Parents - ask me your mom and dad questions

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tgtl

5-Year Member
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I am the proud parent of a newly commissioned Army officer who had a very successful 4 years in ROTC. I was new to all of this 4 years ago and admittedly anxious, but I have learned a lot and am happy to answer any questions you may have (from a parent’s perspective).
 
Did your cadet get their branch choice? If so, did they have to BRADSO?
Orders cut right away to go on AD to help out at camp or gold bar recruiter? If no, how lanog are they having to wait for orders?
 
  • Anything you wish you would have known or asked about early on in the process?
  • Anything financially we should be prepared for? Did the book allowance and stipend cover most of their expenses?
 
beelarr said:
  • Anything financially we should be prepared for? Did the book allowance and stipend cover most of their expenses?
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Not a parent, but I'll say this; book allowance covered all my books for class... the stipend covers everything you "need." Doesn't include the plane tickets, ski lift tickets, etc random things if you pay for any extra circulars. Not sure what it's like at VMI if they're more strict, but I'd say about 1 in 3 MIDN in my unit had an outside job.
 
banjoppd said:
Did your cadet get their branch choice? If so, did they have to BRADSO?
Orders cut right away to go on AD to help out at camp or gold bar recruiter? If no, how lanog are they having to wait for orders?
Click to expand...
Yes, he got his first branch choice and everyone at his school got their first or second choice. No, he did not BRADSO but he would have if he needed to. He requested gold bar but got pulled to go to camp because his BOLC date is too soon for gold bar. He got his orders a while ago but many from his school are still waiting. I think they all have BOLC dates (except the nurses) but some don’t know where they are going after that. In some cases, like infantry, they don’t find out until they are at BOLC.
 
beelarr said:
  • Anything you wish you would have known or asked about early on in the process?
  • Anything financially we should be prepared for? Did the book allowance and stipend cover most of their expenses?
Click to expand...
His school covered room and board and paid for everything - even his graduation and gown expenses. The only things he paid for (by choice not necessity) were extra uniforms and some equipment that he wanted, including boots. They provide everything but he wanted lightweight uniforms for camp and the issued boots weren’t very comfortable. The book allowance and stipend worked out great for him and neither he nor any of his friends worked during the school year. Once they get ready to commission, they need to buy their own dress uniform which was a little under $1000 with alterations. It makes a good Christmas, birthday or graduation gift.

I can’t think of anything that I didn’t ask beforehand, but I also did a lot of research on my own.
 
tgtl said:
I am the proud parent of a newly commissioned Army officer who had a very successful 4 years in ROTC. I was new to all of this 4 years ago and admittedly anxious, but I have learned a lot and am happy to answer any questions you may have (from a parent’s perspective).
Click to expand...
My DD was recently contacted with an Army ROTC scholarship opportunity. Once everything is official, I am certain that I will have tons of questions! Thank you so much for offering to answer questions! We've been scrambling to learn the SA ins and outs and now we'll have to start from scratch with ROTC matters.

One quick question, did your DS do JROTC in HS? If so, did it help with the transition to ROTC?
 
tgtl said:
His school covered room and board and paid for everything - even his graduation and gown expenses. The only things he paid for (by choice not necessity) were extra uniforms and some equipment that he wanted, including boots. They provide everything but he wanted lightweight uniforms for camp and the issued boots weren’t very comfortable. The book allowance and stipend worked out great for him and neither he nor any of his friends worked during the school year. Once they get ready to commission, they need to buy their own dress uniform which was a little under $1000 with alterations. It makes a good Christmas, birthday or graduation gift.

I can’t think of anything that I didn’t ask beforehand, but I also did a lot of research on my own.
Click to expand...
Great thank you and congrats!!
 
hopefulmominva said:
My DD was recently contacted with an Army ROTC scholarship opportunity. Once everything is official, I am certain that I will have tons of questions! Thank you so much for offering to answer questions! We've been scrambling to learn the SA ins and outs and now we'll have to start from scratch with ROTC matters.

