Convincing my parents

Jcleppe said:
I have to say that I am not all that versed in the SMC's.

So a cadet at a SMC can participate in a ROTC program for 4 years and elect not to commission, I did not know that. Do these cadets attend LDAC for the Army or OCS for the NROTC Marine Option, at what point do they decline a commission. Again I am not up to speed with SMC's but it seems like a big expense to send a cadet to LDAC or other training when they have no intention of commissioning.

Learn something new everyday.
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They don't go to LDAC/OCS/Summer Cruise/Field Training.

Everyone at an SMC (or at least Citadel/VMI) takes 4 years of ROTC class though. Only commissionees do the other stuff.
 
Not to completely hijack the thread, but at some schools (my son's included) anyone can take the last two years of ROTC classes (MSIII-IV) and earn a minor in Military Science. There are commissioning and non-commissioning options.

From the catalog:
Students may select Military Science as a minor in one of two ways. The first option (non-commissioning) consists of 18 semester hours of study: Military Science III (MSCI 3110 and MSCI 3120); Military Science IV (MSCI 4110 and MSCI 4120); Military History (MSCI 4582) OR War in the Modern World (HIST 3940); and World War II in Europe (HIST 4927) OR World War II in the Pacific (HIST 4937).

The second option (commissioning) consists of 25 semester hours of study: Military Science III (MSCI 3110 and MSCI 3120); Military Science IV (MSCI 4110 and MSCI 4120); Military History (MSCI 4582) OR War in the Modern World (HIST 3940); Leadership Development and Assessment (MSCI 4580); and Physical Fitness Instructor (MSCI 3217) for 4 hours.
 
Full Metal Bulldog said:
They don't go to LDAC/OCS/Summer Cruise/Field Training.

Everyone at an SMC (or at least Citadel/VMI) takes 4 years of ROTC class though. Only commissionees do the other stuff.
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Yeah, same at UNG. Non-commissioning cadets can still earn a leadership minor and take 4 years of ROTC classes and participate fully in the school's Corps of Cadets with the same access to all the main leadership roles that commissioning cadets can compete for. A non-commissioning cadet who has earned the right to list the PMS at the school as a reference would have been a pretty darn good leader, and someone you might very well want working in your business. <---- I think that was the business owner's point.
 
I really appreciate all the responses. I still don't feel that my parents like my decision, but they've definitely come closer to accepting it. I think they feel comfortable knowing that I won't formally commit until the beginning of my Sophomore year, even with the scholarship. I'm really looking forward to beginning the next 4 years, and I'm sure I'll be given a lot more information which can help me decide if I would want to commission reserve or active duty. Either way, my parents have been less hostile.
 
Glad to hear it. Best of luck to you next year.

Be sure to come back and ask any questions and search this forum for information as you progress, there are a lot of people to help and resources on this forum.
 
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