Split Opt or Teaching

FØB Zero

Enthusiastically American
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Jul 30, 2019
Messages
205
Howdy fellow forumers,
This coming summer I have been blessed with 2 amazing opportunities:

1. Teaching and supervising a summer class (4 weeks) + job as a lifeguard + retaking/improving ACT.
2. Enlisting Split opt. (17 yr old) and going through Army Basic Training (10-weeks)​

I am uncertain which I should participate in, because both would be so beneficial for my character development! Opt. 1 would give me great leadership opportunities, however option 2 would be something new and give me a good background to better prepare me for the rigors of the WP BCT + Army.
A part to consider as well, is which would make me a more competitive candidate for USMA.

Please let me know any advice / experience / opinions on this. Thank you.
 
Howdy fellow forumers,
This coming summer I have been blessed with 2 amazing opportunities:

1. Teaching and supervising a summer class (4 weeks) + job as a lifeguard + retaking/improving ACT.
2. Enlisting Split opt. (17 yr old) and going through Army Basic Training (10-weeks)​

I am uncertain which I should participate in, because both would be so beneficial for my character development! Opt. 1 would give me great leadership opportunities, however option 2 would be something new and give me a good background to better prepare me for the rigors of the WP BCT + Army.
A part to consider as well, is which would make me a more competitive candidate for USMA.

Please let me know any advice / experience / opinions on this. Thank you.
If USMA truly is your end goal, the split option program would be your best bet in my opinion. Not only would it provide you with a bit of experience on the enlisted side of the Army (therefore giving you a greater insight regarding the enlisted life and allowing you to cultivate your leadership skills in that way), but it would also provide you the best pipeline to a USMA appointment. All prior service applicants, even if not directly admitted to the academy, are automatically considered for enrollment into USMAPS. Good luck!

Edit: I'm also a current enlisted soldier applying for admission to class of 2024, so I may have a bit more insight if you have any questions in that regard too!
 
If you enlist, what happens if you don’t receive an appointment? Just be prepared for the outcomes of your decisions, even ones that you don’t foresee happening. Signing an contract is a big deal, with big consequences.
 
Please make sure that you have considered completing your enlisted contract as an enlisted soldier. The odds of anyone gaining an appointment are small and there are many potential roadblocks along the way.
 
I agree with the previous 2 posts. I would recommend going with option 1. It keeps your long term options open, still contributes to an academy and ROTC application, and still gives you valuable life experiences.
 
Personally, I faced the same situation this past summer. I was faced with either

10 weeks of basic training for the National Guard
-or-
Boys State, and staying home and working.

My outcome was a little different, my parents wouldn't sign the papers, so I ended up going to Boys State and working.

My parents did provide some insight though: they believed I should stay home and enjoy my last summer before Senior year, and enjoy myself as a kid. I also got to go to Boys State, and I had one of the best experiences of my life there. Just something to think about.
 
Many of the above posters do not understand what happens with the split option.
I assume you are talking about Guard/Reserve.
For those who don’t know, if he doesn’t get into West Point or an ROTC scholarship his contract does kick in. However, since he would be Guard/Reserve it would not preclude him from attending college.
So I vote for the split option. It will help you personally and will help with your application. But do understand that there is no guarantee and be prepared to serve out your contract while going to college. Also, if you don’t get accepted to an academy or get an ROTC scholarship AIT may cut into your freshman year depending on your MOS. Depending on how much your college may work with you.
 
If you enlist, what happens if you don’t receive an appointment? Just be prepared for the outcomes of your decisions, even ones that you don’t foresee happening. Signing an contract is a big deal, with big consequences.
If he gets an ROTC scholarship that also takes priority over AIT.
If neither, he goes to AIT over the summer then drills in the Guard/Reserves. Very possible in college. I did it before being accepted into ROTC, then drilled as an SMP Cadet.
 
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