One quick question, did your DS do JROTC in HS? If so, did it help with the transition to ROTC?
Click to expand...
Congrats to your son. My son also had a scholarship. No, we didn’t have a JROTC program at our school. I don’t think any of his ROTC friends were in it either.
 
beelarr said:
  • Anything you wish you would have known or asked about early on in the process?
  • Anything financially we should be prepared for? Did the book allowance and stipend cover most of their expenses?
Click to expand...
One thing I didn’t know beforehand was the DODMERB stuff. I knew he needed a physical but didn’t realize the extent of the medical history that would be involved and the medical clearances that would be needed for what seems to be a minor issue like a sprain or use of accutane or some other prescription meds. It usually all works out but it can be stressful because the waiver process can move slowly.
 
tgtl said:
One thing I didn’t know beforehand was the DODMERB stuff. I knew he needed a physical but didn’t realize the extent of the medical history that would be involved and the medical clearances that would be needed for what seems to be a minor issue like a sprain or use of accutane or some other prescription meds. It usually all works out but it can be stressful because the waiver process can move slowly.
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DoDMERB process is horrific! So grateful my DD's done with that part. Now we just have to pray for the waiver approval.
 
tgtl said:
One thing I didn’t know beforehand was the DODMERB stuff. I knew he needed a physical but didn’t realize the extent of the medical history that would be involved and the medical clearances that would be needed for what seems to be a minor issue like a sprain or use of accutane or some other prescription meds. It usually all works out but it can be stressful because the waiver process can move slowly.
Click to expand...
Ah yea, thankfully we had that completed with the SA applications. It is very interesting how the different branches are all slightly different in their application processes, dates, requirements, PFAs, etc. Requires applicants to become very organized. Really a great exercise in project management. Super impressed for any young person getting through this process.
 
beelarr said:
  • Anything you wish you would have known or asked about early on in the process?
  • Anything financially we should be prepared for? Did the book allowance and stipend cover most of their expenses?
Click to expand...
When I was a MIDN, the book allowance and stipend did not cover all my books and materials for classes... It also came very late several semesters due to paperwork stuff? I guess it just depends on your classes, school, etc. My college's bookstore would upcharge textbooks a ton
 
Ivy22 said:
When I was a MIDN, the book allowance and stipend did not cover all my books and materials for classes... It also came very late several semesters due to paperwork stuff? I guess it just depends on your classes, school, etc. My college's bookstore would upcharge textbooks a ton
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Probably also depends on the major. I paid for my son’s books out of the 529 account and let him keep the book allowance, so I know the cost of his books was well under $500 per semester.
 
tgtl said:
One thing I didn’t know beforehand was the DODMERB stuff. I knew he needed a physical but didn’t realize the extent of the medical history that would be involved and the medical clearances that would be needed for what seems to be a minor issue like a sprain or use of accutane or some other prescription meds. It usually all works out but it can be stressful because the waiver process can move slowly.
Click to expand...
What was the Pre commissioning physical process like? I think I read their DodMerb physical is good for two years and they have to do another one before Advanced Camp??Is it similar to the DoDMerb process? Easier and less involved? If they receive a waiver the first time for something do they have to navigate through that again or is it more streamlined?
 
hopefulmominva said:
Hoping my DD's comes back approved. It's been so stressful going from recruited USMMA athlete/NAPS conditional offer, pending waiver approval, to NOTHING! both waivers were ultimately denied. Praying the third time is a charm and the AROTC comes through for her.
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Good luck! The waiting is so stressful!
 
EJF said:
What was the Pre commissioning physical process like? I think I read their DodMerb physical is good for two years and they have to do another one before Advanced Camp??Is it similar to the DoDMerb process? Easier and less involved? If they receive a waiver the first time for something do they have to navigate through that again or is it more streamlined?
Click to expand...
Sorry, I don’t know about this.
 
hopefulmominva said:
My DD was recently contacted with an Army ROTC scholarship opportunity. Once everything is official, I am certain that I will have tons of questions! Thank you so much for offering to answer questions! We've been scrambling to learn the SA ins and outs and now we'll have to start from scratch with ROTC matters.

One quick question, did your DS do JROTC in HS? If so, did it help with the transition to ROTC?
Click to expand...
JROTC to ROTC is only somewhat common, about 1 out of 6 students in my unit had some JROTC experience, though once you go through the initial indoc phase, everything levels out pretty fast.... like a few days type of fast
 
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