AROTC Summer Camp Options

runner99

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Mar 23, 2018
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As many have heard, the AROTC accessions process if changing... again. I am currently an MS3 (Class of 2021) that is going to Advanced Camp this coming summer, but will be accessing with the MS2 (Class of 2022) because my engineering degree will take an extra semester to complete. My goal is to branch engineering. My top choices for posts will hopefully increase my chances to be in a construction unit rather than combat or route clearance units. However, at my Corps of Engineers internship, I have spoken to a few officers who believe their time in a combat/Sapper unit was their best job, so I don't think there is a bad option within the engineering branch. What summer camp options would be likely to be the most helpful in the long run of an engineering officer career (and achieve the goals I mentioned even though OML doesn't have as big of an effect on accessions anymore).

AROTC summer camp options:
- CTLT is going to be pretty similar to a lot of the things I've seen at the Corps of Engineers unless I can get into a combat/Sapper unit.
- Air Assault or Airborne School
- Sapper School (I've competed in Ranger Challenge, so I know I have a good fitness level to continue to build off of. I'm not sure if it is too high level of technical skills for a cadet, but I know there have been a few West Point cadets (not sure about ROTC) that have achieved the tab over the past few years. How much will this increase my chance of being in a Sapper unit compared to any other type of unit?)

Scheduling any training along with Advanced Camp is not an issue since I have two summers, but I would prefer to do at least 1 other training opportunity this summer.
 
I’m afraid I have questions for you not answers. DS is in the exact same situation as you. MS3 engineering student who will graduate a semester late. I would love to hear more info on the Corp of Engineering scholarship that I assume you did last summer as I think that might be valuable for him to do. Thanks
 
I’m afraid I have questions for you not answers. DS is in the exact same situation as you. MS3 engineering student who will graduate a semester late. I would love to hear more info on the Corp of Engineering scholarship that I assume you did last summer as I think that might be valuable for him to do. Thanks

Sorry for replying so late, I do not check this website often. There is a Corps of Engineers district office in the city that I go to school at (it's actually only a couple blocks from my host school for ROTC). I applied for the Pathways Internship, which is open to any sophomore-senior civilian engineering student that has above a 2.5 GPA. I work about 8-15 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours a week during breaks just like any other engineering internship. Unlike most private engineering firms' internships, the Corps of Engineers is extremely flexible with the hours I have to miss due to exams or ROTC. I mostly work in my section with civilian professional engineers, but I have had a few opportunities to meet the officers that are project managers (usually Captain or above, active duty and reserve), which has allowed me to learn a lot about the engineering branch. It has definitely helped me solidify my goal of getting a position at the Corps of Engineers as I progress through my career as an officer.

If there is not a Corps of Engineers office in the city where your DS attends school, the Pathways Internship can be offered as a summer position as well. One of the biggest advantages of the Pathways Internship is that it can my considered for merit points for active duty branching, or you can be offered a civilian position upon graduation that has hours that are flexible with Reserve or National Guard drill times. There is also an internship that you can apply for through ROTC where an engineering student with a GPA above 3.0 can spend about 4 weeks shadowing the officers at a Corps of Engineers district.
 
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