NROTC College Programmer

Impulsive

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Hope someone can give us some insight into this. DS applied for but was not accepted to USCGA, but is now fully committed to Plan B with academic scholarship. DS is going to re-apply to CGA for 2024, but is now interested in USNA and NROTC. The NROTC unit at Tulane is giving him the opportunity to College Program (I believe this is the correct terminology) while he applies to USNA and USCGA. They said if he gets his app in before May 9th they will send him to Great Lakes in July for INDOC. If he opts to forgo INDOC will this affect his entry into NROTC? He does not need an NROTC scholarship, but wants to possibly Commission as an Ensign in the Navy in his major. We were told beginning the first term of his Junior Year he will need to contract, and NROTC does not offer a commission in his major unless he attends USNA. Can he Commission as a SWO and keep his major once he finishes his first sea tour? And what is the commitment to the Navy if he is not a scholarship Commissioned Ensign?
 
We were told beginning the first term of his Junior Year he will need to contract, and NROTC does not offer a commission in his major unless he attends USNA
What does he want to major in? NROTC Navy Option cares about the major for awarding scholarships and contracting, but not at commissioning. Further, one's major often has little or nothing to do with what one's job is in the Navy, or any other service. Something doesn't pass the initial smell test here. I expect there is a misunderstanding.

He will need to contract by the first semester of his junior year as do all NROTC midshipmen, regardless of option or major.

Indoc will help to get him started on the right path in NROTC but I don't think it's required. Check with the officer for confirmation though. That being said why would he want to forego Indoc? It's an experience that all the other entering freshman will have and he'll be starting a little behind without it. If there is a strong reason though, then if it's not required, don't do it. Wouldn't be my choice but everyone's circumstances are different.

EDIT: Tulane has a great unit and hosts a drill competition each year during Mardi Gras. DS was there a couple years for it.
 
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@kinnem, thanks for the info. We visited Tulane NROTC while DS was registering for classes and doing orientation. His major is Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering. The NROTC LT we met with at Tulane seemed enthusiastic about DS's major but explained the Unit offers SWO, Submarine, Aviation, Seal, and MO career paths. He asked if DS would consider going SWO Career to which DS honestly replied he was not sure. We understand the "needs of the service" and DS has no problem being a SWO as long as he has a shot at using his NAME Degree at some point. Hence the question...how long is the commitment without the scholarship? We are guessing it is still five years, no matter what. DS is looking to re-apply to USCGA and make an application to USNA this school year, so is looking for NROTC to help his application but may not do more than one year (and therefore the question about INDOC) either way. He is still undecided at this point. Everything can change this year depending on DS and school and if he likes NROTC or fails to get appointed to an SA again, but he has no issue with INDOC other than he may only do one year of NROTC depending on what happens this year. The application window is different, if he wants INDOC they need his application in two weeks if he doesn't he has until June 9th to apply. He is still getting over CGA's rejection and is unsure of what this year will bring. He was impressed with their program, but is unsure how it will effect his major (at another school in the area) as he gets into heavy engineering studies, commuting early mornings and fitting in MS Courses at Tulane.
 
@kinnem, thanks for the info. We visited Tulane NROTC while DS was registering for classes and doing orientation. His major is Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering. The NROTC LT we met with at Tulane seemed enthusiastic about DS's major but explained the Unit offers SWO, Submarine, Aviation, Seal, and MO career paths. He asked if DS would consider going SWO Career to which DS honestly replied he was not sure. We understand the "needs of the service" and DS has no problem being a SWO as long as he has a shot at using his NAME Degree at some point. Hence the question...how long is the commitment without the scholarship? We are guessing it is still five years, no matter what. DS is looking to re-apply to USCGA and make an application to USNA this school year, so is looking for NROTC to help his application but may not do more than one year (and therefore the question about INDOC) either way. He is still undecided at this point. Everything can change this year depending on DS and school and if he likes NROTC or fails to get appointed to an SA again, but he has no issue with INDOC other than he may only do one year of NROTC depending on what happens this year. The application window is different, if he wants INDOC they need his application in two weeks if he doesn't he has until June 9th to apply. He is still getting over CGA's rejection and is unsure of what this year will bring. He was impressed with their program, but is unsure how it will effect his major (at another school in the area) as he gets into heavy engineering studies, commuting early mornings and fitting in MS Courses at Tulane.
The service commitment for Advanced Standing MIDN are just 3 years compared to a scholarship MIDN, which is 5 years. That being said, if your DS chooses to do anything other than SWO, let's say a Navy Pilot, his minimum service requirement is then 8 years + 2 to 3 years of flight school.

If your DS "chose" to go Advanced Standing (non-scholarship contract), he would accrue GI Bill benefits right whenever he commissions into the Navy (3 years for full GI Bill benefits), whereas scholarship tacks on 3 extra years for full GI Bill benefits (8 years).

