Cotton&Alligators
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Are there restrictions on study abroad while in ROTC ?
Study Abroad during ROTC ?
- Thread starter Cotton&Alligators
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+1 to k2rider. One of DS's friends just finished a semester abroad.
One word of warning. DS's friend, who is an outstanding midshipman, has no billet this semester. Frankly i think someone back on this end dropped the ball there. I don't think this is going to hurt this particular midshipman at all in the long run, and is probably even helpful, but it could impact their billet for next semester (senior year) since they didn't have one this semester. It remains to be seen though so I could be all wrong in my surmise. In any case, if your child does a semester abroad, remind her to stay in touch with the unit so something like this doesn't happen to her. You don't want to be out of sight and out of mind.
One word of warning. DS's friend, who is an outstanding midshipman, has no billet this semester. Frankly i think someone back on this end dropped the ball there. I don't think this is going to hurt this particular midshipman at all in the long run, and is probably even helpful, but it could impact their billet for next semester (senior year) since they didn't have one this semester. It remains to be seen though so I could be all wrong in my surmise. In any case, if your child does a semester abroad, remind her to stay in touch with the unit so something like this doesn't happen to her. You don't want to be out of sight and out of mind.
nofodad
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odd timing
As I type this we are two hours away from taking our DS who is an MSII contracted cadet to the airport, he'll spend next semester in Russia. Yes, it is possible to do study abroad and ROTC. Our DS is the only cadet from his battalion that is studying abroad this year, but the battalion in general encourages it. According to our son, MSII second semester is just about the only time that a cadet from his battalion is approved to go. Too much happening MSIII year with the lead up to LDAC to miss any of that prep. He needs to write a 20 page paper to fulfill his second semester MSII class and take and pass the APFT when he returns in September. He's got a CULP assignment this summer too...busy kid.
p.s. DS will continue to receive stipend and already got his book money and some CLIP money.
As I type this we are two hours away from taking our DS who is an MSII contracted cadet to the airport, he'll spend next semester in Russia. Yes, it is possible to do study abroad and ROTC. Our DS is the only cadet from his battalion that is studying abroad this year, but the battalion in general encourages it. According to our son, MSII second semester is just about the only time that a cadet from his battalion is approved to go. Too much happening MSIII year with the lead up to LDAC to miss any of that prep. He needs to write a 20 page paper to fulfill his second semester MSII class and take and pass the APFT when he returns in September. He's got a CULP assignment this summer too...busy kid.
p.s. DS will continue to receive stipend and already got his book money and some CLIP money.
Study Abroad, if part of their major, is encouraged by most AROTC programs. Four cadets in my son's Battalion have completed a semester abroad it did not hurt their standing or participation in the Battalion. One of those that did study abroad was Battalion Commander this year and finished #2 on the National OML.
armydaughter
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At the "parents briefing" that was part of Freshman orientation, the HR person encouraged travel abroad. He did say that they try to work it so that the cadet is in the battalion for all of Junior year since they're getting ready for LDAC. He recommended that cadets try to study abroad Sophomore year. However, since some of the study abroad programs require 200 or 300 level language proficiency, he said even Junior year was "do-able".
This is for AROTC.
HorseHolder
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DD (AROTC) studied abroad in Mexico for spring quarter her MS-II year. It is a requirement for her major, and she was careful to choose a program affiliated with her university so her scholarship could be applied to the tuition. In her case, I think she studied along with the ROTC class for that quarter and took the same MilSci on-line final.
I think DD's advice would be to start asking questions, identifying programs, and planning when it will work to go aboard early on in freshman year. In her case, MS-II year worked best, and it arrives surprisingly quickly after that initial freshman drop-off.
Regarding studying aboard and ROTC, DD found she tended to get different answers depending on who she asked so it took a while put all the pieces together. There was also paperwork that had to be approved all the way up the chain to Cadet Command, and there might be some "hotspot" destinations around the globe which would not be approved.
I think DD's advice would be to start asking questions, identifying programs, and planning when it will work to go aboard early on in freshman year. In her case, MS-II year worked best, and it arrives surprisingly quickly after that initial freshman drop-off.
Regarding studying aboard and ROTC, DD found she tended to get different answers depending on who she asked so it took a while put all the pieces together. There was also paperwork that had to be approved all the way up the chain to Cadet Command, and there might be some "hotspot" destinations around the globe which would not be approved.
nofodad
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College pre-reqs
One more thing, your University may have pre-requisites for you to take before you can study abroad, if you're an incoming freshman you should ask that question of your college faculty adviser-so you can get those "out of the way." Also, if your major requires 2 or 300 language course for study abroad and you start at 100 some Project GO programs can get you those 200 level credits before your sophomore year.
One more thing, your University may have pre-requisites for you to take before you can study abroad, if you're an incoming freshman you should ask that question of your college faculty adviser-so you can get those "out of the way." Also, if your major requires 2 or 300 language course for study abroad and you start at 100 some Project GO programs can get you those 200 level credits before your sophomore year.