ROTC programs. Does Size matter in selection for CAIT

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PlanAhead

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Hello everyone! Our family could use some guidance to make some decisions.

Our son was given an Army scholarship to his top 3 schools, one of which is Penn State and none are at a senior military academy. (VT, Citadel, VMI, etc...). He only applied to ROTC programs. The other programs are at equally good schools but with much smaller programs.

Questions:
1. How does the size of the ROTC program matter in regards to selections for opportunities to do advanced individual trainings. (Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT)) These would include Air Assault School, Airborne School, etc.

Follow up question: How is the selection of these CAIT programs done and will students from smaller ROTC programs be at a disadvantage to being selected.

2. How do cadets at smaller programs do in comparison to the big Penn State program at the Army Advanced Camp evaluations. Would those bigger programs have more resources so that students score higher and are better prepared than small programs.

3. Are students at any disadvantage in small ROTC programs vs a large ROTC program ( Non SMC) in getting their top branch picks that are more competitive: (aviation, intelligence, infantry, engineering, etc)

4. Same question as to a language Project GO opportunity. Any advantages big or small ROTC programs.

Thanks so much for the help!

DJ
 
I would first worry about surviving fall semester. College is incredibly challenging for many students and passing courses needs to be his top priority. And going to a college that he will do well at should trump the goodness of the ROTC department. Many students are big fish in little ponds and go to college and become little fish in bug ponds. That being said...

1. all brigades are not the same but our brigade doles out slots proportionally to the size of the program so no disadvantage for small programs. I assume most PMS’s pick their top cadets.

2. big programs have an advantage at advanced camp bc their juniors have the opportunity to lead full sized platoons. But a program with 50 cadets can be considered big when looking at this. Extension schools with only a dozen or so maybe at a disadvantage. Of course if you get a group if subpar cadre at a big school the scores may go down. Or if you are a hot shot at a small school you may do very well. There is no across the board answer - the individual is more important than the program. I will say urban schools without the ability to do land nav maybe at a disadvantage.

3. No. All cadets are equally disadvantaged to get their top pick. Again the individual doing well is important.

4. project go is not affiliated with the DOD or ROTC.
 
First off, congratulations to your son on his Army scholarship! I can speak on behalf of the smaller units because my NROTC is tiny in comparison to other schools and programs.

1.) I would argue that size does not have an impact on getting selected for advanced training. However, your performance as a cadet will matter. In smaller units there are more opportunities to lead in leadership billets earlier than your peers at other universities. If you want to get selected for advanced training be the best cadet possible. Do well on physical tests, get good grades in difficult classes, and take all opportunities to sign up to volunteer with the unit. We have had one MIDN selected for BUD/s and one selected for Cryptological Warfare which are both practically impossible to get commissioning from ROTC. They were both fantastic midshipmen and leaders who maxed out PRTs, served as Battalion Commanders, and had near perfect GPAs.

2.) They do just as well as compared to big programs. As I said before if you make the most of your experience you will be well off. Despite the tiny size of my unit, I am ranked top of my class thanks to my solid grades and heavy involvement with the unit. We have plenty of resources because that is what the Navy provides us and we are also well organized.

3.) Nope, size does not factor into service selection. Be a solid cadet and you will get what you want. In my two years in the program every single person has gotten their first choice in service selection which is very impressive.

4.) Again no advantages or disadvantages. We have had 2 or 3 midshipmen do this program if my memory serves me well.
 
I think it depends on what he is better suited for, not the size of the battalion. My son always wanted a smaller school and he is at a small host school with a regional AROTC program and couldn’t be happier. There are probably 50-75 cadets in his battalion with the large majority at his school. He did project GO freshman summer, will be doing ranger team and baton death march soph year, does color guard, and is hoping to go to a school this summer. (His school got 6 slots - 4 for sophs and 2 reserved for juniors who couldn’t go last year because of Covid cancellations). He has had leadership opportunities as a Soph and knows all of the cadre and his fellow cadets. He feels like he has had every opportunity that he would have had at a larger school, and maybe more.
 
Choose the school where your son will thrive-- intellectually and emotionally.

That will have a much larger bearing on his eventual success than any potential advantage or disadvantage attaching to one or another ROTC program.
 
PlanAhead said:
Hello everyone! Our family could use some guidance to make some decisions.

Our son was given an Army scholarship to his top 3 schools, one of which is Penn State and none are at a senior military academy. (VT, Citadel, VMI, etc...). He only applied to ROTC programs. The other programs are at equally good schools but with much smaller programs.

Questions:
1. How does the size of the ROTC program matter in regards to selections for opportunities to do advanced individual trainings. (Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT)) These would include Air Assault School, Airborne School, etc.

Follow up question: How is the selection of these CAIT programs done and will students from smaller ROTC programs be at a disadvantage to being selected.

2. How do cadets at smaller programs do in comparison to the big Penn State program at the Army Advanced Camp evaluations. Would those bigger programs have more resources so that students score higher and are better prepared than small programs.

3. Are students at any disadvantage in small ROTC programs vs a large ROTC program ( Non SMC) in getting their top branch picks that are more competitive: (aviation, intelligence, infantry, engineering, etc)

4. Same question as to a language Project GO opportunity. Any advantages big or small ROTC programs.

Thanks so much for the help!

DJ
Click to expand...
So - make sure you read Montana State's first advice - worry about doing well first semester to (a) maintain the gpa necessary to keep the scholarship, and (b) to establish an academic record that will be important for the OML at the end of his senior year. I do believe that having a good size group of similarly motivated students in the ROTC unit can be helpful to push the members to do their best. As for staff - they turn over frequently, so a lot will depend on how well they mentor students. Did you or your son have the opportunity to ask questions about the unit and its leadership turnover? As to Penn State itself - my oldest daughter graduated from Penn State University Park - as did her husband who is now a senior LTC in the Marine Corps. Biggest hurdle they had (and I assume it is true of most large universities like Penn State) is academics - 52,000 students are at University Park and if you are a freshman or sophomore, you are low man on the totem pole for getting into classes. Typical freshmen seminars are 300 plus students taught by Teaching Assistants (i.e. they are there to get their graduate degrees not to care about undergraduate students trying to learn). Easy to get lost at such institutions - so building a community - ROTC, Athletics and Clubs is important. Best of Luck.
 
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