Cortramid mandatory

[Johnascottie]

Is attending cortramid mandatory? My school's academic calendar prevents me from doing cortramid west (I'm on west coast), and I would have to do cortramid east, which is mid July to mid August. The problem is that that would stop me from doing a long term internship over the summer. I had been planning on interning with the state department at an embassy abroad. Would I be able to opt out of cortramid, especially if I were doing something strategic with another branch of the govt?

 

[Oldsalt]

It is not unheard of to miss CORTRAMID, but it is highly unlikely for the reason you are giving.
The view of the Navy is CORTRAMID is your summer internship. You can do another one, but on a not to interfere basis.
OS

 

[kinnem]

Agree with Oldsalt.

 

[Kronk]

What the ROTC program says at my school.... "Are you trying to be an officer or not? You should probably put the career you're contracted to first."

 

[Capt MJ]

CORTRAMID - Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen.

This is another opportunity to learn about your chosen path, gain more professional knowledge and to better prepare to be a junior officer. The minute you get to the Fleet or Corps, you will be pitted competitively against peers whether in training pipeline or regular duty assignment, many of whom will be just out of their immersion experience and broader training background at a service academy. They have the advantage in that respect, and while your brains and drive and different college experience will carry you far, don't trade away anything that helps set you up for success in the career that comes first after graduation.

In business, there is a well-known saying about success: "First things first." Figure out what your first priority is; align actions to that. Evaluate your options as to how they advance your near-term readiness for a commission. That would be MY first thing. It may not be yours. I am simply suggesting taking the short, mid and long-term views here. Consider how choices and requests on your part reflect on the professional reputation you are building.

 

[AJC]

Think of it as the first time of many to come where you could not do what you want because you had to get underway.

 

[bcal]

It is extremely hard to miss CORTRAMID for your reason, however, it is possible for your Second and First Class cruises. I know several mids who missed their Second Class cruise in order to take summer classes or to do internships. The First Class cruise is a commissioning requirement, but it is possible to be put in for a winter cruise over the winter break of your junior or senior year to replace the typical summer cruise. This past winter, as a junior, I was able to go on a winter cruise that replaced my First Class cruise I would have done this summer in order to do an internship. You may be locked into a SWO cruise, however, as they did not offer sub, aviation, SEAL, or EOD cruises over winter. Talk to your advisor early and often if this is something you want to do.