Citadel-VMI- V Tech Div 1 athletes

banjoppd

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Is it common for the Div 1 athletes to pursue commissions?

What about football players who need to report in for practice mid summer? What do they do about required military training such as LDAC for AROTC or cruises for NROTC?

I have tried to pull the class profiles for the football teams but that stat is hard to find. I specifically want to know if a football player can earn a commission and degree at the SMCs.
 
Well I know that some Div 1 athletes participate in ROTC programs and earn their commission at regular colleges so I don't see why the couldn't at an SMC. Hell, they manage it at Service Academies! However, it is a rather difficult row to hoe because of all the demands on their time and having to coordinate between the 2 programs. It's important that the coach and his unit understand and are willing to work with him (which is a hurdle they don't face at the academies). I don't think too many folka make the attempt but some do successfully.
 

Do a thread search and you will hit several. This is one from 2010 which hits on a lot of points and questions you may have.
Summary is D1 sports appear more manageable at an academy or Citadel or VMI, where professors, leaders and coaches, all understand the demands and work together. Less so at a pure civilian school, and will require lot of coordination and patience from the PMS, Coach, and cadet/athlete.

Played D3 college lacrosse and did Marine PLC and that was good mix, teammate was NROTC even then he had some bumps, but of course that was back in dark ages of horse drawn field artillery. Good luck.

ROTC and college sports
Discussion in 'ROTC' started by M1Bob, Dec 1, 2010
 
. . . D1 sports appear more manageable at an academy or Citadel or VMI, where professors, leaders and coaches, all understand the demands and work together. . .

I definitely think it depends on the school and its culture. DS is a Rat at VMI on a 4 yr AROTC scholarship, and he "walked on" for football. So far, he and VMI are making it work.
 
Is it common for the Div 1 athletes to pursue commissions?

What about football players who need to report in for practice mid summer? What do they do about required military training such as LDAC for AROTC or cruises for NROTC?

I have tried to pull the class profiles for the football teams but that stat is hard to find. I specifically want to know if a football player can earn a commission and degree at the SMCs.

Banjoppd/Kinnem: Yes Division I Scholarship Athletes do commission and many do well. You will find that athletes in general have more support and mentoring from their coaches and team mates to help them through - even difficult majors like engineering. At The Citadel many of the athletes decide to seek commissions whether active duty or in the National Guard and/or Reserves. I am posting a recent press release by a local engineering firm about one of The Citadel Football players (I have struck his name due to this forum's rules - but I can tell you this individual was a major contributor to The Citadel's Conference winning team this year. And - Kinnmen if you don't mind some mild ribbing - to our once in every 25 year victory over South Carolina this year :)
"Cadet 1st Class XXXXX XXXXX of The Citadel happily gives the thumbs up as he accepts his internship with XXXX for 2016! XXXX is an Electrical Engineering major who will be commissioned as a 2nd LT in the South Carolina National Guard upon graduation. As a cadet, he is a member of Tau Beta Pi (SC Gamma), President of the National Society of Black Engineers Citadel Student Chapter, a Dean's List student (every semester), has been a Gold Star student twice (GPA of 3.7 or above), a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and part of The Citadel's 2015 Southern Conference Championship football team. Welcome to XXXX XXXXX!"
 
Is it common for the Div 1 athletes to pursue commissions?

What about football players who need to report in for practice mid summer? What do they do about required military training such as LDAC for AROTC or cruises for NROTC?

I have tried to pull the class profiles for the football teams but that stat is hard to find. I specifically want to know if a football player can earn a commission and degree at the SMCs.

Banjoppd/Kinnem: Yes Division I Scholarship Athletes do commission and many do well. You will find that athletes in general have more support and mentoring from their coaches and team mates to help them through - even difficult majors like engineering. At The Citadel many of the athletes decide to seek commissions whether active duty or in the National Guard and/or Reserves. I am posting a recent press release by a local engineering firm about one of The Citadel Football players (I have struck his name due to this forum's rules - but I can tell you this individual was a major contributor to The Citadel's Conference winning team this year. And - Kinnmen if you don't mind some mild ribbing - to our once in every 25 year victory over South Carolina this year :)
"Cadet 1st Class XXXXX XXXXX of The Citadel happily gives the thumbs up as he accepts his internship with XXXX for 2016! XXXX is an Electrical Engineering major who will be commissioned as a 2nd LT in the South Carolina National Guard upon graduation. As a cadet, he is a member of Tau Beta Pi (SC Gamma), President of the National Society of Black Engineers Citadel Student Chapter, a Dean's List student (every semester), has been a Gold Star student twice (GPA of 3.7 or above), a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and part of The Citadel's 2015 Southern Conference Championship football team. Welcome to XXXX XXXXX!"


