AIT until the end of August. So he's missing the first few weeks of ROTC and classes. :-(

On the bright side, the ROO has assured my son there would be plenty of support to catch him up.

Also on the bright side, a summer at Fort Sill means no problems passing APFT. :)
 
DD just called, she did her first PT session this morning, said everyone is very helpful, had her first MS1 meeting and she is super excited, feels like she made the right choice where she decided to go. She did say she is the only freshman female that met the minimum for pushups and situps during their practice session this morning. Test isn't until next Friday so there is time, but she was glad she spent the summer training and focusing on the maximums not the minimums all summer long.

It's amazing to me how many people show up and can't pass the APFT. It's not like anybody was notified last week of their scholarship and/or what the requirements are. 25% of the incoming Freshman cadets at my sons school, where he is currently the Gold Bar Recruiter, failed to pass the test this week.
 
It's amazing to me how many people show up and can't pass the APFT. It's not like anybody was notified last week of their scholarship and/or what the requirements are. 25% of the incoming Freshman cadets at my sons school, where he is currently the Gold Bar Recruiter, failed to pass the test this week.

75% first time pass rate for MS1s is actually very impressive. I've seen it much lower.

One thing new cadets will learn quickly is that just attending morning PT is not sufficient to improve APFT performance.
 
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