End of First Year at VMI

easter2 said:
One of my main pieces of advice is for your DS to attend church and search out a host family. Most churches in the area are well aware and equipped to be a sanctuary on Sundays for Rats esp...having someone locally that acts as a family is a wonderful resource...I could go on but PM me if you ever have any questions or just need a shoulder...it is tough on the parents as well as the Rat
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I concur completely... The day away from the Post with a host family helped DS a great deal. It was also fairly consistent that he called while with the host family on Sunday or before church services started a local would slip him a cell phone in the parking lot which of course made us very happy.
 
Goarmymom said:
That is some great advice! He is running a lot and working out. I like the advice for the short term accomplishments and will definitely pass it on - and we'd better get that book quickly! He is going to STP, so there's not much time left. Right now DS does have the attitude of "never give up" but I know once reality hits, that attitude might be harder to keep intact, but I hope not. I am so excited for him, but I dread sending him off - he's my baby. :frown: But at least we're only 3 hours from VMI.
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There are several VMI families out your way. While i know one cadet is graduating and commissioning next week, I do believe his mom told me a passing that his rat this year was also from their area.
We are close by too.
Its excellent that your son is going to STP - it will be unvaluable head start. Traditionally about 50% incoming class does STP, so its possible without it, but soooo worth it.
Just to pass along information I have learned over the years - VMI is one of the colleges that has agreement with Dept of ARMY - if a cadet gets
a recommedation from ARMY unit there, he is assured a commission - so if the commission is the big prize, he will be at a great place to achieve it.
You should be receiving more information from VMI - one thing will be something from the parent council - you can sign yourself to be contacted by a parent - this will give you a direct avenue to someone who has been in your shoes and can give you information, point you in direction for info, whatever. My son is finishing his 2nd class year (junior yr), I am happy to answer any questions or listen - please feel free to contact me if you wish.
larrys mom
 
larry2013 said:
There are several VMI families out your way. While i know one cadet is graduating and commissioning next week, I do believe his mom told me a passing that his rat this year was also from their area.
We are close by too.
Its excellent that your son is going to STP - it will be unvaluable head start. Traditionally about 50% incoming class does STP, so its possible without it, but soooo worth it.
Just to pass along information I have learned over the years - VMI is one of the colleges that has agreement with Dept of ARMY - if a cadet gets
a recommedation from ARMY unit there, he is assured a commission - so if the commission is the big prize, he will be at a great place to achieve it.
You should be receiving more information from VMI - one thing will be something from the parent council - you can sign yourself to be contacted by a parent - this will give you a direct avenue to someone who has been in your shoes and can give you information, point you in direction for info, whatever. My son is finishing his 2nd class year (junior yr), I am happy to answer any questions or listen - please feel free to contact me if you wish.
larrys mom
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it's more than an agreement, it's federal law. 10 USC 2111a. Its complicated. See this thread

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showpost.php?p=211034&postcount=1
 
pennak said:
it's more than an agreement, it's federal law. 10 USC 2111a. Its complicated. See this thread

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showpost.php?p=211034&postcount=1
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THANK YOU for providing exact info - I remember those first days like it was just yesterday. I also know that all scholarships and contracts are getting tighter, but if commissioning is the prime goal - just thought since it was ARMY, that info is vital to have. I had hoped one of you all would step up and add the info - my gratitude, larrys mom
 
The operative phrase in the law is guaranteed Active duty "if recommended by the Professor of Military Science". He won't recommend if he thinks that you are likely to be a tool as a 2LT, but he isn't bound by your performance at LDAC as long as you successfully complete it. But-what the PMS isn't in control of is branch and assignment- both of which are functions of where they are on the OML- of which 40% is performance at LDAC. So while you have more guarantees to go on AD coming out of a Senior Military College , you may do so in a branch that you have little interest in being in if you are way down in the OML.
 
Goarmymom said:
Well hi neighbor! We ARE pretty close. It stinks that you are so close to VMI yet have to be out-of-state. :thumbdown:
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Thanks. Good to remember when transportation needs roll around. PM sometime convenient if you want to exchange contact infomation.

As to being out of state, that is roughly $20,000 a year extra (above and beyond in-state) worth of stink!! Ugh. :thumbdown::thumbdown:
 
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bruno said:
The operative phrase in the law is guaranteed Active duty "if recommended by the Professor of Military Science". He won't recommend if he thinks that you are likely to be a tool as a 2LT, but he isn't bound by your performance at LDAC as long as you successfully complete it. But-what the PMS isn't in control of is branch and assignment- both of which are functions of where they are on the OML- of which 40% is performance at LDAC. So while you have more guarantees to go on AD coming out of a Senior Military College , you may do so in a branch that you have little interest in being in if you are way down in the OML.
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From what I can tell after looking into it rather exhaustively, Bruno is completely correct in this. In other words, you still have to work your butt off and do well. Other than guranteeing ROTC and NROTC at VMI (no small thing politically), the statute does nothing for my kid who wants a Marine commission. Same for Air Force and Navy.
 
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Goarmymom said:
We're in Northern Va - Loudoun County. Where in MD are you?
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Goarmymom - you know we are one town away. My wife and I could meet with you guys this summer sometime and give you our perspective of being Rat/4th class parents.

