Is ROTC Consulting legit?

PaigeM

PaigeM

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Jan 5, 2022
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Hi, I am a HS Junior and will be applying for an NROTC (MO) Scholarship and an ARMY ROTC Scholarship. My SAT scores aren't great (1100) but I will be taking them again in few weeks. I have a 3.6 GPA and I am a teammate on a highly competitive varsity HS lax team and am a junior member of a firefighting company. I was thinking maybe I should reach out to retired Col Kirkland at (**REMOVED**) but I'm not sure if he is even taking on new candidates or should even ask my parents to spend the $.

Edited by moderator to remove live link in post.
 
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Don’t know anything about the consulting service you mention. But I do know — after watching DD and DS successfully navigate the ROTC scholarship process for three branches — that any reasonably intelligent and diligent candidate can do it on their own.

It requires attention to detail, time management and careful planning. You need to be all over the deadlines and fine print. You need to coordinate the various inputs. You need to take personal responsibility for everything happening as required and on time.

Many candidates navigate multiple ROTC applications simultaneously with multiple SA applications and MOC nom applications. This entails all the skills critical to being a successful ROTC cadet/mid and AD officer. It can be done solo — lean in, bear down! (Again, not commenting one way or another on any consulting service. They may be just fine.)
 
Agree with MidCakePA. My DS successfully navigated both AFROTC and AROTC appls while apploying to 3 SAs and a bunch of civilian colleges. We did buy books on applying to ROTC and SAs but they didn't tell him anything he hadn't learned already from admissions briefs and this forum. The best investment I made was a huge dry erase 3-month wall calendar that I put up next to his desk in his room. No missed deadlines. I know that NROTC has a different process than the other two but there is so much help on this forum for free.
 
We didn't use the consulting service, but read his book on Army ROTC scholarship and followed it closely. It was extremely helpful in guiding our non-military family through the process. My son received a 4 year scholarship to his top schools in the first round. He does have a 4.0 and a high ACT - his athletics were the area he needed to work on the most. You have a great start and sound well rounded. Take a testing class if you haven't and the ACT too - maybe it is a better suited test for you. Try everything!

The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents: Kirkland, Robert: 9781501075810: Amazon.com: Books

The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents [Kirkland, Robert] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents
www.amazon.com
 
okie_mom said:
We didn't use the consulting service, but read his book on Army ROTC scholarship and followed it closely. It was extremely helpful in guiding our non-military family through the process. My son received a 4 year scholarship to his top schools in the first round. He does have a 4.0 and a high ACT - his athletics were the area he needed to work on the most. You have a great start and sound well rounded. Take a testing class if you haven't and the ACT too - maybe it is a better suited test for you. Try everything!

The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents: Kirkland, Robert: 9781501075810: Amazon.com: Books

The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents [Kirkland, Robert] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their parents
www.amazon.com
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My DS bought the little book. It was very helpful to both of us. He did get a 4 year on this last board.
 
PaigeMasto said:
Hi, I am a HS Junior and will be applying for an NROTC (MO) Scholarship and an ARMY ROTC Scholarship. My SAT scores aren't great (1100) but I will be taking them again in few weeks. I have a 3.6 GPA and I am a teammate on a highly competitive varsity HS lax team and am a junior member of a firefighting company. I was thinking maybe I should reach out to retired Col Kirkland at (https://rotcconsulting.com) but I'm not sure if he is even taking on new candidates or should even ask my parents to spend the $.
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I used some of their free resources to help get me a start, but I was generally capable of figuring things out with the help of my recruiter and local ROTC unit. My stats are not quite the same as yours, though. If you feel like it could help you then go for it. But, there are definitely other options available which only cost a small investment of your time.
 
Thanks for all the replies! It's a bit overwhelming and I hear lots of mixed advice. So I just wanted to make sure my efforts are being maximized in the right direction.
 
Lambda said:
I used some of their free resources to help get me a start, but I was generally capable of figuring things out with the help of my recruiter and local ROTC unit. My stats are not quite the same as yours, though. If you feel like it could help you then go for it. But, there are definitely other options available which only cost a small investment of your time.
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I'm not even sure where or how to find my local recruiter and local ROTC unit? :(
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm not even sure where or how to find my local recruiter and local ROTC unit? :(
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goarmy.com webpage has a list of Army ROTC. Locations sorted by state.
Also if you go to any university webpage and do a search on their page for ROTC it will come up.

www.goarmy.com

ROTC Schools Search

Combine your college experience with Army leadership training. Search all the universities and colleges that offer Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).
www.goarmy.com www.goarmy.com
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm not even sure where or how to find my local recruiter and local ROTC unit? :(
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I simply reached out to Universities near me that had ROTC. I also reached out to Army and Navy recruiters through their websites by putting in my information. I had productive conversations about enlisting with them, but I explained I would prefer to commission. They then directed me to their counterparts who specialized in ROTC. I had a very pleasant experience with my recruiters, but I know this is not always the case. Still could be very helpful to you, though.
 
