CADRE Questions

When visiting an AROTC battalion what kind of questions should my DS ask?
He already was accepted to the university with a 4 year AROTC scholarship.
He has met his ROO and had his PMS interview at the battalion but now we're getting into the specifics.

% of cadets that get picked up for the jobs they want post commission.
% of cadets that drop out.
Average fitness score each year on the fit test.
How many cadets don't make it through field training.
How many cadets don't get picked up for field training.
What former cadets they have that have ascended to positions of importance.

Questions like that will help your son get a good idea for the rigor and seriousness of the battalion. Not all ROTC units are the same, and sometimes it is beneficial to transfer to a different one (some can be borderline bad). Some ROTC battalions make a point of pouring everything they can into getting their cadets ready for military service, and positioning them for optimum success. Others run like an extracurricular club with a bunch of rules and mandatory uniforms.

@Tbpxece Thank you.
That's what I am looking for even though I didn't know it.

Overwhelmed said:

@Tbpxece Thank you.
That's what I am looking for even though I didn't know it.

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Happy to help.

There are lots of AROTC-affiliated folks on here. I am sure you will get a few more responses.

• Tbpxece said:

  How many cadets don't make it through field training.
  [*]How many cadets don't get picked up for field training.

  Click to expand...

In Army ROTC language, the above questions would be phrased as follows:

• How many cadets don't pass Advanced Camp?
• How many cadets don't pass from the Basic Course to the Advanced Course (MS-II to MS-III).

Other questions:

• What percentage of cadets receive their first choice of component? (Active duty i.e.)
• Where is FTX (weekend field exercises) usually held?
• How many slots for summer training (Airborne, CULP, Air Assault) does the battalion usually get allotted?

@AROTC-dad Well spoken and perfectly phrased. Also try and meet and talk to your future Battalion members. See what they say about leadership, command, and the cadets. When our DS visited the College, he met with and had lunch with a couple of current Battalion members, a couple of regular university students, the university's admissions staff (you still have to be admitted to the school in addition to joining the Battalion), his prospective PMS and discussed costs, quarters, meals, all the things above, and the ability to matriculate AP classes into the cadet's record.

Thank you everyone. This is extremely helpful.