NROTC (USMC Option) January Board Selection

grahamtorr65

grahamtorr65

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Jan 11, 2017
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Is anyone still waiting on their results for the January ‘19 Board? DS was entered and as of today (Mar 5) has yet to hear back either way.
 
My understanding is that you won’t hear back until it’s a definite yes or no. Hang in there. It’s a hard wait, and March and April can be brutal on parents too as they hope their child can realize their dreams. My DS didn’t hear until late April last year, and it’s unlikely he was the very last.

It was during The Wait last year that I found this site! ...and realized we really didn’t know all there was to learn. So you can use this time to learn more, but if it starts driving you batty do what everyone is telling the hopeful candidates to do: work out! Last year I told my DS he had inspired me but really I was just trying to deal with the waiting-stress.

This year? Well, let’s just say my pushup form is looking better and better ;)
 
Hell I didn't even know there was a January board. There are usually two Marine Option boards, one in November and the other in the first half of March. Are you certain there was a January board? I do know some kids on this forum heard results from the first board.
 
@kinnem - that’s what we were told. DS was originally submitted for “early board” in October (?) but was unsuccessful and was supposedly resubmitted (according to Lansing, MI USMC Recruitment) for January.
Last we heard was about 10 days ago where his Officer said the Board was concluded and notifications would be sent out.
Naturally, the suspense is killing us...
 
I totally understand and there may well have been a board in January. I wouldn't put it past them and I think they are actually regional boards anyway. In any case, other than working on plan B, patience is the order of the day. My DS didn't get a negative reply until mid-April but plan B was ready to execute so we were in good shape. He signed up to do NROTC MO at his #1 college without the scholarship. He earned a scholarship during his sophomore year. Even Plan B always included NROTC.

BTW - DS has been on active duty for 3+ years. 2 of those were in Okinawa so we haven't seen much of him. He did make it home for Christmas this year as he is back stateside. He's even about to attend a class a couple hour drive from us, so we'll be driving up to see him this weekend. I would say that, besides exercising patience, enjoy your time with your son. It gets to be less and less time now.
 
Words of wisdom indeed. Thanks for the good advice...and of course, for your son's service.
 
Patience is key. I submitted my application in Dec, and didn’t receive notification of me being awarded my scholarship until very late April, a week before the May 1 deadline for schools deposits. Best of luck.
 
grahamtorr65 said:
Patience rewarded. DS just received his (NROTC-MO) scholarship to Villanova
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Congratulations, I hope it’s ok to ask but I was wondering if you have already received any confirmation via mail or email? Or did you just hear it by word of mouth from your local Marines? Thanks.
 
grahamtorr65 said:
The XO for the Lansing (MI) USMC Recruitment Center called him this last Friday :)
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Well congratulations to your son... maybe we’ll see each other at OCS... I was lucky enough to receive the same call from my local recruiters on Friday. Expecting an official call from the XO sometime this week. Again, congratulations.
 
DS received notice TODAY he had received NROTC/MO scholarship. Received AROTC scholarship earlier in the year. Very proud & grateful. Now, decision to make between programs. Attending University of South Carolina.
 
2013 Summer Whites Inspection 1.jpg

Are both to University of S. Carolina?

I was certainly impressed with their NROTC program when my son went through it. They usually win some drill competitions and Marine Options are very strongly "encouraged" to participate on the drill team. Ahhhh.... New Orleans during Mardi Gras as a young midshipman! Does it get any better? They're very good on giving leadership responsibilities as early as second semester freshman year. I think there was only 2 semesters when DS didn't have a leadership billet and one was his first freshman semester. Some semesters he held multiple billets and was pretty damn busy. Sometimes I thought he was majoring in NROTC instead of History. The NROTC unit has great tailgates at home football games and the wife and I would attend fairly regularly. Never even bought tickets for the game as they had a big screen TV and portable satellite dish. All the food and beverage you could want. I usually gave a generous donation to cover what the wife and I consumed. The morning after home games the NROTC unit cleans the football stadium to raise funds for Birthday Ball and Dining In etc.

The Marine Options usually spend a long weekend training at Parris Island either once a year or once a semester (can't remember which). They also take advantage of nearby Ft Jackson for training opportunities in Land Nav, Obstacle course, etc. I'm sure AROTC does the same thing. I can't say much about the AROTC unit other than it's pretty large. I watched them all ramble back from the swimming pool to the ROTC building one day but I didn't actually take a count.They were easy to pick out because their hair was wet and many were still in bathing suits. Chatted with a few of them who were, of course, fine young lads.
 
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Yes, both scholarships assigned to USC. Appreciate the additional information. As I'm sure you recall, a lot to check off the list before arrival on campus. Sounds like he's leaning in the direction of the Marine Corp option. Asked him to take a few days to digest the information, get whatever questions he needs addressed...then, get back to me with an informed decision. At that point, I'll add my input and we'll make a call. Exciting times.
 
Please ask any additional questions you might have. It's certainly a beautiful campus, especially around the horseshoe. DS got a job as a freshman orientation leader over the summer of his rising junior year so that may be an opportunity if it's something your DS would be interested in. I think the fact that he participated in NROTC was something that attracted them to him. He actually got to meet a Medal of Honor Awardee (Kyle Carpenter) who was about to become a freshman there. He went off to his first summer cruise immediately after that (he didn't have a scholarship out of high school).
 
Son was contacted by his Captain on Monday and received the MO scholarship for 4 years. Unfortunately, it was to a HBCU that he never put on his application or applied to. The XO said he can apply to that school, get accepted and apply to any other HBCU and with their acceptance transfer the scholarship. They are finding flexibility and he was pretty disappointed that none of his 5 colleges that he got accepted to aligned with his scholarship. It is what it is and it is a great learning experience for him. 100% sure he will not take the scholarship. He has his Army ROTC scholarship however his desire was to go Marines. Really did not see the HBCU piece happening. While he got into all 17 schools he applied for across the AROTC and NROTC-MO he is going to his #1 school applied to. He will play Lacrosse and be in their Engineering program. They have AROTC but I think he will turn it down. It has been a whirlwind of work, activity, etc. and the Corps has been very good to him but the schools just do not align to him and where he wants to be. There is always OCS and PLC if he chooses ultimately.
 
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