Contracted MS3 Considering Disenrollment

I just find it interesting that he doesn't like one other cadet or even people from West Point. I would have to assume that people who want to becomes officers in the Army or Marines have a certain type of personality. On the other hand, everyone is different and I find it hard to believe there isn't one person he likes. I am not talking about being best friends, but the way he says it, he cant stand being with any of them. There is that told saying that "If you think everyone around you is crazy, maybe it is you who is crazy." I would have to imagine that if he cant handle dealing with his fellow cadets, he is going to have the same issue when goes to work n the real world. The other question is why did he got to Army ROTC with a aeronautical engineering degree when that would fit better with the Air Force. As other have said, it will be better for everyone if he leaves although it would seem that if it was guaranteed that he could do reserves, it would be a great way to finish, not have to repay and yet be able to still have a civilian life
 
AJC said:
OP, I would say; drop out and pay back the money. Your heart is not in it. Last thing your troops would need is half-hearted leadership.
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Absolutely the best course of action. Move on to something else. The Army would be a disaster for you and for those serving with you.
 
I appreciate all of your responses (both positive and negative.) There are of course going to be lots of different perspectives on a matter like this; I am just going to try to find what is best for me. There is a lot more to my situation that I could elaborate on to help my case but that would cause this thread to go down a completely different route. I've gotten some useful perspectives from here, which is ultimately what I wanted. Thank you to all who have responded.
 
djames said:
I appreciate all of your responses (both positive and negative.) There are of course going to be lots of different perspectives on a matter like this; I am just going to try to find what is best for me. There is a lot more to my situation that I could elaborate on to help my case but that would cause this thread to go down a completely different route. I've gotten some useful perspectives from here, which is ultimately what I wanted. Thank you to all who have responded.
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You are right, your decision, and your consequences, because there are always good or bad consequences with any decision. Good luck to you!
 
djames said:
I appreciate all of your responses (both positive and negative.) There are of course going to be lots of different perspectives on a matter like this; I am just going to try to find what is best for me. There is a lot more to my situation that I could elaborate on to help my case but that would cause this thread to go down a completely different route. I've gotten some useful perspectives from here, which is ultimately what I wanted. Thank you to all who have responded.
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Have you looked into the Ordnance Corps man? Especially after a few years in and you get into broadening assignments? Some opportunities to use your major there. Look up Redstone Arsenal to begin with. I'm a current Ordnance Officer and I can tell you that there are definitely some scenarios I've observed where an engineering degree would come in handy.

That being said, your first job is to be a leader. An Army Officer is a different career title than Engineer for a reason. Doesn't mean an engineering degree doesn't come in handy to help figure stuff out in the field, but I've learned from my last JRTC rotation there's a reason even my Field Maintenance Company has plenty of copies of FM 3-21.8 laying around.
 
Any update on your situation? Going through something similar and any information would be a huge help.
 
gatoraderd said:
Any update on your situation? Going through something similar and any information would be a huge help.
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I decided that I will wait until the end of the summer to make my decision. I have a current internship set up for this summer with my dream company, and if at the end of the summer I decide that it is the career path I wish to follow, then I will drop out of ROTC and agree to pay back my scholarship. If I go through the internship and decide that it is not truly the route I wish to pursue, I will stay in ROTC and fully commit to becoming an Army Officer. Also, I don't want to come off as having the military be my "backup." My internship is in the defense industry where I will be working on DoD projects, and if I feel I can better support our nation through that route then that is exactly what I will do.

In regards to the original purpose of this thread, I still am not certain what exactly would be required to pay back aside from the tuition. I know a cadet in my program was disenrolled for failing a drug test last year and he had to pay back ONLY tuiton, and with 0% interest rate at that. He pocketed all textbook and monthly stipend allowances. Another cadet in my program disenrolled earlier this semester for reasons similar to why I would and he is expecting the same results, but his disenrollment is still in the works so he is still not entirely certain what he will have to pay back.
 
@djames I don't know you...but if you want to work in the defense industry--during your internship this summer talk to the men and women who work there--and look at their bosses--and the heads of their companies. Did they serve as officers? If you want to lead and succeed, then you should know that in defense it is about more than just college tuition.
Good luck to you this summer and in your decision making process.
 
