Current MIDN 1/C...Ask me anything

How hard is it for incoming NROTC Midshipmen with no prior ROTC knowledge to learn the ropes of drill, etc.?
 
You'll learn it. They'll teach you everything you need to know. DS had no NROTC experience and did just fine. The drill team won a few competitions while he was a participant.
 
Hey all!

This forum and thread really helped me out when I was researching about ROTC, and specifically NROTC. I have been through a lot in this program and have a fairly good idea of what is coming next for both the program and me upon commissioning. If you have any questions about anything NROTC related I will do my best to answer! Feel free to pm me too

what was your major at college and did you room with other NROTC students? and why/why not?
 
My major was quantitative economics and applied math (double major). I originally didn’t room with NROTC students just on how the school is set up, but once I had the ability to I did! It was great having everyone in the apartment on the same schedule and tracking everyone else, felt like living with a family again! I loved that part of it
 
How much time does a freshman on NROTC scholarship have for other types of activities, for example, fraternity, men’s crew, school government, intramural sports? Thank you
My DS just finished freshman year. The only thing he had time for was Mock Trial. No sports no job. He did finish the year with 39 credits (excluding the military science classes) though.
 
Hey all!

This forum and thread really helped me out when I was researching about ROTC, and specifically NROTC. I have been through a lot in this program and have a fairly good idea of what is coming next for both the program and me upon commissioning. If you have any questions about anything NROTC related I will do my best to answer! Feel free to pm me too

My grandson is a MIDN 3/C (MO) getting ready to depart for CORTRAMID East in a couple of days. His parents have asked when and where for next year. Any insights would be appreciated.
 
Perhaps the OP can add some of their experiences from the first couple of years in the program?

DS just finished 4c (freshman year). First semester was very demanding: with Naval Science classes (these are the NROTC classes) a 17-21 credit hour schedule happens, especially in engineering majors. His unit had the 4c’s work out 3x/week irregardless of fitness standing. Then there was 10 hours mandatory study hours in the unit (including tutoring). And then unit activities: volunteer work, activities that raised funds for special events, and more. DS easily spent ~20h/week at the unit fall semester. It eased up 2nd semester. There were special event weekends, like when his unit hosted a drill competition or traveled to one (that was at Tulane, with Mardi Gras and all, but they bussed a long distance to get there).

As an observer to all this I can underscore what I’ve seen stated elsewhere: learning to prioritize and be efficient with your time is a big part of the training/experience.

Frosh year DS only did the warfare community club and drill teams (which was probably part of his 20h/week). He’s anticipating being able to do more outside NROTC this upcoming Sophomore year. He misses swimming and is determined to find a way to make it fit.

That is the key: what is a priority for you? I think DS’ priorities go NROTC, classes, sleep, food, clubs. Food was a bigger issue than anticipated: when dining halls open/close was an issue until he decided he could afford the occasional pizza and also routinely loaded up on a few ready-to-eat items. (My advice: don’t be cheap like my Scrooge-Mc4th-class. Spend a few bucks and solve your problems that $ can solve, whether it be food, laundry, tutoring, etc. That’s what the stipend is for.)

There are definitely MDN taking fewer credit hours, holding campus jobs, participating in DIV1 sports etc. If this is what you’re anticipating find a mentor within the unit and use your time with the 4th c advisor to anticipate and address the schedule.

Lastly (sorry so long): look ahead to the required classes and plan how summer and winter breaks can be used to make the load during the academic year easier. You can’t always count on a course being offered right when you want it or required training being offered on the most convenient dates each summer, but if you keep a flow chart of possibilities at hand you can anticipate and control the path/outcome.
 
Hey all!

This forum and thread really helped me out when I was researching about ROTC, and specifically NROTC. I have been through a lot in this program and have a fairly good idea of what is coming next for both the program and me upon commissioning. If you have any questions about anything NROTC related I will do my best to answer! Feel free to pm me too

My grandson is a MIDN 3/C (MO) getting ready to depart for CORTRAMID East in a couple of days. His parents have asked when and where for next year. Any insights would be appreciated.
There is no answer to this. 2/C were supposed to complete Sea Trials this summer...many of those sessions were canceled. Whereas there are different Phase dates for summer cruises, when you go is dependent on type of community chosen, ie Aviation, Surface, or Subs and when those are available...my DS leaves August 3rd for Surface and returns the day before he leaves for school. Although, they try to accommodate, there is an expectation that families remain flexible during summer.
 