These are all great ideas, that I hadn't even thought of yet. I am headed down to VMI for an overnight visit Friday/Saturday. I'm hoping they will provide me with some direction too. I will be overnighting at VTCC in a few weeks too.
 
Can you give an honest assessment as to how good you are in lax?

Team mate, starter, one of the better players?

I am not asking as far a civilian college but more a SA lax team.

Yours grades and SAT scores would not be a problem——depending on the answers to those questions.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
Can you give an honest assessment as to how good you are in lax?

Team mate, starter, one of the better players?

I am not asking as far a civilian college but more a SA lax team.

Yours grades and SAT scores would not be a problem——depending on the answers to those questions.
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I'm the second goalie. Our starting goalie is already committed to play D1. We have multiple players on our team that have multiple D1 and D3 offers. What does SA mean? Sorry, I'm new to lots of the acronyms here.
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm the second goalie. Our starting goalie is already committed to play D1. We have multiple players on our team that have multiple D1 and D3 offers. What does SA mean? Sorry, I'm new to lots of the acronyms here.
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Service Academy.
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm the second goalie. Our starting goalie is already committed to play D1. We have multiple players on our team that have multiple D1 and D3 offers. What does SA mean? Sorry, I'm new to lots of the acronyms here.
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I assume Service Academy.
 
We utilized his book for AFROTC. It helped to have a clear picture in one source. Also, the interview prep from that book help immensely and was very accurate.
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm the second goalie. Our starting goalie is already committed to play D1. We have multiple players on our team that have multiple D1 and D3 offers. What does SA mean? Sorry, I'm new to lots of the acronyms here.
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Might as well try and email the lax coaching staff of whatever SA you are interested in. Throw in a highlight tape and express genuine passion to serve and favor may very well come your way.
 
Another example of no additional recruiters/paid programs. I have two that successfully navigated the SA and ROTC processes and are now Mids. No experience with hire for fee, but I’ll chime in that there is tons of info available for free…

SAF (dive in!!)
BGO’s/Officer recruiters
School counselors
Other teachers (edit your essays/etc)
Coaches
Local college units
SA admissions
SA/UNIT visits
Primary source websites

It really isn’t necessary. Most don’t use one. But also nothing wrong if you choose to. I don’t think there is a competitive advantage TO using one.

BTW, I wonder if BGOS/FFR’s,ALO’s ever ask an interviewee if they used a ‘for hire’ helper? Wonder how a “yes” comes off, if so. I don’t have an opinion formed yet…
 
PaigeMasto said:
I'm the second goalie. Our starting goalie is already committed to play D1. We have multiple players on our team that have multiple D1 and D3 offers. What does SA mean? Sorry, I'm new to lots of the acronyms here.
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It really depends then.

I assume you play on a club team? This will be the key then. If you don’t play club I would guess contacting the coaches at a Service Academy would be kind of a waste of time. But kind of is different than none.

when I coached club my 2nd and 3rd goalies both ended up playing D1.

And remember the SA woman’s lax teams are not all on the same level.

ROTC unlike the SAs do not have sports teams then need to recruit for.
 
PaigeMasto said:
Hi, I am a HS Junior and will be applying for an NROTC (MO) Scholarship and an ARMY ROTC Scholarship. My SAT scores aren't great (1100) but I will be taking them again in few weeks. I have a 3.6 GPA and I am a teammate on a highly competitive varsity HS lax team and am a junior member of a firefighting company. I was thinking maybe I should reach out to retired Col Kirkland at (https://rotcconsulting.com) but I'm not sure if he is even taking on new candidates or should even ask my parents to spend the $.
Click to expand...
Consulting for a fee? No. Instead use this forum because you can get answers from experts and parents or both.
SAT 1100. 1300 is considered competitive. DS took 5x the SAT at the height of the pandemic with mass SAT cancellations. It will take Herculean effort to push that 1100 to 1300+. How?
- Practice and Practice. Use the 6-inch SAT practice book. There are 10 live exams, take it, record missed problems, study those, and repeat.
- Hire a tutor to hone in weak areas such as Calculus and essay writing.
- Attend SAT prep courses. Note they use the same 6-inch thick SAT practice book.
- Retake and keep retaking the SAT.

My DS did all above and his SAT scores (5x) increased each time by 40 points. DS scored a 1300 in the final test.
 
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