ROTC vs. Corps of Cadets

Someone was asking me the difference between ROTC at a typical college and the Corps of Cadets programs. Does anyone have a good short summary? Any thoughts on what personality does better in these programs? I know about ROTC at the non-Corps of Cadets schools, but know little about the details of ROTC at Texas A&M, VT, etc. Thanks.

Corps of Cadets is a life changing experience. At Citadel and VMI it's a 24 x 7 deal, not entirely sure about the others. You wear uniforms 24 x 7 and on leave off post.

I think in terms of how complete the Corps experience is VMI first , followed closely by Citadel. The other senior military colleges are co-located with more traditional universities or colleges.

If you want a spartan, life changing college experience a Corps of Cadets will give it to you. Some like it, others hate it. Oddly as time goes by those who hated it the most while there seem to become some of the most die hard supporters of it.

Army ROTC at a typical Non Corps of Cadets college:

• There is no 4th class system 24/7 as the SA's and Corps of Cadets operate.
• You do PT at least 3 to 5 mornings a week at dawn. (depending on your condition)
• You wear your uniform once or twice a week depending on the program. Not as much emphasis on drill and ceremony (unless you are color guard, which my DS was).
• You have freedom to do as other college students do after hours, but are held strictly accountable for bad behavior.
• Occasional weekends are committed to field exercises with your unit.
• You can choose your room mates and live off campus if you wish.
• You learn to balance real life distractions with just a taste of the military lifestyle. This is an advantage for those who are capable of good time management and horrible for those who don't.
• You enjoy far more freedom than those at a Corps of Cadets.
• You have far less structure than those at a Corps of Cadets.
• You have typically LESS access to military opportunities (Such as VIP speakers etc.).
• My DS carried a full load of classes, AROTC, volunteered, worked as a snowboard instructor on weekends at the local ski resort.

One lifestyle is not better or worse than the other. They are just different.

I believe my DS was more successful and happier at a "regular" college. I also believe that he could have been successful at an SA or SMC as well, but not necessarily as happy. He is a senior now, and about to commission in May. He looks back with great fondness over his past four years. However, I know he won't have the sense of fraternity that only an SA or SMC can hone.

This leads to where my friend and I were incorrect. We considered SMC schools to be those like Citadel where all students are ROTC; and, the Corps of Cadets ROTC programs to be at schools like Texas A&M where some students are not ROTC. I didn't realize that SMC included Texas A&M and VT.

For those lurking and reading about Senior Military Colleges (SMC) for the first time, they are excellent options to explore. Here’s the list:

https://m.goarmy.com/rotc/courses-and-colleges/military-colleges.m.html

With a son at VTech - Army ROTC I can say being in the Corps for him thus far has been an amazing experience. He eats up the discipline, the work trying to make the Ranger Challenge team as a freshman, his academic class load and being involved in his Catholic faith as part of what called Valor and enjoying all that come with a big Div 1 school. I get the sense the Corps and what it portrays on campus and to him learning early that once your in the service it is not a democracy and structure is something that should be embraced during your academic life. But in the end it's what you truly are looking to experience and commit too. My son already knows a several cadets after a few weeks went home. My DS as my family looks back now know this is what he was destined to do. So whatever path you take always say when it gets difficult " if you want it bad enough difficulty is just another obstacle to get through. It's not a life sentence its only 4 years. !!!!!!"

My DD is an NROTC MID3/C at VT Corps of Cadets and loves it. The combination of living and learning together in a disciplined military environment with 1200 other cadets, while also getting a top notch engineering degree from a PhD granting institution was what tipped the scales for her. It was the "best of both worlds" between a collegiate experience and an academy. But just remember, attending any SMC is tough. It is hard to do essentially 24/7 military environment and attend college. But it is also very rewarding - my DD will have had more leadership opportunities than her shipmates from regular ROTC programs (because she will get both Navy and Corps opportunities) and feels like she will be better prepared for military life and leadership as a result. BTW, I am not in any way taking away from the traditional college ROTC programs *at all* as some great military leaders in our country (and some close friends) came from those units - only saying that it is essentially a learning lifestyle choice in many ways. Good luck to you!

my DS is a fish at A&M Galveston. They are essentially the same as main campus but in a smaller dimension. He was accepted into NROTC but being in the Corp and the hardest major on campus (Marine Biology-License Option) he felt Corp and ROTC combined was too much. As the ROTC must be part of the Corp anyway, he is thriving in the Corp atmosphere. He is joining the UAP (campus Coast Guard Auxillary) instead to get the service aspect because the USCG is his end goal anyway.