January 4, 2011 AROTC Board

[Ohio2015Parent]

A decision.

It seemed right to post this here, where so many of us shared the joy and frustration of January and February waiting.

My DS has decided to join the Ohio National Guard and pursue his degree and commission at Ohio University, his 1st choice school. Campus based funds are not forth coming thru his brigade at this time and to secure his spot the Guard offers the best options for him. The SMP contract will follow as we all know and he will probably not attend BCT or AIT and focus on academics and the cadre.

I hope all of you are doing well, I check in everyday, just don't always have anything to add to the current threads. Transfers seem to be slowly working their way thru the system and I hope all of our kids end up where they really want to be - although most of us would probably be real happy to just keep them home a little longer......

Be safe thru the graduation season. Keep the tissues close at hand and the camera batteries charged -- lots of good stuff ahead

As always, take care.

 

[cjs]

I'm so happy that your son came to a decision that makes him happy and is at his first choice! Thanks for letting us know as I like many others think of you often.

 

[Pima]

I am happy to hear/read that your son found the best of the best options for him.

For many new posters/lurkers who just coming on board because they are exploring options for next yr. Use these posters experience as an invaluable learning lesson on:

1. Think outside the box
2. Realize until they say "UNCLE" there's always a path. It may not be the path you thought of when you started, but it is a path and someone here will most likely have walked it in front of you.
3. As hard as it might be, always remember this is business it is not personal. The military has limited funds, and somebody is going to get the TWE. Nobody, not even the military is saying they aren't great candidates, they are saying, our hands are tied and we must live in the fiscal budget we have been dealt. It is like the college selection process. It is limited.
4. As you live the yr on this site, you will forge friendships. Your BFF may not understand why you are stressing because they don't understand that this may be the 1st block of their foundation for their military career. To you, this is tied with getting the number 1 school of choice, more so, because this is their career choice.

I agree with Ohio, time to enjoy the next 2-3 months with your kids. Anyone who has driven away after unloading the kids crap at the college dorm, only to arrive home and see an empty bed that they slept in for yrs., knows their biggest wish is to turn back time, and start that whole dang gone scholarship/college process over again just so they could be a sr again....one more homecoming, one more Saturday SAT/ACT, one more prom.

Have parties, have fun, go to the beach/lake for a day, and bring the gaggle of their friends to hear them laugh. Make memories.

OBTW, one fun thing to do is instead of the graduation party. Throw a farewell party. The kids all have the graduation party, but the farewell is rare. We did it for our DD. Everything in VT colors and told the kids to wear their college shirts. We ordered in pizza, and had water balloon fights...cost nothing, memories priceless.

 

[patentesq]

It seemed right to post this here, where so many of us shared the joy and frustration of January and February waiting.

My DS has decided to join the Ohio National Guard and pursue his degree and commission at Ohio University, his 1st choice school. Campus based funds are not forth coming thru his brigade at this time and to secure his spot the Guard offers the best options for him. The SMP contract will follow as we all know and he will probably not attend BCT or AIT and focus on academics and the cadre.

I hope all of you are doing well, I check in everyday, just don't always have anything to add to the current threads. Transfers seem to be slowly working their way thru the system and I hope all of our kids end up where they really want to be - although most of us would probably be real happy to just keep them home a little longer......

Be safe thru the graduation season. Keep the tissues close at hand and the camera batteries charged -- lots of good stuff ahead

As always, take care.

Ohio, you are truly a wonderful person. Congrats on DS keeping the eye on the ball. You helped me through a rough/busy spot in my life. And for that, I thank you. You have always kept a positive attitude.

Pima, the farewell party is an excellent idea. For DS, though, his report date is June 27, which is near his graduation.

On a bit of a sad note, I drove my son to the Mall the other day and we had a nice chat along the way about nothing in particular. The short trip with just the two of us sorta hit me hard, knowing that there won't be too many of these moments left. He's leaving the nest!

 

[paradoxer]

Good to hear from you again

Ohio, you are truly a wonderful person. Congrats on DS keeping the eye on the ball. You helped me through a rough/busy spot in my life. And for that, I thank you. You have always kept a positive attitude.

Pima, the farewell party is an excellent idea. For DS, though, his report date is June 27, which is near his graduation.

On a bit of a sad note, I drove my son to the Mall the other day and we had a nice chat along the way about nothing in particular. The short trip with just the two of us sorta hit me hard, knowing that there won't be too many of these moments left. He's leaving the nest!

Just when I was thinking August 16 is coming way too fast; but June 27th, yikes! Maybe we could get this thread to 200,000 views if we all post our laments and joys during this time.