This is probably good to keep in mind if he wants to "use" his major. Like most jobs in the military (besides cyber, and possibly a few engineering jobs), he won't likely use his degree. Coast Guard may be different, and he may well use his major. However, it is good to keep in mind that his best use for his future degree would most likely be put to use in the civilian sector. The early accrual of GI Bill benefits gives him the option of obtaining a masters degree.
 
+1 to KuzNROTC. It's unlikely he would use his major in the Navy, and I suspect the same is true of the Coast Guard unless they told him otherwise. That's true no matter what one's major is, or which service they enter. The LT he met with at Tulane was merely pointing out that all warfare options are open. If he's a Navy Option that would be aviation, SWO, Subs, Nuke. I don't think they have to decide until late junior year or early senior year. They try to make the final (first class) summer cruise match the community one desires.

I encourage your son to re-apply to CGA and USNA. Nevertheless he should also apply for the NROTC scholarship as the opportunity offers, as one never know how things will turn out, or how minds might change. He may feel he's found a home at Tulane NROTC. I would also recommend attending Indoc as, again, one never knows how things will turn out regardless of what one's plans are. Life is what happens while we're busy planning.

Hope this helps. Good luck to your DS.
 
It sounds like even though your son didn't get his first choice, he still has a stellar backup plan. Probably the single best piece of advice I can give to anyone going into college is to do something you love. I started my freshman year at UNC as a comp sci major and now I am a week away from finishing my sophomore year....as a Russian major. You never know how your freshman year of college will go. Your son could love NAME but he could also hate it. Don't worry too much about using your degree in the Navy or if it is something the Navy wants to see (obviously don't do something that the Navy hasn't approved). I successfully filled out a tier change request (tier II to tier III LREC) and know several other people who have done that as well. I have no idea whether or not I will use my degree in the Navy (I will definitely continue to speak, read, and write Russian), but I do know I will use it once I get out. If you don't love what you're doing, then do something else. Life is too short to be miserable and you WILL do better in a subject that you are passionate about. Even if your passion is in something not in the STEM field, you can find a way to be successful with whatever it is after the Navy. You also don't want to "major in Navy." The Navy will train you to do whatever they need you to do. Your degree is, for the most part, for you. While it is important that your son goes into college with a plan and an idea of what he needs to do in order to graduate, make sure he doesn't lock himself in too early. Enjoy all that college has to offer and explore different things. You never know what you might love or have a passion for. If you would have sat me down 3 years ago and told me that I was going to be a Russian major I would not have believed you. Now, I have no idea what I would be doing if I weren't a Russian major.

TLDR: Life is short so you may as well enjoy college. Don't be pressured into doing something that won't make you happy.
 
@kinnem, @amjrivers, thank you both for your sage advice. DS was never told he would get to use his college major immediately upon graduation from CGA, and knew going in that even if he graduated USNA or USCGA with his major he would not to immediately go into that field. Design and Procurement of assets involves Field Grade Officers at a minimum, so he knew if he was to go this direction he would likely have to wait 5-6 years before actually being able to use his major and that it would probably entail Grad School to bring him "up to speed" with new developments or technologies. @KuzNROTC, thank you very much for the clarification of three versus five years commitment, not sure if will make a difference in DS's thoughts, but it a nice piece of information to know. And we as parents definitely DO NOT want to push him in any direction other than the one HE wants. In fact we have discussed his major with him and advised him of the difficulty and probable non-use of his talents (in the NAME field) if he were to go into the service. He has a knack for boating and has operated the family boat on overnight fishing trips with his friends 70 miles from shore, but he strongly wants NAME, and if that is really his course, then he may be better off graduating and trying for a Direct Commission in his major, rather than a SA or ROTC Program where he likely will not use it right away. Or in the alternative get into NROTC, do his three years, stay in the reserves, and serve that way while still having a civilian career.

DS knows what he wants, but also want to serve our country. The question for him is he willing to forgo the use of his major course of study to serve and wait to apply what he learns in the next four years for a career in the Maritime Services? It is his choice, but as the LT from Tulane told him, he can even start as a sophomore if he desires and do INDOC then. All the advice here has been good and hopefully will allow DS to make the right decision for him.
 
he may be better off graduating and trying for a Direct Commission in his major, rather than a SA or ROTC Program where he likely will not use it right away.
I think the odds of that are small as well. Any commissioning path addresses the needs of the Navy for incoming Ensigns based on order of merit. He shouldn't really think of using his major in any commissioning path until well into his career. He will be disappointed otherwise.
 
I think the odds of that are small as well. Any commissioning path addresses the needs of the Navy for incoming Ensigns based on order of merit. He shouldn't really think of using his major in any commissioning path until well into his career. He will be disappointed otherwise.

Agreed, but it has to be what he wants. Right now he is still trying to come to grips with his SA rejection and get a good footing at college. I am pretty sure he will either decide to go right through college and into industry, or make the decision he wants to serve in whatever capacity he can, hopefully in the next few weeks. We will be there to support whatever decision he makes.
 
Great. Just want to make sure things are done with eyes wide open. Sounds like the type who will be fine no matter what.
 
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