Still holding out hope, but working on firming up plans B-E. If my DS wants to pursue the ROTC program what's the best way to do that? He's been accepted to Virginia Tech and a few other schools who I have heard have great programs. We just know very little about ROTC. Thanks!
If appointment is not received, what's the best way to pursue ROTC?
- Thread starter Vandyfan
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ROTC is a great way to prepare as a re-applicant, from what I’ve heard, or to earn a commission if not. I would recommend you read the thread, “NROTC Scholarship Reflection” which is under ROTC and it should be on the first page of threads. Even if your DS doesn’t want to reapply to an academy, I believe reading this mans story will be a great inspiration. If your DS wanted to get an ROTC scholarship to pay for school and continue with ROTC, that can also be done by participating in the ROTC program freshman year (not on scholarship).
If he's going to Va Tech then he will have the choice of Army, Air Force, or Navy/Marine ROTC, so that's choice one. How important is a scholarship? If it's very important, then a consideration will be his major, because that might affect likelihood of a scholarship depending on the service. Also, of course, is his interest in pursuing a particular military specialty. If he wants to be a fixed-wing pilot (for example), then Army probably isn't a good choice. OTOH, if he wants to fly helos, then Army might be a really good choice. Or if he wants to be an infantry officer, well, it's Army or Marines. So those are all questions to answer.
Once he's done that, then I imagine (and I base this on how things work at Texas A&M, which is also a Senior Military College with a Corps of Cadets within the student body) he just needs to inform that Corps at VT that he wants to join, and they'll take it from there, and part of that enrolling process will be to sign up for whichever ROTC he wants to join.
One other suggestion. If he really doesn't have much idea what he wants to do other than serve, then I'd suggest going with the service that has the most diverse set of options. I tend to think that's the Army, but others might disagree. In any event, I'd suggest he look at the array of things all the services all do and consider what appeals to him.
Hope that helps.
Once he's done that, then I imagine (and I base this on how things work at Texas A&M, which is also a Senior Military College with a Corps of Cadets within the student body) he just needs to inform that Corps at VT that he wants to join, and they'll take it from there, and part of that enrolling process will be to sign up for whichever ROTC he wants to join.
One other suggestion. If he really doesn't have much idea what he wants to do other than serve, then I'd suggest going with the service that has the most diverse set of options. I tend to think that's the Army, but others might disagree. In any event, I'd suggest he look at the array of things all the services all do and consider what appeals to him.
Hope that helps.
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Montana State Army ROTC
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Army? Navy? Air Force?
If Army- did DS apply for the national scholarship board?
If not- call the recruiting officer (ROO) at the school you want to go to and say “hey, I’m coming to your school and I’m fired ip to be there.” They’ll hook you up with everything you need.
If not Army- same thing applies.
If Army- did DS apply for the national scholarship board?
If not- call the recruiting officer (ROO) at the school you want to go to and say “hey, I’m coming to your school and I’m fired ip to be there.” They’ll hook you up with everything you need.
If not Army- same thing applies.
ProudDad17
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Has DS applied for any of the ROTC scholarships? If not, it is too late to apply this year, but each branch has a process for interested students to participate without a scholarship and a way to earn scholarships while in college. I'm most familiar with Navy, but I believe all branches also have a way to participate and commission without gaining a scholarship. The process is different for each branch and also varies school to school. Recommend your DS look at the ROTC pages of all the services he is interested in to understand their programs and look up the applicable ROTC websites for the schools he is interested in and also reach out to those units for more information and to express his interest. He's getting started a bit late in the game, but there is still time to make it happen.
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Contact the unit's at the college he plans to attend. Each unit has a different procedure for non-scholarship cadets and midshipmen, which will include a physical similar to a high school athletic physical. I suggest reaching out in April before cadre get too busy with commissioning and go on leave or summer assignment afterward.
Very Petty
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I am probably a little bias to Virginia Tech, considering that I am here right now. If your DS decides to come to Virginia Tech, he will absolutely love it. If he decides to come here he will have to be in the Corps of Cadets, which is a great program that prepares cadets for their responsibilities as an officer.
We have some of the best ROTC units in the country. The NROTC program has 6 companies with about 300 MIDN in the program. Virginia tech is a solid plan B.
We have some of the best ROTC units in the country. The NROTC program has 6 companies with about 300 MIDN in the program. Virginia tech is a solid plan B.