 

[patentesq]

Just when I was thinking August 16 is coming way too fast; but June 27th, yikes! Maybe we could get this thread to 200,000 views if we all post our laments and joys during this time.

Hi, paradoxer! 200,000 views is the goal!!!

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Hi, paradoxer! 200,000 views is the goal!!!

I can play lament and shoot for 200,000 views... but actually I'm pretty lucky, DS doesn't leave until Sept. 1 - quarter system - so he's gonna be around and bored most of the summer('cept that new job working concessions at the movies ). Oh, and running, running and more running....


completely agree with Pima on the party idea. Having a family(ie old people) graduation party now - in August the friend party. Did this for older DD and it was a huge hit with all the kiddos.

 

[Pima]

The kiddos do love it! I think more so because when you do the graduation party they feel torn between being with the friends and the obligatory talking to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.

I love my kids, but now that two of the 3 are in college, I usually can't wait until August! I miss them terribly when they are gone, can't wait until they back under the roof, and once they are I keep asking them over and over again, what date do you go back as I pick up the wet towels off their bathroom floors?

Luckily, they were AF kids, so their summers are filled with visiting friends that are all over the place. You'd think they were already in the military on how many places they go to.

DS got home last Monday. Left on Thursday to go hang with friends still up at school. Went to NC on Monday to be with the GF. Now on his way to another friend in MD until Sunday. Next week he has to go to Ohio on AF orders for 3 days. So in 3+ weeks, he will have spent 8 days in the house.

DD leaves today for the Lake, comes home on Tuesday and leaves Friday for the River. Comes back for a week and leaves for the beach. Comes back for a week and leaves for NYC. Yes, she has a job, she works at an outdoor concert arena, comes in gets to listen to musicians like Jimmy Buffet, Tim McGraw, make tips and goes off until the next concert. The girl makes over 100 bucks a night in tips, on top of 10 bucks an hour! I want her flipping job...she is avg @ 180 every day she works.

Back on topic.

Time to start preparing for the little strange necessities for ROTC.

1. Shoe shining kit
2. TIDE TO GO PEN. Buy 2. 1 for the backpack, 1 for the dorm room. Guys tend to misplace these things easily.
3. Cotton balls and q-tips. I don't know about AROTC, but for AFROTC they use them to polish their service shoes and polish their buckles.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

The kiddos do love it! I think more so because when you do the graduation party they feel torn between being with the friends and the obligatory talking to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.

I love my kids, but now that two of the 3 are in college, I usually can't wait until August! I miss them terribly when they are gone, can't wait until they back under the roof, and once they are I keep asking them over and over again, what date do you go back as I pick up the wet towels off their bathroom floors?

Luckily, they were AF kids, so their summers are filled with visiting friends that are all over the place. You'd think they were already in the military on how many places they go to.

DS got home last Monday. Left on Thursday to go hang with friends still up at school. Went to NC on Monday to be with the GF. Now on his way to another friend in MD until Sunday. Next week he has to go to Ohio on AF orders for 3 days. So in 3+ weeks, he will have spent 8 days in the house.

DD leaves today for the Lake, comes home on Tuesday and leaves Friday for the River. Comes back for a week and leaves for the beach. Comes back for a week and leaves for NYC. Yes, she has a job, she works at an outdoor concert arena, comes in gets to listen to musicians like Jimmy Buffet, Tim McGraw, make tips and goes off until the next concert. The girl makes over 100 bucks a night in tips, on top of 10 bucks an hour! I want her flipping job...she is avg @ 180 every day she works.

Back on topic.

Time to start preparing for the little strange necessities for ROTC.

1. Shoe shining kit
2. TIDE TO GO PEN. Buy 2. 1 for the backpack, 1 for the dorm room. Guys tend to misplace these things easily.
3. Cotton balls and q-tips. I don't know about AROTC, but for AFROTC they use them to polish their service shoes and polish their buckles.

To funny, DD has been home about 10 days, love having her under roof again, but the wet towel thing must be contagious!! Also, she left a newer boyfriend from campus for the summer so I'm hearing ALL about how they miss each other, oh, young love It is different, I've only met the young man once over Christmas break and he's now the center of her world. Will get to see him a few times over the summer when they can get some time off work to visit. DD is a lifeguard @ the Y and he works 2 jobs-in love, young and poor sounds so romantic

DS will be doing some scouting camps(works one week volunteer at National Youth Leadership Camp) but we're pretty much home bodies otherwise this year.

