NROTC Questions??

blinksos

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Mar 14, 2017
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hi!! it's been a while since i've been pretty active but i know it's about the time that the last TWEs are going to be sent out soon, and people will be weighing other options. I'm currently finishing up my freshman year as a college programmer in an NROTC unit at a private 4-year university. for those of you questioning what you're going to do without a scholarship (or if you want to know about life in a unit) feel free to ask!! i'd be glad to answer, especially since i was in your shoes last year and had a lot of questions.
 
@blinksos have you been awarded a scholarship? Are you going on a summer cruse?
no scholarship yet, I'm in the process of applying for a three year sideload, thus, i will not be making it to cortamid this summer. i have been briefed on the cruise itself with the rest of my class and would be happy to attempt to answer any questions you might have regardless!
 
Thanks for offering to share your experience! What are your recommendations for preparing over the summer, physically and in terms of Navy knowledge, any songs or sayings that should be memorized in advance? What does orientation involve? Tips for balancing school, ROTC, and sports? At your school, do sports team workouts/practices take the place of ROTC PT or are they done in addition?
 
Thanks for offering to share your experience! What are your recommendations for preparing over the summer, physically and in terms of Navy knowledge, any songs or sayings that should be memorized in advance? What does orientation involve? Tips for balancing school, ROTC, and sports? At your school, do sports team workouts/practices take the place of ROTC PT or are they done in addition?
Hello, I'm in a current unit, on scholarship, so will also attempt to answer questions.

Preparing:
Physically: Get active and try to work on your PRT score. There are great running plans if you google "naval academy running prt plan" etc!
Navy knowledge: You'll be taught all this already at orientation, but familiarize yourself with the sailors creed, your general orders, etc

Orientation:
Depends on the unit, but just keep up mentally and physically and push through! You'll be working out a lot, sitting through briefs, and learning how your unit runs.

Tips for balancing: Use a calendar and keep that sleep schedule on track! If you don't get enough sleep, everything will kind of fall apart. And yes, sports practices can substitute for one PT a week, if the sport is in session
 
keep up mentally and physically and push through
That's the most important thing you can do besides physical preparation. You can actually go in with no knowledge... in fact the experience of going in without the knowledge could be considered part of the training.

Not all units have an orientation. When they do, the challenge may be different at each unit. DS's unit started orientation with 45 midshipmen. 30 completed orientation. No one is ever tossed out. People leave of their own desire. So I repeat again... keep up mentally and physically and push through.
 
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Also note that if you are in a unit at an SMC, it will be significantly different so you might want to indicate what type of program you are entering. I totally agree with @FastFood44 on being physically fit as early as possible. My DD was told by her unit that even though there are four categories of PRT fitness standards (Satisfactory, Good, Excellent, Outstanding), most units will put you on a remedial PT plan if you hit below "excellent" so consider that when you are looking at where you need to be in terms of fitness.
 
My DS had a knowledge packet to learn before reporting to orientation; Sailor's Creed, general orders, military courtesy, rank insignia, when/who to salute, etc. He was given instruction on what to learn over the summer by his midn mentor for the fall. The packet was on the unit's website. The were also lots of forms to fill out and mail in prior to reporting. A word of advice to any incoming freshmen; either copy or scan all documents you send in and take it with you when you report. My DS rolled his eyes at me when I told him this, but he was glad he listened when he reported and the packet he had sent in had been lost in the mail.
 
Orientation is not hard if you are fit and understand what the unit is trying to accomplish. Remember, it’s only a few days, it is not boot camp.
The reason most people drop is they have never been yelled at, had to do menial tasks for no reason, think everything happens for a reason, have had little accountability in their life.

It is a simple: can you follow directions, overcome a little adversity, and be at the appointed time and place when told? Sounds pretty easy, but some people make it hard.

Watch the first half of Full Metal Jacket. Instead of seeing the hazing, see the training. Hazing happens to be part of the training, but it is to accomplish a bigger goal. The making of a Marine that knows how to be a Marine.

Those that fight the “system” won’t succeed. Once the trainers realize that you get it, they will move on to focus those that don’t or can’t.

Yes sir, no excuse sir, I will find out sir, will carry you a long way.
Your goal is to finish as an unknown. If they say “Who is Midshipman Schmuckatelli?” at the end of orientation, you did it right.

There is lot to be said about the Joker character. I don’t recommend taking his approach. Many try, few succeed.