FYI - there are at least 2 if not 3 LCHS Seniors going to VMI in your DS' class. That will be helpful for carpooling when they come home at Thanksgiving and Christmas. After Breakout, they can ride with upper class. So, lots of close VMI connections to you and your DS.
 
pennak said:
Thanks. Good to remember when transportation needs roll around. PM sometime convenient if you want to exchange contact infomation.

As to being out of state, that is roughly $20,000 a year extra (above and beyond in-state) worth of stink!! Ugh. :thumbdown::thumbdown:
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Thanks pennak! It appears that we have lots of VMIers in the area. Perhaps there are several of us that could carpool together.
 
Bird85 said:
Goarmymom - you know we are one town away. My wife and I could meet with you guys this summer sometime and give you our perspective of being Rat/4th class parents.

FYI - there are at least 2 if not 3 LCHS Seniors going to VMI in your DS' class. That will be helpful for carpooling when they come home at Thanksgiving and Christmas. After Breakout, they can ride with upper class. So, lots of close VMI connections to you and your DS.
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Hey, I was going to pm you. I would love to get together will you all - maybe before STP, because after that things get hairy. I think there is also at least one senior that I know of at SBHS who is going to VMI. So we should be in good shape! :biggrin:
 
pennak said:
From what I can tell after looking into it rather exhaustively, Bruno is completely correct in this. In other words, you still have to work your butt off and do well. Other than guranteeing ROTC and NROTC at VMI (no small thing politically), the statute does nothing for my kid who wants a Marine commission. Same for Air Force and Navy.
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Maybe there is something extremely different about VMI, but I don't understand why your kid can't commission as a Marine. I think branch, in the above is more a reference to MOS. NROTC has a Marine Option program. The Marine Option kids go through different PT and other training than the Navy kids. Also, the academic requirements are very different. I expect that anyone who participates in the Marine Option would never be able to commission as a Naval Officer but only as a Marine. I'm actually curious as to whether I'm missing something here, for my own education if nothing else.
 
kinnem said:
Maybe there is something extremely different about VMI, but I don't understand why your kid can't commission as a Marine. I think branch, in the above is more a reference to MOS. NROTC has a Marine Option program. The Marine Option kids go through different PT and other training than the Navy kids. Also, the academic requirements are very different. I expect that anyone who participates in the Marine Option would never be able to commission as a Naval Officer but only as a Marine. I'm actually curious as to whether I'm missing something here, for my own education if nothing else.
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I believe that poster was trying to explain about the relationship VMI has with the DEPT OF ARMY - not DEPT OF DEFENSE - (or other branches)
This relationship does have a provision regarding commissioning ARMY - since the relationship is with DEPT OF ARMY - it does NOT do anything for the other branches. I think that's what the poster was talking about -
That said, VMI does have the other services and a cadet can receive a commission from one of them. However, in the current climate, scholarships and contracted (side load - whatever you call it) are getting harder to acquire - so the gpa, PT scores, etc keep rising for those awarded one. It is possible for a cadet to commission Navy, Marine, Air Force, and I believe now even Coast Guard from VMI - just getting tougher.
Yes there is a difference of requirements for NAVY vs MARINE commissioning - the Navy midn must complete CALC, PHYSICs, regardless of their major requirements. I was told my son's freshman year, as a Navy scholarship kid that he could apply to change to MARINE if he later wanted to, that was possible, but to go the other way was much more difficult, because of the required courses. The Marine scholarship MIDN I know currently have majors all over the place - from ENG toHISTORY - all the NAVY MIDN are all ENGINEERING - CIVIL, MECHANICAL, or ELECTRICAL/COMPUTING -
I hope this helps, larrys mom
 
Thanks for all of the info in this thread. I'm not sure if I want to know more - now I'm really getting nervous - especially since we live in France. How can we help him find a host family ? I need contact the Parent's council ! I wonder if (how) I could arrange to set up a phone plan and phone so that our DS can phone home. I would want to be sure that he could somehow contact us...anytime. Thanks
 
marjorieli said:
Thanks for all of the info in this thread. I'm not sure if I want to know more - now I'm really getting nervous - especially since we live in France. How can we help him find a host family ? I need contact the Parent's council ! I wonder if (how) I could arrange to set up a phone plan and phone so that our DS can phone home. I would want to be sure that he could somehow contact us...anytime. Thanks
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A host family for Sundays is something that they will find just by going to any of the local churches regardless of denomination. Once they get there(to church), the get connected to the families that are willing to adopt a Rat. The church members wait with their cars and vans on Sunday mornings on Post and the Rats basically just hitch a ride to Church. The churches all pretty much have outreach ministries to VMI and on matriculation day they had a tables set up so you could sign up with whatever denomination you are interested in if you want. My DS didn't put his name down for any that day because he intended on going to church on Post, but ended up with a host family the second week there off Post. It isn't anything that you arrange in advance.

Also ref contacting your son.. He will not be allowed to use his cell phone for quite a while unless his Dyke allows him use it while in his room but your son can take his Lap Top with him to his host families house.. DS could message us on Sundays and even Skype occasionally but off Post only prior to break out.
 
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FTX is over and Happy Mothers day

"The weekend from Hell Mom.. We froze at night and sweated all day". Glad it is done..It solidifies the fact that I have no desire to be a Navy SEAL.. God Bless those guys,, I'm going to eat and take a nap until Parade practice". By the way Happy Mothers day."

Partial conversation with DS this morning:yllol:
 
Thanks for the info - I'll pass on the info to our DS....lovely Mother's day message !
 
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