All great advise thank you. One piece of advise I heard on another video was try not making rotc your whole entire life or you might get burnt out before you even graduate!
 
Perhaps the OP can add some of their experiences from the first couple of years in the program?

DS just finished 4c (freshman year). First semester was very demanding: with Naval Science classes (these are the NROTC classes) a 17-21 credit hour schedule happens, especially in engineering majors. His unit had the 4c’s work out 3x/week irregardless of fitness standing. Then there was 10 hours mandatory study hours in the unit (including tutoring). And then unit activities: volunteer work, activities that raised funds for special events, and more. DS easily spent ~20h/week at the unit fall semester. It eased up 2nd semester. There were special event weekends, like when his unit hosted a drill competition or traveled to one (that was at Tulane, with Mardi Gras and all, but they bussed a long distance to get there).

As an observer to all this I can underscore what I’ve seen stated elsewhere: learning to prioritize and be efficient with your time is a big part of the training/experience.

Frosh year DS only did the warfare community club and drill teams (which was probably part of his 20h/week). He’s anticipating being able to do more outside NROTC this upcoming Sophomore year. He misses swimming and is determined to find a way to make it fit.

That is the key: what is a priority for you? I think DS’ priorities go NROTC, classes, sleep, food, clubs. Food was a bigger issue than anticipated: when dining halls open/close was an issue until he decided he could afford the occasional pizza and also routinely loaded up on a few ready-to-eat items. (My advice: don’t be cheap like my Scrooge-Mc4th-class. Spend a few bucks and solve your problems that $ can solve, whether it be food, laundry, tutoring, etc. That’s what the stipend is for.)

There are definitely MDN taking fewer credit hours, holding campus jobs, participating in DIV1 sports etc. If this is what you’re anticipating find a mentor within the unit and use your time with the 4th c advisor to anticipate and address the schedule.

Lastly (sorry so long): look ahead to the required classes and plan how summer and winter breaks can be used to make the load during the academic year easier. You can’t always count on a course being offered right when you want it or required training being offered on the most convenient dates each summer, but if you keep a flow chart of possibilities at hand you can anticipate and control the path/outcome.
I'm starting year 7 as an NROTC mom...one DS in program 2013 to 2017; 2nd DS from 2017 to present...here's what I know...each unit has different expectations...for example you mentioned study hall hours...those were required of incoming freshman 1st semester and anyone who did not maintain a 3.0 GPA. Battalion PT 1x per week, Company PT 1x per week, with other options available. My DS gets up early every morning to work out on his own. Each year ROTC responsibilities increase and with that comes a little less free time, but its important to find balance...my DS plays NROTC sports plus intramural sports. Top priority Academics...if you dont keep the grades up, ROTC may become mute point. Both my DS carried an average of 20 credit hours every semester every year....Civil Engineering degrees...both studied abroad during summer to obtain extra credit hours...summer abroad was not covered by NROTC Scholarship fyi. 1 DS took summer class and transferred credits. Both my DS went to a school where Saturdays during football season are written off as nonproductive. Something to consider....in the end, both my DS say you need a good balance...you need your NROTC friends, you need your dorm friends, you need your major friends whom you study with, you need your intramurals or clubs activities friends...
And you will figure out how to make it work...maybe not as a freshman but by the 2nd semester sophomore year, you will be surprised as a parent as to how acclimated they become.
 
How hard is it for incoming NROTC Midshipmen with no prior ROTC knowledge to learn the ropes of drill, etc.?
Very manageable. I had never even heard of JROTC before doing NROTC, and was able to pick everything up.
 
Perhaps the OP can add some of their experiences from the first couple of years in the program?

