Goaliedad, if your guesswork is corrext, and it very well may be, I'd opt for staying AROTC and let my gung-ho-ness shine though.... but that's just me. Besides, those Marines are just all screwed up!
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children?
Goaliedad, if your guesswork is corrext, and it very well may be, I'd opt for staying AROTC and let my gung-ho-ness shine though.... but that's just me. Besides, those Marines are just all screwed up!
I suspect he went in thinking everyone was a motivated 6'2 225 pound stud driving towards a infantry career path. This not uncommon as most of the MSIs I have seen over the years have too much gusto spurred on by the recent conflicts, movies and video games. Reality hits them when they meet an MSV like me who tries to get them to think rationally before making statements like " I am going to be an airborne Special Forces Ranger surgeon in 5 years". It's college, you will have people you are motivated, average or just don't care. To leave because people in the program are not as motivated as you is petty and shortsighted and by jumping to the Corps is still not going to fill that void.
Obviously I am just guessing but I have heard MSIs talk like this before
That would be his MSI Class instructor (his ROTC class). That would likely be a Captain or a Major. It won't likely be the actual PMS (sometimes a Major, usually an Lieutenant Colonel), who would tend to teach the MSIII or MSIV class.We asked him to speak to the freshman cadre (not sure about the terminology).
The only problem with going to the cadre ( who just contracted you for a 3 year scholarship) as an MSI potentially pins a target on their chest for four years. Obviously personalities vary from cadre to cadre, but telling a seasoned officer that AROTC just isn't what you are looking for and the Marines down the street have what you want is not going to sit well with some. Remember these officers might be writing your evals down the road and the cadre do communicate about cadets often from MS to MS class. I've sat in quite few cadre/leadership meetings and the actions or words of cadets come up a lot as points of discussion.
Just my 2 cents before he runs off and tells a tabbed O-4 he wants to be a Devildog.
The MOI and AMOI exist to guide students through their academic careers and ensure they maintain the standards of intellect, fitness, and conduct expected of those seeking to become officers. As your mentors throughout your Midshipmen years, the AMOI and I will be available to guide you in professional and personal matters. Open and honest lines of Communications between us will facilitate maintaining this relationship. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask for guidance or help. If we cannot assist you we will find someone who can.
You may be right. I'm sure there is talk about cadets among the cadre. They should be talking as this is a four year evaluation. At the same time they are there to help the student. I offer this quote from my DS's MOI
Human nature being what it is, you may be correct that a target is pasted on their back for four years but I would hope things would happen in the spirit of my quote above. In any case, I think about the only folks who can show him the [potential] error of his thinking, besides his parent's, is his cadre. Hopefully they will at least help him sort it out. (Color me naive I guess!)
After 8 hours of talking, brainstorming, psyco evaluation (by mom and dad), it appears that his problems are 75% homesick and 25% disappointed by whatever idea he had of ROTC.
PIMA may have hit it on the head. The kids have this idea of what all the "hoo-rah" is about and then realize it is really just school. No, I do not think the grass would be any greener on the other (marine) side, but he still does. I think he thought it would be a "band of brothers". The other kids have their own friends, schoolwork, etc. and he is left "alone" to find his own new friends, clubs, etc.
He is going to "give it his best" and continue with classes and AROTC. He may reapply for MO ROTC and/or PLC but is realistic about the chances of getting this.
Our point to him was that the army wants HIM. They see something in him. They see a future army officer. The marines did not. He seemed to understand this. For now, anyway.
Thank you all for "listening". Your advice is priceless (especially about not going to the arotc cadre). I have a feeling this saga will continue for awhile, and if you care to be updated, I certainly will do that. God Bless you all. SA