NROTC 2013 students / parents

Ok like i have met him before at my grandma's house but never really talked to him full out. my mom just keeps telling me a should write him a letter reintroducing myself and my goals.
OK, I'm going to be frank. Why would you want a recommendation from someone you've never even spoken with directly? That would normally be interpreted as either a desperate, or a clueless request.
 
OK, I'm going to be frank. Why would you want a recommendation from someone you've never even spoken with directly? That would normally be interpreted as either a desperate, or a clueless request.

well i have talked to him before just it was like 2 years ago before i was really interested in the military and personally i took that as an insult of my intelligence which is not cool at all. I dont know if your in the miliary or not but i am and we give everyone respect and that was completely disrespectful
 
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btbswimmer,

I think you owe an apology to dunninla.

You say you are in the military as a defense, and in your own way a slam to dunninla. If I am correct you are a military child, thus not in the military.

I was for 20 yrs an ADAF spouse, I get where you are coming from regarding lifestyle, but I was never in the military. I was a military dependent, but I never took the oath of office.

They gave you an answer, and honestly I am 1,000.000% with their opinion.

You met this guy 2 yrs ago at Grandma's house with no interaction since that time, do you honestly think he remembers you at all? Crap, as a spouse I can't remember everyone that was in the squadron 2 yrs ago. OBTW, DS had the ability to use the current AFA supe as his reference, he didn't because of the fact that they didn't know him real well. He got an AFROTC scholarship without that ref.

dunninla said the same thing as kinnem, harsher, but the same. DON'T! You didn't say to kinnem they insulted you. You didn't read them the riot act.

I am 1,000,000% sure you see me as a BEAAACCCHHH. I am okay with that, I only want you to realize dunninla was trying to help you. You just didn't like their response.

Okey dokey here goes mine
Want to pull that respect card? You should understand it is not just the rank you respect, you respect those that have 1 more day in that life than you do. That means dunninla with a child on ROTC scholarship (14?) gets the path you are walking now, thus respect. They have 2 more yrs in than you.

They filled the square you haven't. I would think any military member would agree they paid their dues.

Your choice keep your attitude; if I read your posts right you are at the age of 17 and know the military, or you can acknowledge dunninla can be a source to guide you through this process. Your decision. Your choice. Personally, I would take dunninla if I was a HS student, even if I was a military dependent.

Best wishes, and thank you for wanting to serve this great nation.

OBTW...just my 0.0196453 cents, but if you want to be taken seriously, grammar matters, i.e. capitalization and slang.

It is just not cool to say things like: it is not cool at all!
 
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The kid was just asking a question, he didn't sound desperate or clueless, and probably didn't think he would get a lecture.

Not sure what the difference is in obtaining a letter of recommendation from someone you casually know then getting a nomination from a congressman you've never met for a SA application.

I do agree with Kinnem, the Admiral would be a great resource, probably not the best sponsor.
 
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The kid was just asking a question, he didn't sound desperate or clueless, and probably didn't think he would get a lecture.

Not sure what the difference is in obtaining a letter of recommendation from someone you casually know then getting a nomination from a congressman you've never met for a SA application.

I do agree with Kinnem, the Admiral would be a great resource, probably not the best sponsor.

Exactly and by the way yes I am in the military, sworn in as of 5 months ago. With a ship date of July 13th 2013. But I apologize to dunninla maybe I took your words to hard but I think still if you said that to someone else they wouldn't like it either. I was just asking a question.
 
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The NROTC application requires an interview with an active duty officer. Btbswimmer, ask your connection to see if the CNO would be willing to conduct your interview.
Understand, if he accepts (my bet is he will), it is a make or break moment.
Just my humble opinion, I may be wrong.
 
The NROTC application requires an interview with an active duty officer. Btbswimmer, ask your connection to see if the CNO would be willing to conduct your interview.
Understand, if he accepts (my bet is he will), it is a make or break moment.
Just my humble opinion, I may be wrong.

I didn't know you could do that. Not saying you can't, I just didn't know. This might be a good idea as the OP already has a minimal relationship with the Admiral. Enough to ask and have a connection during the interview which can be a good thing.

As far as the "lecture" goes, its easy to fall into that on a forum. I almost went that route myself as at least on the surface it didn't sound like a smart idea. It's also easy to read way too much into a "lecture" on a forum. A poster recently made some comments about a comment I made. it came across as mean so someone else reported it to the forum admins. I must say when I read it I was a bit puzzled as well. Turns out it was just a joke as I determined by carefully re-reading it. Forums aren't the best way to communicate and everyone should be given some degree of slack.
 
Exactly and by the way yes I am in the military, sworn in as of 5 months ago. With a ship date of July 13th 2013. But I apologize to dunninla maybe I took your words to hard but I think still if you said that to someone else they wouldn't like it either. I was just asking a question.