JMHO,
OS
 
Thanks for offering to share your experience! What are your recommendations for preparing over the summer, physically and in terms of Navy knowledge, any songs or sayings that should be memorized in advance? What does orientation involve? Tips for balancing school, ROTC, and sports? At your school, do sports team workouts/practices take the place of ROTC PT or are they done in addition?

preparing over the summer: no matter where you go, PT is important. The naval academy pushup/running plans are super helpful, whether you're going to the naval academy or not. as far as knowledge, again, this might differ by unit but i went in knowing nothing and was provided with the information to study, but you may have a leg up if you're familiar with your general orders, sailor's creed, navy (and for us, marine corps) rank structures, and chain of command.

orientation for us was a little short and actually unconventional even for our unit, but due to extenuating circumstances we did ours on campus, and it consisted a lot of drilling. we PTed as well, of course, and ran a PRT, but there was a lot of yelling.

as far as balancing school and ROTC, it doesn't seem to be a problem, but throwing sports in there is a little difficult. i have a friend who is a midn who is also doing varsity track, and he has about 4 hour long practices every afternoon in addition to his ROTC responsibilities. some people have tried and failed to do it, but others, like him, are getting by just fine. it really depends on you as a person, but it's definitely doable. in our unit, we have three PTs a week: a mandatory one, remedial, and one for anyone who didn't score excellent on all three parts of the PRT. if, by extension of being an athlete, you have superior fitness, you would only have to come to one PT out of the three, but if not, you would still be required to come to the PTs you didn't qualify to get off of, since, your first priority here is commissioning. this could be different elsewhere, but this is what it's like here.
 
So I repeat again... keep up mentally and physically and push through.

yeah there were definitely times during my orientation in which i thought abt what would happen if i gave up... but if you want it, you'll have it, and every moment of being in my unit has been completely worth it for me.
 
@kinnem
The Schmuckatelli family has a long and distinguished history of service in the Navy.
You hear about them all the time, but I've never met one.
The other strange thing is you only hear about them as Seaman and ENS, I wonder why they never promote...
 
D1 sports and ROTC do mix.
How your unit supports athletes plays a large role as to how successful that mix will be.
Have frank conversations with your coach and the unit. What will be your priorities be during season, out of season? Have clear expectations before you start!

The challenges I have seen:

Students not realizing or willing to admit that they were not adequately prepared academically for the rigors of college courses. If you are struggling to pass classes your first semester, sports are not for you.

The time commitment of D1 sports. The NCAA 20/8 rule has a lot of holes. You will spend more than 20 hours a week doing your sport, especially during season. Include travel to events and "voluntary" workouts, it's more time than a full time job.
If you participate in a fall sport, the transition is even harder. You are making a major life transition. Class, practice, eating, sleeping, ROTC (sometimes doing two at a time) will be your life. If you try to include normal college social activities in that mix before you have found your grove, it won't turn out well.

Being afraid to ask for help. Schools have huge resources to help athletes. 24/7 tutors, academic advisors, understanding coaches.
If you are falling behind, talk to someone, miss a practice, get help! If you are not getting B's or better on your first midterms, you are not managing your time/abilities correctly.

Your job is to get an education! Earn a 3.5+ and everyone will be supportive. The unit will give you more flexibility as well as your coach.
Earn a 2.5- and folks will start getting in your grill.

Many people do both successfully. My children have been able to add Greek life to the mix as well as other school clubs. But you add events one at a time after you have mastered the classroom, sport, ROTC mix.

I was discussing regrets with one of my children driving home from graduation. Their only regret, "I wish I had done more."
I laughed.
Mech E diploma, lettered on a team that won a D1 national championship, ROTC, Greek, debate team, as well as a number a couple social clubs.
They were dead serious.
"I passed on a number of things, that looking back on, I had time for."

There were a number of MIDs doing the same number of things at their school. Obviously the unit was a big supporter of athletics.

It's a give and take, just remember it all starts and ends with academics. That is your anchor, success there FIRST opens the door to the other activities.

OS
 
DS is waiting to hear if he has been awarded a scholarship. Any idea what date the notification comes out?
unfortunately I have legitimately no idea. I'd check some of the other boards to see if there are other discussions about it?
 
I would lock in plan B sometime this week if you haven't heard you then. We got lucky, plan A and plan B were the same college doing NROTC.
 
I would lock in plan B sometime this week if you haven't heard you then. We got lucky, plan A and plan B were the same college doing NROTC.

Plan B shifted to Plan A already since he didn’t receive an appointment to USAFA. We actually paid the deposit to VMI in February. It’s ok if we can’t get it back. Just a drop in the bucket if it means being awarded a scholarship ;)
 
I would lock in plan B sometime this week if you haven't heard you then. We got lucky, plan A and plan B were the same college doing NROTC.

Plan B shifted to Plan A already since he didn’t receive an appointment to USAFA. We actually paid the deposit to VMI in February. It’s ok if we can’t get it back. Just a drop in the bucket if it means being awarded a scholarship ;)
We are in the same boat. Didn't get into the Coast Guard Academy, but now have decided on VA Tech and put a deposit down. Almost went to VMI, but ultimately went with NROTC at Tech. We were secretly hoping he would just give up on the military altogether, but nothing doing. We've been waiting for what feels like forever--first for the Academy and now for information from the scholarship board. I wish you guys luck.
 
@Phantom Tech's a great school. Go Hokies!

DS wanted to enlist. Mom was dead set against it. I reminded her he would be 18 and could do whatever he wants when he graduated high school, and she came around. She insisted on college first and enrolling in NROTC. He's serving as a 1st Lt today and she couldn't be prouder of him. You'll find yourself growing prouder and prouder.
 
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