DS just finished 4c (freshman year). First semester was very demanding: with Naval Science classes (these are the NROTC classes) a 17-21 credit hour schedule happens, especially in engineering majors. His unit had the 4c’s work out 3x/week irregardless of fitness standing. Then there was 10 hours mandatory study hours in the unit (including tutoring). And then unit activities: volunteer work, activities that raised funds for special events, and more. DS easily spent ~20h/week at the unit fall semester. It eased up 2nd semester. There were special event weekends, like when his unit hosted a drill competition or traveled to one (that was at Tulane, with Mardi Gras and all, but they bussed a long distance to get there).

As an observer to all this I can underscore what I’ve seen stated elsewhere: learning to prioritize and be efficient with your time is a big part of the training/experience.

Frosh year DS only did the warfare community club and drill teams (which was probably part of his 20h/week). He’s anticipating being able to do more outside NROTC this upcoming Sophomore year. He misses swimming and is determined to find a way to make it fit.

That is the key: what is a priority for you? I think DS’ priorities go NROTC, classes, sleep, food, clubs. Food was a bigger issue than anticipated: when dining halls open/close was an issue until he decided he could afford the occasional pizza and also routinely loaded up on a few ready-to-eat items. (My advice: don’t be cheap like my Scrooge-Mc4th-class. Spend a few bucks and solve your problems that $ can solve, whether it be food, laundry, tutoring, etc. That’s what the stipend is for.)

There are definitely MDN taking fewer credit hours, holding campus jobs, participating in DIV1 sports etc. If this is what you’re anticipating find a mentor within the unit and use your time with the 4th c advisor to anticipate and address the schedule.

Lastly (sorry so long): look ahead to the required classes and plan how summer and winter breaks can be used to make the load during the academic year easier. You can’t always count on a course being offered right when you want it or required training being offered on the most convenient dates each summer, but if you keep a flow chart of possibilities at hand you can anticipate and control the path/outcome.
I'm starting year 7 as an NROTC mom...one DS in program 2013 to 2017; 2nd DS from 2017 to present...here's what I know...each unit has different expectations...for example you mentioned study hall hours...those were required of incoming freshman 1st semester and anyone who did not maintain a 3.0 GPA. Battalion PT 1x per week, Company PT 1x per week, with other options available. My DS gets up early every morning to work out on his own. Each year ROTC responsibilities increase and with that comes a little less free time, but its important to find balance...my DS plays NROTC sports plus intramural sports. Top priority Academics...if you dont keep the grades up, ROTC may become mute point. Both my DS carried an average of 20 credit hours every semester every year....Civil Engineering degrees...both studied abroad during summer to obtain extra credit hours...summer abroad was not covered by NROTC Scholarship fyi. 1 DS took summer class and transferred credits. Both my DS went to a school where Saturdays during football season are written off as nonproductive. Something to consider....in the end, both my DS say you need a good balance...you need your NROTC friends, you need your dorm friends, you need your major friends whom you study with, you need your intramurals or clubs activities friends...
And you will figure out how to make it work...maybe not as a freshman but by the 2nd semester sophomore year, you will be surprised as a parent as to how acclimated they become.

Can echo the “every unit is different” thing. Even between different COs in the same unit, expectations are different. Regarding study hours, for us it was anyone taking physics one physics two and calculus one and two had to do study hours. Additionally if you ever fell below 2.5 GPA you had to do study hours the semester after
 
How hard is it for incoming NROTC Midshipmen with no prior ROTC knowledge to learn the ropes of drill, etc.?
If my kid could do it, anyone can do it. And he was on a team that won a few significant drill competitions. Also a great way to get to New Orleans during Mardi Gras if your unit does that. I always wondered what my boy did to get all those beads.
 
Regarding study hours, for us it was anyone taking physics one physics two and calculus one and two had to do study hours

I think that is fantastic. Those are tough classes for those not great at Math. Hopefully, the strong students can help the weak and make sure no one gets lost
 
DS’ son had tutors available during the study hours. Upperclassmen also helped whenever asked: they truly mentored the freshmen. Study hours were great, according to DS.

Edit: meant to add... the NROTC program really is terrific. Yeah, the short notice on summer schedules bites, but no matter how hard i think about it, that’s the only thing DS puts on the negatives list.
 
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