You were not out of line in my opinion. Funny how on here a simple question will get you a lecture sometimes. Filter through what is said and take the good and ignore the bad.

Most of the time it is not what someone says that rubs one the wrong way it is how it is said.
 
Awarded

Quick thumbnail, Have suggested to DS he look into rotc, particularly Navy or AF for sometime. Did no groundwork for him, had to be his deal. He looked into it, put his app in and in general got the ball rolling. Made contact with the Recruiting center, where he was given a little more direction, told of the officer interview, and then given some practice interviews with the NCO's. At the same time I discovered this forum, and was just a little panicked as I read about people coaching their DD's & DS's months in advance, bringing in retired field grade friends to mock interview, etc.

Last Friday he interviewed with an O-3 and was recommended to the next step, interview with the O-5. Apparently, one of the things that impressed the O-3, she told him when she offered to answer questions, he was the only candidate that took her up on the offer. Monday morning we get a call from the Recruiting Center, the CO is going to be in the area, would DS be available to interview, preferably with a parent available that afternoon.

Contact school, pull him out, drive 20 miles to the center, and wait. O-5 shows up, takes a few minutes to review the packet, calls him in, chats him up. Comes out explains that out side of the usual board process, he has a "number of scholarships in his pocket". If we are really serious, he's prepared to offer one right now on the spot. Still gets reviewed, as far as are there any disqualifying items in the packet, still has to pass high school, pass the physical, and get accepted by a uni with a NROTC program that has room. Where do we sign?

The highpoint of our week, to soften the low point on Tuesday.
 
Quick thumbnail, Have suggested to DS he look into rotc, particularly Navy or AF for sometime. Did no groundwork for him, had to be his deal. He looked into it, put his app in and in general got the ball rolling. Made contact with the Recruiting center, where he was given a little more direction, told of the officer interview, and then given some practice interviews with the NCO's. At the same time I discovered this forum, and was just a little panicked as I read about people coaching their DD's & DS's months in advance, bringing in retired field grade friends to mock interview, etc.

Last Friday he interviewed with an O-3 and was recommended to the next step, interview with the O-5. Apparently, one of the things that impressed the O-3, she told him when she offered to answer questions, he was the only candidate that took her up on the offer. Monday morning we get a call from the Recruiting Center, the CO is going to be in the area, would DS be available to interview, preferably with a parent available that afternoon.

Contact school, pull him out, drive 20 miles to the center, and wait. O-5 shows up, takes a few minutes to review the packet, calls him in, chats him up. Comes out explains that out side of the usual board process, he has a "number of scholarships in his pocket". If we are really serious, he's prepared to offer one right now on the spot. Still gets reviewed, as far as are there any disqualifying items in the packet, still has to pass high school, pass the physical, and get accepted by a uni with a NROTC program that has room. Where do we sign?

The highpoint of our week, to soften the low point on Tuesday.

Congratulations! Your DS must be pretty impressive! I'm sure there was dancing in the streets!
 
Some days yes, some days know. O-5 more than once said, "...when I see a good, smart, midwestern kid, I want to get them in the program." For what it's worth act 31, top 20%, varsity in track & cross country, for now planning on engineering. And really the post isn't meant to be a brag, but testimony, that it can come together with a months of coaching.
 
Some days yes, some days know. O-5 more than once said, "...when I see a good, smart, midwestern kid, I want to get them in the program." For what it's worth act 31, top 20%, varsity in track & cross country, for now planning on engineering. And really the post isn't meant to be a brag, but testimony, that it can come together with a months of coaching.

HAHA! Well, I said he was impressive, not abnormal! I certainly understand the "some days yes, and some days no". Didn't take it as a brag, but if someone is willing to offer a scholarship on the spot there must be something that really grabs the "eye". Glad all went well.
 
Getting down to the wire!

Like many others, DS is waiting for NROTC (and college acceptance) notifications. His NROTC package completed very late in the game, NROTC was calling him on the day before ROTC process closed becaue they were still waiting for one teacher recommendation (there was a problem with the website and teacher thought he had completed rec months before). DS tackled NROTC process completely on his own, so parents had no idea what was going on.

Here is where DS stands:

USNA: received appointment for Class of 2017
NROTC: waiting

NROTC colleges:
Harvard: waiting
Vanderbilt: waiting
Rice: waiting
Tulane: waiting
San Diego State University: accepted (this is our in-state school)

He's also accepted at Univ of Tulsa (with $20k scholarship/year), Colorado School of Mines (financial package pending)

Non-ROTC schools: waiting to hear back from Washington & Lee and Worchester Polytechnic

Husband and I really want DS to accept USNA and put us out of misery, but this is his decision to make and he's determined not to make a decision until hears back from NROTC (and associated schools).

Oh the stress! But we are so grateful for the options he has at the moment. Wishing everyone patience and sanity with the process!
 
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