Thank you for the info. My son if he keeps on track will be a recruited football or track athlete at the next level. I knew at the SA's they make it work for the athletes nephew played football at Coast Guard Academy, we have met several of the players from Army and Navy and spoke to the coaching staff. I was wondering about the other SMC if D1 athletics, C of C duties, and ROTC mixed well. My good friend's son dropped his D1 sport his junior year dropped his athletic scholarship and picked up an AROTC scholarship and finished his STEM degree but he went to a traditional co-ed college campus. His son got to the point he had to make a choice and he choose ROTC.
 
VMI running back Derrick Ziglar commissioned today!
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VMI Football's #39 Derrick Ziglar took the ceremonial oath to commission into the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant this afternoon in JM Hall. Congrats!
 
The Citadels kicker is also commissioning next summer into the Army, its a fairly small number that commission of course roughly 40% of the corps as a whole go into the military. The ROTC departments can work with athletes to schedule summer camp around obligations like football practice, it is a challenge because it also means keeping up with academics; Division I football is now a year round sport and most players are on campus all summer taking classes and working out.
 
I will be playing men's soccer for either VMI or The Citadel (have no decided on which yet) and will be majoring in civil engineering. I hope to commission to the Army or Marine Corps and will hopefully be going on an ROTC scholarship. From what I understand, the summer training for sports does not mesh with the ROTC training because, at least for soccer, we do not report until towards the end of the summer break. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I haven't exactly figured all of this out yet myself.

I haven't completely made up my mind as to whether or not I will be playing soccer at the varsity level yet. My main goals are to have a high gpa, to be high on the national OML, and to earn a commission. I haven't decided if soccer is going to make me miss out on too much of the cadet life yet. If I decide not to play soccer, I will probably box at the club level.
 
I cannot speak specifically for soccer but I know at VMI some athletes miss out on various Ratline activities and fall FTX. I think some of the reasoning is scheduling and some is not wanting the athlete to get injured during season. My Rat is not on a sports team there, but in talking with him athletes do miss some activities.
 
I stayed in a room with a soccer player on my overnight since I am looking at playing. There was an RDC workout in the morning that he did not have to participate in. In theory, that sounds great, but I know that I would be missing out on key exercise. I also think that the ratline should be completed in full, so I just don't know. Maybe I will wait till I'm a 3rd.
 
I can't speak specifically to soccer, but I would think it might be difficult to make the team as a sophomore walk on. Seems like most coaches bring most new members in as freshmen. A new sophomore adds a new dynamic. Not saying it can't happen but seems harder. It's hard enough to be a recruited athlete or a walk on as a freshman. Don't throw away that opportunity to play NCAA Div 1 sports if you are being recruited or being offered a preferred walk on spot. You can always decide later it isn't for you. If your heart isn't in it, then don't do it -- but if you love your sport, it can be a great experience. Granted, a lot depends on the coach and on the team. As far as missing things ... If you aren't a starter or on the travel team as a freshman, you can choose not to "fall out" from the RDC experiences. (If you have a home game and are dressing, even if you aren't a listed starter, you should fall out so you will be fresh in case you need to play. After all, you are representing your school!). As far as ROTC, you should be given athletic credit as part of your unit for being a NCAA athlete. You should speak with the coaches at each school and the ROTC unit at each school to see how it works at each school. My DS walked on for football and is having a "full" Rat experience. It is not easy, but he loves VMI, he is doing well in academics, loves AROTC and loves being on the football team.
 
That would make sense. I have been offered a walk on spot, but I'm just not sure if I should. Decisions decisions
 
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