DS Junior- help getting started?

serviceaboveAll

serviceaboveAll

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Feb 16, 2017
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I'm amazed at how much I have learned reading all your posts on SAF, so thank you to all that contribute and share. The wisdom & experiences from you and your DS/DDs is invaluable and SAF has become part of my daily routine. I learned a ton about the SAs but I still know very little about the ROTC process. DS is a junior, applied & attending NASS & Boys State, has started lining up teachers & coaches for recommendations, keeping up grades, leadership, & ECs- so doing what he needs to do for SAs. He'd also like to apply for ROTC. DS is attending MOCs academy day this spring. Will he learn more about ROTC there? Or can anyone suggest anything he should be doing now? Possibly explain process? I see posts that say their DS/DD heard from 1st board, 2nd board... not sure what these mean? Many thanks in advance for sharing any guidance or feedback:)
 
As the retired NROTC commander in our area told us: Apply right when the process opens so as to be able to hit as many boards as possible. Plus, the competition is less in the early board because most high school seniors (as high school senior are prone to do), wait until the last minute to get everything done.
 
unkown1961 said:
As the retired NROTC commander in our area told us: Apply right when the process opens so as to be able to hit as many boards as possible. Plus, the competition is less in the early board because most high school seniors (as high school senior are prone to do), wait until the last minute to get everything done.
Click to expand...

Great advice!
 
DS is in his 2nd year of NROTC, and submitted his application at the start of his senior year (Sep '14), had his interview, via Skype, on a Friday a couple of weeks later, and was offered a spot as an ISR 72 hours later. I would definitely advocate for getting everything together, and submitted as early as possible.
 
Like bucktheadsdad posted, my daughter submitted her NROTC app in July/Aug, interviewed in Augist, and was awarded an ISR the first week of September. That was a great relief to know that the ISR was in her backpocket as she applied to AFROTC and to the colleges. She knew we could afford to have her go wherever she got admitted. In the end, she's declined NROTC and choosing AFROTC though.
On a side note of prepping for college, have your son complete the Common App and the essays as soon as they open up for next year.
I didn't see any mention of ACT and SAT tests. Start taking these now so your son has the chance to take them a 2nd or 3rd time to get the scores up. And don't forget the SAT Subject tests that some schools require.
Good luck!
 
If you have some target schools nearby it may be worth a trip to visit the ROTC recruiting officer a the unit you are interested in. It does not count as the official PMS interview, but it can put you at the head of the line... Make sure you contact them first as most of the Officers and NCO's running the program have duties at the respective summer training programs.
 
Thank you all for your input! We will take this information and start looking. I'm hoping we can start to narrow down a list by summer. We will definitely start to reach out to local recruiting office, too.
 
The application for juniors in their 2nd semester of HS opened on April 1st. Here is the link:
http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/apply.html

DS1 didn't apply until January of Sr year. He had an ISR (immediate scholarship reservation), so his process was different.
DS2 completed application in April of junior year and completed interview and fitness assessment by June. Everything was complete by 1st Boards end of August. Take your time on the essay question. Be sure to have leadership activities and varsity sports. Score well on the ACT or SAT, regardless of what the website says is a minimum, a high score makes a difference
 
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