I'd love your DD's job too!! Any job with tips is usually pretty darn good - I've been a server off and on for years(can't do it now, shoulder has tear in the rotator cuff...)and always loved the work and the money. Plus getting to hear the great acts she's seeing --- sign me up

DS thinks he's taking a duffle bag and a book bag to school - if it doesn't fit he doesn't need it He's sooo cute. Then he thought about doing laundry, now he wants to buy extra boxers, socks so he can go longer without hitting the machines Tide to go is amazing stuff, love oxiclean additive too, sent small container with DD for camping clothes and heavy dirt stuff.

 

[Pima]

We actually sent with both of our kids a mason jar filled with quarters. I figured 4 bucks a load (wash and dry) multiplied by 15 weeks ---they are on semesters = 60 bucks in quarters.

We did this because we realized if they hit the ATM to do laundry that money would burn a hole in their pocket. Thus, they had the change and wouldn't hit the ATM until they used up the jar...of course we didn't take into account the soda machine in the dorm also takes quarters!

Again I don't know about AROTC, but AFROTC wear blues more often than the ABU's as C100s. If that is the case send a can of Niagara spray starch with them.

I don't buy Oxi because if they use to much ---let's say they run out of detergent and think to substitute Oxi it can actually bleach the crap.

Shout Wipes also work well like the Tide To Go pen.

For AFROTC they also need what we call "frogs". It is a little gold backer, think the back of a tie pin. They have them for their name tags and rank on the flight caps. They are tiny and easy to lose. DS is not a neat freak so he throws them wherever when he does his laundry. You can buy a bag for a few bucks.

If he is a Corps, some do a lot of marching. VT does some insane march that literally is all one day on a Saturday. Buy moleskin for him to prevent blisters if the unit does this.

Also, buy a good pair of running sneakers just prior to him going...enough time to break them in, but not enough time to wear down the tread.

We also sent DS with a ton of white tees to wear with the uniform. Not a biggie, because in the south the boys wear white tees under their polos.

If they do get ABUs, for the AF they wear camo/tan tees, so send him with those too.

To contract AFROTC scholarship they must also present their original birth certificate and SS card. We sent DS with a prepaid FedEX envelope so he could send it back home to us.

OBTW most colleges now require the Swine Flu Shot and Mennococcal shot, so if they don't have it do it now. It is not a ROTC issue, but a school issue.

Come August I always laugh because my DR is the collection site for DD. My sunroom is the collection site for DS. It is amazing to see how much crap we send them off with! I swear I don't think I had the amount of stuff that they do when Bullet and I got married!

 

[paradoxer]

Rebels

I can play lament and shoot for 200,000 views... but actually I'm pretty lucky, DS doesn't leave until Sept. 1 - quarter system - so he's gonna be around and bored most of the summer('cept that new job working concessions at the movies ). Oh, and running, running and more running....


completely agree with Pima on the party idea. Having a family(ie old people) graduation party now - in August the friend party. Did this for older DD and it was a huge hit with all the kiddos.

Gotta share this story about DD. No party, she didn't think she'd accomplished anything by graduating from high school. Friend said, "Well you gotta do it if you want the money." DD said, "I'm not having a party with a bunch of older people just to get money." So no party. Graduated from college in 3 years at age 20, varsity athlete and 3.97 GPA and still no party. Rejected from all 13 PhD programs she applied to and was resigned to doing a masters. Phone rings, "We have one opening in the PhD program, are you interested?" PARTY TIME!!!!!

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Gotta share this story about DD. No party, she didn't think she'd accomplished anything by graduating from high school. Friend said, "Well you gotta do it if you want the money." DD said, "I'm not having a party with a bunch of older people just to get money." So no party. Graduated from college in 3 years at age 20, varsity athlete and 3.97 GPA and still no party. Rejected from all 13 PhD programs she applied to and was resigned to doing a masters. Phone rings, "We have one opening in the PhD program, are you interested?" PARTY TIME!!!!!

Glad she finally had a party. DS wouldn't walk or have party if it was up to him - told him some of this is for ME - I want to celebrate his moments even if he doesn't

Oh, and on the Oxi clean - never had one use it instead of detergent... that's priceless. Hope it wasn't a favorite shirt or something expensive.

Oddball thing that I send with DD and DS WILL take is a cookie sheet, oven mitt and spatula -- cut and bake cookies are a great way to make friends the first week and nothing smells quite like choc/chip cookies when they need a pick me up Most dorms have a community kitchen area and DD and friends do this around finals for their floor.

Will look for the frog in case, white tees must be a thing - DS does this too - white t under EVERYTHING, even another tee. Tan ones would make good sense. Have no idea about uniform issues - but I'm sure we'll get some input at orientation in July, plenty of time to stock up as needed.

