Son Headed to AROTC & Mining Engineering Major

[JimmyR]

Hello, all. My DS is at a military boarding school where he is a rising high school senior. He is headed to Army ROTC and a mining engineering major (which has elements of civil and geological engineering and explosives techniques in it). He is likely to have a minor in GIS technology.

I have three related questions, so that my son and I can have some idea of what to expect when he graduates from college five years from now:

1. How likely is it that my son will be commissioned to do something that is related to his major, by which I mean having to do with moving earth, digging, shoring up erosion, geotechnical explosives, etc.?
2. Is there a likelihood of his commissioning to a GIS unit (the geospatial engineers and analysts)?
3. How likely is it that he would be at Ft. Leonard Wood for his commission, given that that the Corps of Engineers is there?

Thank you very much. I saw this related thread.

By the way, a few years ago, this forum gave me very helpful advice about my son's older brother as he was trying to get the Army ROTC scholarship. He did not get the scholarship. He did not go to college. He is deliriously happy as a 35P (Chinese) in the Army. I'm glad he didn't get the scholarship!

 

[kinnem]

Most of the time one's major plays no role in what they do in the military. YMMV.

 

[Anonymous121]

Only way to really "guarantee" anything is to do well enough to be placed high on the OML and then are far more likely to get the AOC of his preference.

 

[glen]

As noted OML placement is key to commissioning, active duty and branch assignment via ROTC. Alternatively, if he is more interested in serving his country (and does not need the ROTC scholarship), has he considered enlisting while in college? With a degree in geologic engineering, he might have more choices after college as an enlisted NCO to transfer to an engineering or Ordinance unit than as an officer.

 

[cb7893]

I wish you had posted a few month ago. My son did the Navy iteration and loved it. He was less of a dirt mover and more of a power tool guy. Unfortunately, he was medically DQed and lost his NROTC scholarship.

This program is such a no brainer and i post about at least once a year. It should be a sticky.

I would still try to talk my way in.

https://www.same.org/Portals/0/pdfs/camps/22/2021-22_STEMCamp_Flyers_ARMY.pdf?ver=2021-12-21-170840-123&timestamp=1640128143410

Ill have more to say tomorrow.

 

[JimmyR]

As noted OML placement is key to commissioning, active duty and branch assignment via ROTC. Alternatively, if he is more interested in serving his country (and does not need the ROTC scholarship), has he considered enlisting while in college? With a degree in geologic engineering, he might have more choices after college as an enlisted NCO to transfer to an engineering or Ordinance unit than as an officer.

Thanks, good suggestion. Also, enlisting can get you in-state tuition at some state schools even if your out-of-state.

 

[JimmyR]

I wish you had posted a few month ago. My son did the Navy iteration and loved it. He was less of a dirt mover and more of a power tool guy. Unfortunately, he was medically DQed and lost his NROTC scholarship.

This program is such a no brainer and i post about at least once a year. It should be a sticky.

I would still try to talk my way in.

https://www.same.org/Portals/0/pdfs/camps/22/2021-22_STEMCamp_Flyers_ARMY.pdf?ver=2021-12-21-170840-123&timestamp=1640128143410

Ill have more to say tomorrow.

Thanks, great looking camp! My boy is headed to a great geotechnical explosives and mining engineering camp this summer. You can find it at sdsmt.edu. Sorry about your son's medical DQ.

 

[cb7893]

SD School of Mines is one of those really good, under the radar schools and not much beats the Black Hills. Does he have his sights set on it for college?

As to the gist of your questions, the first three responses are absolutely spot on.

Your question, however, reminds me of me 10 years ago. My older DS could do math proofs and chemical reactions in his sleep. He headed off the a Big 10 State school to major in Chemical Engineering. I remember wanting to know what would be the most satisfying and long term beneficial MOS for that major. Well, it was a waste of time. DS ended up hating Engineering, but still loving Chemistry. He changed his major to Chemistry, freeing up a number of electives that he devoted to Computer Science and foreign language courses.

He knew enough about Chem Corps to know it would be a terrible fit for him. He ended up in Signal Corps, which used his math and computer skills, thinking it would be an easy slide into Verizon or some other related gig post military. Well, he signed on for another 3-4 years, changed MOS and has been happy and satisfied start to finish.

Best advice to your DS would be to keep pursuing his passions, but without blinders to the world of opportunity that is the Army.

Best of luck to your DS!

 

[ders_dad]

I’m an SDSM&T grad and long time ABET accreditation advisory board member there. My office mate in grad school there was AD captain in the Army Hygiene unit (contamination cleanup). He went on to get a PhD in geotechnical engineering. SD Mines has a very good AROTC unit. He used his education for the remainder of his military career (he was previously enlisted special forces). Mines has a very good mining engineering program- one of the very few left.

 

[JimmyR]

I’m an SDSM&T grad and long time ABET accreditation advisory board member there. My office mate in grad school there was AD captain in the Army Hygiene unit (contamination cleanup). He went on to get a PhD in geotechnical engineering. SD Mines has a very good AROTC unit. He used his education for the remainder of his military career (he was previously enlisted special forces). Mines has a very good mining engineering program- one of the very few left.

Thanks, ders_dad. Yes, that's my boy's plan: SD Mines for AROTC and mining engineering. Glad to hear the college has a good AROTC unit. He'll get a chance to meet one of them next week.

 

[JimmyR]

SD School of Mines is one of those really good, under the radar schools and not much beats the Black Hills. Does he have his sights set on it for college?

As to the gist of your questions, the first three responses are absolutely spot on.

Your question, however, reminds me of me 10 years ago. My older DS could do math proofs and chemical reactions in his sleep. He headed off the a Big 10 State school to major in Chemical Engineering. I remember wanting to know what would be the most satisfying and long term beneficial MOS for that major. Well, it was a waste of time. DS ended up hating Engineering, but still loving Chemistry. He changed his major to Chemistry, freeing up a number of electives that he devoted to Computer Science and foreign language courses.

He knew enough about Chem Corps to know it would be a terrible fit for him. He ended up in Signal Corps, which used his math and computer skills, thinking it would be an easy slide into Verizon or some other related gig post military. Well, he signed on for another 3-4 years, changed MOS and has been happy and satisfied start to finish.

Best advice to your DS would be to keep pursuing his passions, but without blinders to the world of opportunity that is the Army.

Best of luck to your DS!

Thanks, cb7893, great advice. I've pointed out all the cool MOSs he could do if he enlists: electrician, etc. His brother is 35P Chinese and loves it. Yes, he appears to be headed to SD Mines. At the mining camp next week, DS will get a taste of it and see whether he really likes it. They will blow bits of land up up and pseudo-mine it with one of the professors. The department is recruiting students. Industry is paying for the camp. Glad to hear your DS found a great path.