Can You Take A Semester Off from ROTC?

[AROTC-dad]

I think it is a big mistake.

It is his decision.

However you should ask him to think about how he will feel ten years from now. Will he have regrets over quitting and not pushing through the adversity to become an officer? If he still says no regrets, then perhaps it would be time to let him chart his own course.

 

[ProudDad17]

It may be a mistake, but at this point it is his to make. One of the toughest things to do is sit back and let our kids chart their course when we don't agree. At this point I try not to give advice unless I am asked for it. Instead, I try to ask questions designed to make him think about things and trust that he will figure it out. Not an easy thing to do. The good thing is he is deciding whether or not to continue ROTC. If he drops it and later decides it was a mistake and he wants to pursue a commission, there may still be a path to it. He's not deciding whether or not to try crystal meth or heroin.

 

[Torero_dad]

Jumping into the middle or end of the trail but @ProudDad17 jogged a personal memory: "assigned mentors" have been less effective in my personal experience. You need to find the person who resonates with you. That may mean having both an "assigned" an "informal" mentor. Where the informal mentor finds the root cause and effects change

 

[MichaelAZ]

Plus they need some down time. I mean if all 24 hours in a day are scheduled between, school, studying, Rotc, Guard, eating, bathing and sleep, you are going to have one unhappy person.

Totally agree!!

 

[MichaelAZ]

It may be a mistake, but at this point it is his to make. One of the toughest things to do is sit back and let our kids chart their course when we don't agree. At this point I try not to give advice unless I am asked for it. Instead, I try to ask questions designed to make him think about things and trust that he will figure it out. Not an easy thing to do. The good thing is he is deciding whether or not to continue ROTC. If he drops it and later decides it was a mistake and he wants to pursue a commission, there may still be a path to it. He's not deciding whether or not to try crystal meth or heroin.

Understand. Yes, it is tough to stay out of our kids' lives! I told my DS that though we feel it is a mistake, we will support whatever decision he makes.

 

[MichaelAZ]

It is his decision.

However you should ask him to think about how he will feel ten years from now. Will he have regrets over quitting and not pushing through the adversity to become an officer? If he still says no regrets, then perhaps it would be time to let him chart his own course.

Yes, it is his decision. I asked him where he envision being in 5 and 10 years from now. He says he wants to be a Researcher in 10 years. He wants to earn a Ph.D in Bioengineering and research cures for cancer. Excellent goals, and that is fine. But he will certainly deploy within the next 3 years if he is not contracted (he should graduate in Jun 2022). He loves the Army; was Honor Grad and he takes life very seriously ... But now feels he doesn't mind deploying, even if it means graduating in 2023 or 2024.

And as I am writing this I am suddenly realizing that my DS will be just fine -- Whatever he selects to do, he will be fine.

 

[MichaelAZ]

Hello All -- My DS decided (totally on his own) to continue with Army ROTC. I was very surprised when I saw he had registered for BOTH the Class and Lab; I asked him what made him change his mind and he simply said that he thought about it and decided to stick it out. OK! I am proud of him!! This next semester my DS is taking 15 hrs, so that will help too. Also, he enters the Sophomore year in the Spring and that is making him feel better.

Have a question -- The ROTC Cadre 0-4 who insisted (in writing) that my DS should have "chosen" to do the ROTC FTX over going to Drill with his Army National Guard Unit, called the ANG unit telling a 1LT that the ROTC FTX takes priority over the Drill ... The 1LT apparently told the 0-4 that it wasn't so and then called my DS to let him know that the 0-4 is a "@#&% idiot ..." Does anyone else but me see anything wrong with this? My DS is at drill this weekend ...

 

[kinnem]

Glad to hear the boy worked it out. I recommend he get the written regs on the NG training taking precedence over ROTC and get it to the O-4. Probably preface it with "I think there is a misunderstanding that I want to straighten out" vs "Here's the rule and I think your incorrect". Clearly this has to get worked out between the two or even three of them so there is no future friction.

 

[MichaelAZ]

Glad to hear the boy worked it out. I recommend he get the written regs on the NG training taking precedence over ROTC and get it to the O-4. Probably preface it with "I think there is a misunderstanding that I want to straighten out" vs "Here's the rule and I think your incorrect". Clearly this has to get worked out between the two or even three of them so there is no future friction.

My DS already talked to the 0-4, who apparently said he didn't care what the rules may be; he insisted that the ROTC FTX is more important than the Drill with the ANG unit. Then he said he would talk to the unit.

Looking at the issue from a different angle, I am wondering if, in his own way, the 0-4 may be "trying to help" my DS? I am saying that because participation in the FTX is a must do to be contracted.

Any thoughts on the matter?