I'd like to address the idea of "not using your degree." My perspective comes as an Army wife of 24 years. My husband is retiring in 50 days (!!!) after more than 25 years of service. He was a 4 year scholarship winner and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was commissioned into Aviation. His understanding of aircraft dynamics, etc that he learned in college while working toward his degree gave him a learning advantage over some of the other flight school students. His learning curve was definitely less steep. His ability to solve complex problems in addition to his aerospace/flight experience helped him be a strong leader while he was a Company Commander for an Apache Maintenance Company and while working directly with maintenance test pilots. His recommendations based on the understanding of aircraft frames led to a DoD level change in the way helicopters are deployed into war zones. His military successes led him to being chosen to attend the Naval Postgraduate school as a full time student for 2+ years (while of course still being paid his regular pay and benefits) to earn a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and resulted in his thesis being published by Janes Magazine. His extensive knowledge of aircraft dynamics and his experience as a pilot was critical when he was working as an Army Aircraft Accident Investigator for the Combat Readiness Center. He was then placed in the Acquisition Corps and has spent the last 12 years working directly with industry partners (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc) on DoD contracted programs that have been vital to Army Aviation and the Warfighter. Now, as he is getting ready to transition to the civilian workforce, that degree that "he never used" is a selling point for future employers. That, along with his experience flying, working with industry, and putting everything he had into his military career (starting in ROTC) means that he already has several job opportunities in the wings and just has to decide which one he will accept. He still won't be working as an Aeronautical Engineer... but that degree has been invaluable to him.
 
OP, please keep in mind that you have virtually no input regarding the repayment or service commitment. You may fall in love with your civilian job / internship and want to pursue it but know you may have to serve 2 years or more instead of writing a check. The Army has increased recruitment and are still not meeting their goals , that does not bode well for repayment. Best of luck. I will say great job on waiting to pull the trigger , that show maturity! [emoji1303]
 
inSANEmom said:
I'd like to address the idea of "not using your degree." My perspective comes as an Army wife of 24 years. My husband is retiring in 50 days (!!!) after more than 25 years of service. He was a 4 year scholarship winner and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was commissioned into Aviation. His understanding of aircraft dynamics, etc that he learned in college while working toward his degree gave him a learning advantage over some of the other flight school students. His learning curve was definitely less steep. His ability to solve complex problems in addition to his aerospace/flight experience helped him be a strong leader while he was a Company Commander for an Apache Maintenance Company and while working directly with maintenance test pilots. His recommendations based on the understanding of aircraft frames led to a DoD level change in the way helicopters are deployed into war zones. His military successes led him to being chosen to attend the Naval Postgraduate school as a full time student for 2+ years (while of course still being paid his regular pay and benefits) to earn a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and resulted in his thesis being published by Janes Magazine. His extensive knowledge of aircraft dynamics and his experience as a pilot was critical when he was working as an Army Aircraft Accident Investigator for the Combat Readiness Center. He was then placed in the Acquisition Corps and has spent the last 12 years working directly with industry partners (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc) on DoD contracted programs that have been vital to Army Aviation and the Warfighter. Now, as he is getting ready to transition to the civilian workforce, that degree that "he never used" is a selling point for future employers. That, along with his experience flying, working with industry, and putting everything he had into his military career (starting in ROTC) means that he already has several job opportunities in the wings and just has to decide which one he will accept. He still won't be working as an Aeronautical Engineer... but that degree has been invaluable to him.
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"Holy Sikorski, inSANEmom."

Given inSANEmom's post and the fact that you will be surrounded this summer by folks with all kinds of association with the Army (Veterans, Reservists, Guardsmen, probably some active duty) there is very little to add.

One thing I would add, however, is that in a large corporation you will start at the bottom and be responsible only for your own work. As a newly minted 2Lt, in the right branch, you will be managing people from the get go and be responsible for their work as well as your own. The management experience after 4-5 years will count for a whole lot when either entering the private sector or re-entering University as a graduate student.

Full Metal Bulldog said:
An Army Officer is a different career title than Engineer for a reason. Doesn't mean an engineering degree doesn't come in handy to help figure stuff out in the field, but I've learned from my last JRTC rotation there's a reason even my Field Maintenance Company has plenty of copies of FM 3-21.8 laying around.
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I have no idea what FMB just said, but his attitude says it all. There are plenty of opportunities to use critical thinking skills and broaden your skill set. Of course, getting to blow things up would improve anyone's attitude.

My DS is a Signal 1Lt who as a STEM majoring MS 3 and 4 occasionally wondered the same thing as you. He saw friends walk into sexy jobs, unshaven and in street clothes. His approach was, "I'm not paying anything back to anybody, so I'm giving it everything I've got." He is still shocked, 18 months into it, at how often his critical thinking skills are sought out by smart people from whom he can learn. This is how you fill your bag of skills. Somehow, I can't visualize this happening 18 months after your first paycheck at Northrup Grumman.

@djames you seem to be taking a mature honest look at your future, so I wish you the best of luck. Never underestimate how little uncertainty can be a very mind opening and motivating.
 
Yikes, I'm going to say, stay in ROTC. Go into the Army and learn to lead soldiers. Your civilian peers will likely not have the benefit of this experience and you will. Just think about how much you will learn, grow and mature as a person and you can carry this into your field when you leave the Army. Can you just imagine how impressed your future employer will be with this golden nugget on your resume? You will set yourself apart from all others! While I appreciate you have put a lot of time into your major, you still have a lot to learn that has nothing to do with aero engineering.
 
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