 

[AlabamaMom]

I haven't had time to check in in some time. Ohio I am glad to see your DS has come to a decision he is happy with. I wish him and your family all the best.

My DS has chosen to attend Auburn. Which was a happy surprise to me. I really thought he would choose a SMC. We visited the 3 schools AROTC offered to him and the ROO at Auburn did a great job winning him over. He is very excited about his decision.

I love the idea of the Going Away Party. We may have to do this.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

I haven't had time to check in in some time. Ohio I am glad to see your DS has come to a decision he is happy with. I wish him and your family all the best.

My DS has chosen to attend Auburn. Which was a happy surprise to me. I really thought he would choose a SMC. We visited the 3 schools AROTC offered to him and the ROO at Auburn did a great job winning him over. He is very excited about his decision.

I love the idea of the Going Away Party. We may have to do this.

Good to hear another choice settled -- and that you were pleasantly surprised probably makes it better

Waiting for DS recruiter to contact us with a date to start the process. They want to wait until after he graduates Sunday the 5th to officially start this up. Hoping this isn't as complicated as AROTC scholarship applications ASVAB and MEPS are two new bits of fun - DS is DODMERB qualified so the MEPS shouldn't be an issue and ASVAB sounds pretty basic so he should be fine there too. More fun Of course, will let you all know when its official and he swears in.

 

[Pima]

Welcome to the military. It never ends. He will always feel like it is a hurry up and wait life. Hurry up get packet in for summer field training...WAIT! Hurry up get packet in for career field...WAIT! Hurry up and graduate on time...WAIT for the school slot! Hurry up and get promotion packet...WAIT for results, and than WAIT some more for pin on!

It is like driving in the city during rush hour traffic! It is like the game we played as kids, Red Light, Green Light!

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Welcome to the military. It never ends. He will always feel like it is a hurry up and wait life. Hurry up get packet in for summer field training...WAIT! Hurry up get packet in for career field...WAIT! Hurry up and graduate on time...WAIT for the school slot! Hurry up and get promotion packet...WAIT for results, and than WAIT some more for pin on!

It is like driving in the city during rush hour traffic! It is like the game we played as kids, Red Light, Green Light!

Love the red light, green light analogy He could join tomorrow at our local recruiter(they've called) but in order to be with the Guard unit at his school he needs to have graduated high school. Guess it has something to do with recruitment goals etc... We've waited this long -- what's a few more days, weeks, months..............

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Well, DS officially swore into the Ohio National Guard today. Pretty intense process - highlighted by an aborted attempt on Wednesday: passed MEPS physical and started contract paper work when - bam - computers crashed, long story short we had to leave without completing his contract/swearing in and drive back to MEPS in Columbus, Ohio today. Today it almost didn't happen either, some creativity on the part of 3-4 recruiters got the deal done. He will start drilling with his unit next weekend and start school in September as planned (basic set for next summer).

Hope everyone else is enjoying the summer and has their plans in place for the fall. Ohioland is at peace for now.

Take care.

 

[paradoxer]

DILIGENCE prevails

Well, DS officially swore into the Ohio National Guard today. Pretty intense process - highlighted by an aborted attempt on Wednesday: passed MEPS physical and started contract paper work when - bam - computers crashed, long story short we had to leave without completing his contract/swearing in and drive back to MEPS in Columbus, Ohio today. Today it almost didn't happen either, some creativity on the part of 3-4 recruiters got the deal done. He will start drilling with his unit next weekend and start school in September as planned (basic set for next summer).

Hope everyone else is enjoying the summer and has their plans in place for the fall. Ohioland is at peace for now.

Take care.

Wow didn't know it was so hard to join the National Guard; guess you have just run another military gauntlet. Sounds like swearing in took on a whole new meaning. Nice to hear that creative skills were at play. Will tell another Ohioparent story today.

 

[Jcleppe]

Well, DS officially swore into the Ohio National Guard today. Pretty intense process - highlighted by an aborted attempt on Wednesday: passed MEPS physical and started contract paper work when - bam - computers crashed, long story short we had to leave without completing his contract/swearing in and drive back to MEPS in Columbus, Ohio today. Today it almost didn't happen either, some creativity on the part of 3-4 recruiters got the deal done. He will start drilling with his unit next weekend and start school in September as planned (basic set for next summer).

Hope everyone else is enjoying the summer and has their plans in place for the fall. Ohioland is at peace for now.

Take care.

Congratulations to your son, I bet it was nice to finally put pen to paper and raise the right hand.

 

[cjs]

Conratulations to your son! You must be so incredibly proud and rightfully so!