NJROTC Question

maciec

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Aug 17, 2019
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This is totally off topic from the norm, but is it typical to have a ton of drama within the unit? From the booster trying to control the Commanders to the kids whining about being talked "sternly" to. Holy cow. It's getting worse than travel ball
 
Yep- hang in there. generally speaking for youth-led organizations with people new-to-power /leadership changes , this type of drama isn't always present but I've seen it repeatedly. I have stated "you're learning to deal with impossible/ difficult people - this is good because you'll have to deal with them as adults too" in discussing some equally petty nonsense in scouting, in their first graded team assignments in school, and similar to NJROTC the Civil Air Patrol with each of my kids. My experience is that it's amazing how much of a negative impact a couple of bad apples of youth leaders/ adults can have on morale. Also amazing how much noise/ static just a couple of people can introduce. Also bananas how a lack of leadership can allow such negative energies to fester. I will also say it's good for you, where you can, to learn how to tune out some of the noise and focus on the great training/ trips/ camaraderie that you can experience by remaining part of these groups. If you can learn to do that, and not let it ruin your day, you'll benefit... Also, as you grow into leader positions you can influence keeping the noise down, you'll fare well when you see the same in your ROTC Unit, SA, college, first full time jobs, church or religious groups, etc. Hope that helps and good luck!
 
This is totally off topic from the norm, but is it typical to have a ton of drama within the unit? From the booster trying to control the Commanders to the kids whining about being talked "sternly" to. Holy cow. It's getting worse than travel ball

That kind of drama makes for a bad unit. DS is a sophomore in the current defending NJROTC National Champion in academic, athletic and drill competition at Pensacola. So I can tell you how a model unit should run. The cadets should run the unit under strict guidance from the naval science instructors. We have three. A LCDR (aviator) and two Senior Chiefs. We have approx. 250 cadets. The naval science instructors appoint the cadet staff from among the senior cadets who work the hardest and show leadership potential. The upperclassmen teach the underclassmen. Our parent volunteers participate, as required, and at the pleasure of the naval science instructors to serve the unit. We drive, cook, and serve as chaperone's on out of town trips. Parents should have no input into the running of the unit. Stay in the background!! The cadets are there to learn leadership under the guidance of the naval science instructors - - particularly the senior chiefs who have proven themselves in 20 plus years of leading and developing young people. Even if a parent has significant military experience, they should stay to the sidelines and only offer their experience if and when asked for by the naval science instructors. They are in charge. Ours are great. If some are not, I would suggest speaking to them privately first. If that doesn't work, remember, half of their salaries are paid by the school district. Go to the principal and discuss the problem. But unlike travel ball, where the coaches are being paid by the parents, the naval science instructors are being paid by the school district and the Navy. They are not beholding to the parents. They should have no problem putting a parent in his or her place if they are butting in too much.

As far as the kids whining about being talked to sternly, they would not be spoken to that way if they were performing as instructed. And, if they ever want to serve in the military, they had better get used to being talked to that way all the time, as well as getting their heads shaved before drill competitions, etc. Remember, the military is not for everyone. NJROTC is a good way to find out if it is for you. The kids - - like my older DS -- who find out it is not for them, drop out after the first or second year. That is o.k.. Again, the military is not for everyone.
 
Yes! My daughter was a cheerleader before joining NJROTC. There was less drama in cheer! Dating is a huge problem in our unit and causes so many issues. We have only a handful of cadets that stay after school to participate. They just don’t care. Boosters meetings last forever because the topics have to be talked to death and then decisions are still not made.
 
We have only a handful of cadets that stay after school to participate. They just don’t care.

There is the problem. The cadets make the unit. If there are not enough motivated cadets, the unit cannot be successful.

There are three options (1) motivate the current cadets, (2) recruit more cadets, (3) disband the unit or quit.

I would imagine that until a unit reaches a certain size, and starts winning competitions, it is difficult to achieve the necessary esprit d’corps

Dating is a difficult subject and different units handle it differently. Our unit has no prohibition on dating. However cadets are not allowed to hold hands or display any signs of affection. Dating does go on, but largely, it has not been a problem in our unit. What I have stressed with my DS is this: after you break up with her, you will still have to work with her. I also told him not to date anyone he is supervising. He is only a sophomore, so this has not been a problem yet. But I think he would be better off fishing in a different pond
 
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@NJROTC-CC You are exactly right. It is a vicious cycle. We don’t win so we have low morale and participation and then we have trouble recruiting ambitious cadets that would participate. If we had a winning team, I’m sure more students would be interested.
Our unit has the same dating policy, no PDA at school or ROTC functions. My daughter learned the hard way not to date within the unit. She dated the current CO for two years and after she broke up with him, he made her life hell. She almost quit ROTC completely. Keep encouraging your son to fish in another pond. 😂
 
It's disheartening to know that this isn't unheard of. Parents need to butt out and stay out! The only time that I have gotten involved was freshman year when the Commander they had was doing some really unethical stuff. Oh and I went in on Area inspection day because on the way to school my on lost a button on his shirt and we had to do a quick sew job. Otherwise it's not my place to be in there. I just don't get parents these days. one more year!
 
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