AROTC Interview questions

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NavyUMO

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My DS has his AROTC PMS interview this week and was wondering if anyone can shed additional light on questions he might anticipate. I am sure he would anticipate many of the more standard: Why ROTC, Why service in the Army, What career fields are you interested in, Biggest Success/failure, etc. but wondering if there are any that we might be missing. We have seen the scoring sheet so certainly will gear toward that accordingly also. Thanks!
 
NavyUMO said:
My DS has his AROTC PMS interview this week and was wondering if anyone can shed additional light on questions he might anticipate. I am sure he would anticipate many of the more standard: Why ROTC, Why service in the Army, What career fields are you interested in, Biggest Success/failure, etc. but wondering if there are any that we might be missing. We have seen the scoring sheet so certainly will gear toward that accordingly also. Thanks!
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Years ago (2009) - they also asked... Are you applying to NROTC/AFROTC? Why are you not applying to USMA? Her answers were simple. I want a 'college' experience and I have no interest in the Navy or AF. The other question I recall conveyed to me after the interview was 'tell me about a successful leadership experience'. It really was more conversational than a typical interview.
 
AROTC interviewers are professional soldiers and generally don't try to come up with trick questions or trip up scholarship candidates.

That's why demeanor is important. Establish (and maintain) eye contact, firm handshake, wait until you're asked to be seated, don't slouch in your chair, and speak in a clear, confident voice without mumbling. You will no doubt be asked if you have any questions. Try this one: "What does it take for cadets to succeed and excel in this battalion?"
 
NavyUMO said:
My DS has his AROTC PMS interview this week and was wondering if anyone can shed additional light on questions he might anticipate. I am sure he would anticipate many of the more standard: Why ROTC, Why service in the Army, What career fields are you interested in, Biggest Success/failure, etc. but wondering if there are any that we might be missing. We have seen the scoring sheet so certainly will gear toward that accordingly also. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi there,
I have a similar question about the interview and the type of questions - DS will be sending in applications for AROTC and NROTC-MO next week after we finish college tours (he wanted to tour schools before listing his order of interested schools) ..where can we view a scoring sheet mentioned in your post?
 
My DS had his NROTC-MO interview last week. I pinned-down DS for a little bit of de-briefing about his interview. He said he was interviewed by a Marine Captain and Lieutenant Colonel together at the same time. Some of what they asked included:

1. First, at the beginning before they really started asking questions they went over the different ways a person can become a Marine Officer. E.g. NROTC, PLC.

2. Then, “why do you want to be a Marine.?”

3. “What are the traits of a leader?”

4. “What are the traits of a good follower?”

5. What is “initiative”

He did not go over the entire interview with me.

He said the interview lasted for about an hour and 15 minutes. He said they asked more general, pre-prepared questions rather than questions specifically about his application.

They asked him about how he thought he would do on the PFT. He told them.

Apparently, they told him he is "definitely in the running" for a scholarship. (I believe he is still a longshot because it is so competitive.). He may be a good candidate from our town, but its a huge Country.

DS is a very poised and self-confident (if not a bit cocky) young man who does not get nervous at these kind of interviews so, of course, he thinks he did well. We shall see. He has his PFT in about two weeks. He will keep training and take the PFT again in the fall and he will keep trying to improve his SAT’s too.
 
Interview content and structure vary significantly according to the interviewer. My DS's MO interview lasted no more than 15min. DS's AROTC was over 2 hours. There are a TON of threads on this site discussing interview prep as well as questions that candidates were asked. Good luck.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
My DS had his NROTC-MO interview last week. I pinned-down DS for a little bit of de-briefing about his interview. He said he was interviewed by a Marine Captain and Lieutenant Colonel together at the same time. Some of what they asked included:

1. First, at the beginning before they really started asking questions they went over the different ways a person can become a Marine Officer. E.g. NROTC, PLC.

2. Then, “why do you want to be a Marine.?”

3. “What are the traits of a leader?”

4. “What are the traits of a good follower?”

5. What is “initiative”

He did not go over the entire interview with me.

He said the interview lasted for about an hour and 15 minutes. He said they asked more general, pre-prepared questions rather than questions specifically about his application.

They asked him about how he thought he would do on the PFT. He told them.

Apparently, they told him he is "definitely in the running" for a scholarship. (I believe he is still a longshot because it is so competitive.). He may be a good candidate from our town, but its a huge Country.

DS is a very poised and self-confident (if not a bit cocky) young man who does not get nervous at these kind of interviews so, of course, he thinks he did well. We shall see. He has his PFT in about two weeks. He will keep training and take the PFT again in the fall and he will keep trying to improve his SAT’s too.
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Thank you for passing on this info. It will be very helpful.
 
EEBTTF said:
Interview content and structure vary significantly according to the interviewer. My DS's MO interview lasted no more than 15min. DS's AROTC was over 2 hours. There are a TON of threads on this site discussing interview prep as well as questions that candidates were asked. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
For Army ROTC, PMS interviews seem to vary quite a bit in how long they are. Also, the ROO might sit in on the interview too.

Some Key tips that seem to never go out of style:
  • Dress appropriately for an interview....not a business suit necessarily, but neat, clean and business-like.....and regionally appropriate.
  • Bring a resume (and an extra copy or two).
  • If you are not early, you are late. Be on time!
  • Be aware of recent current events.
  • Don't blurt answers....pause and think first and then present a full complete response.
  • Know something about the Army. Know the basic differences between the branches, and why you are interested in the Army.
  • Be prepared to discuss EC's and how you got involved.
 
For my DD's AF ROTC interview, it was almost 2 hours via Zoom last fall.
 
There are many variables that can go into an interview. My DD went through four different interviews AROTC, AFROTC, NROTC-MO, and USNA Blue/Gold interview.

I would agree that he has certainly started the process early. If he hasn’t already done so, my recommendation is to have your DS practice with someone that will give him honest feedback prior to the actual interviews.

My DD practiced with a family friend, who is a retired Air Force officer prior to her scholarship interviews, and it was a great help. Ultimately, your DD needs to be well prepared, genuine, and present himself well.

I wish him the best.
 
AROTC-dad said:
For Army ROTC, PMS interviews seem to vary quite a bit in how long they are. Also, the ROO might sit in on the interview too.

Some Key tips that seem to never go out of style:
  • Dress appropriately for an interview....not a business suit necessarily, but neat, clean and business-like.....and regionally appropriate.
  • Bring a resume (and an extra copy or two).
  • If you are not early, you are late. Be on time!
  • Be aware of recent current events.
  • Don't blurt answers....pause and think first and then present a full complete response.
  • Know something about the Army. Know the basic differences between the branches, and why you are interested in the Army.
  • Be prepared to discuss EC's and how you got involved.
Click to expand...
Great points and to add one.

- If you don't know something. It's OK to say I don't know. Don't make up answers.
 
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