Too Much Of A Good Thing?

[NJROTC-CC]

So, this a question of depth vs. breadth.

My DS is a sophomore. He has good grades, and is a conscientious student. He is on the JV Cross County Team, but his true love is Navy JROTC. I am worried that he is spending too much time in NJROTC at the expense of other possible extra curricular or sports activities. His NJROTC unit is very large, currently approx. 220 cadets. DS was just appointed community service officer, which is a staff position (unusual for an underclassman at his school) and his goal is to become Cadet CO (and I wouldn't doubt that he will get it if he keeps working hard) He is on the Armed Drill, Athletic and Orienteering teams. He stays every day after school for either JROTC (they want him every day) or cross-country. He misses a lot of cross country practices because they are at the same time as NJROTC.

I think NJROTC at his school is wonderful. I volunteer A LOT of time helping the program, like and respect the Naval Science Instructers and I fully support DS. However, I am concerned that focusing so much time to one organization, will make DS appear less well-rounded. Without JROTC he could go out for a different sport each season, but JROTC is all-year (even several training camps during the summer.) The cross-county coach wanted to do practices at 6:00 a.m., but the team voted him down. 6:00 a.m. would have been perfect. After school is a conflict with JROTC.

Anyway, I don't see any other way than to let DS keep doing what he loves, NJROTC nearly full-time. It's what he is passionate about. If he doesn't get an appointment to USNA, or a NROTC scholarship, I think his NJROTC experience will at least make him a strong "walk-on" college programmer and from there, he can do his best to earn a scholarship.

 

[kinnem]

Anyway, I don't see any other way than to let DS keep doing what he loves, NJROTC nearly full-time. It's what he is passionate about. If he doesn't get an appointment to USNA, or a NROTC scholarship, I think his NJROTC experience will at least make him a strong "walk-on" college programmer and from there, he can do his best to earn a scholarship.

I'm not sure I actually caught a question in that but I think you answered it yourself with the above paragraph. If the x-country coach is OK with how it's going then no changes are needed. If he can squeeze in his own x-country practice, perhaps with guidance from the coach, at 6 AM, so much the better. Keep in mind that no where on his application will they ask how many x-country practices he attended. It probably means no leadership roles in x-country but it sounds like he'll be addressing that with JROTC.

Good luck to your son.

 

[MidCakePa]

If he does what he loves, he’ll be more likely to make a significant leadership impact. And that, not mere participation in many activities, is what the SAs want. Leave a meaningful mark in an organization, rather than just being recorded as present.

In terms of athletics, quality over quantity. He doesn’t need to go out for a different sport every season. One or two sports would be fine if there are other important things he’s doing alongside.

 

[HCopter]

Your son sounds awesome!

All I see here is more opportunity!!

I would encourage DS to work something with cross country coach. Sounds like HE wanted am practices, which would be best for your DS. Maybe DS can arrange for say, one day or a few days a week to lead a group, whoever shows up, for AM workouts? That is leadership, even without being a captain. Fast forward 3 years, he will be Captain of the AM team? Or even now? Does the team use Remind? If not, use one for the AM? Maybe even increase team participation with NJROTC students who have the same issue with PM double scheduling?

 

[brewmeist]

My son was fortunate enough to be allowed to do multiple ECAs in HS. He was a varsity distance runner (USNA recruit), and still be able to be in the band and a few clubs. The coaches/directors all made it work. XC practices would always conflict with band in the fall. He would go and lead the XC practice, and then head over to band rehearsal for the last 45 mins. If there was a band competiton and he needed to be at the full rehearsal, he would leave XC practice early.

Because of the conflicts, he needed to run on his own at times. He charted his workouts and shared them with his coach. As the team captain, he would lead the pack of others on his team that also needed to run on their own. As @HCopter posted, hopefully your son could do the same. Even if only one or two runners join him, it is still showing leadership and he gets to do both activities.

 

[BarryD]

Warning: Sample Size here is my own experiences and people I've known.

I had a similar NJROTC experience where I was putting in 5-8 hours a day. NJROTC definitely helped me pick up NROTC, via ASR (which apparently no longer exists but is being replaced by some kind of prep program). It got me a guaranteed "look" (in the form of a nomination) to USNA, but I believe I wasn't well rounded enough to be truly competitive.

Four of us from my program applied to the Academy, none of us got in. Four of us applied NROTC, and we all got picked up.

Just my experience, not by any means am I saying this is the bottom line. It should also be noted we were applying to USNA from one of the most USNA applicant dense areas.

 

[StPaulDad]

Similar caveat to @BarryD : My kids' JROTC program has a few of these guys most years and they're often labelled Johnny Tryhards, not well integrated into the community, often promoted but rarely to top ranks. Even within the military dept folks frequently think they're as narrow as they are enthusiastic. Encourage a broader approach to life, not at the expense of NJROTC but as a leavening. It'll make him better accepted within the dept as well as outside it.

 

[kinnem]

Because of the conflicts, he needed to run on his own at times. He charted his workouts and shared them with his coach. As the team captain, he would lead the pack of others on his team that also needed to run on their own.

Now there's a leadership role that OP's son could create and own, leading a 6 AM run for folks who can't make a particular practice.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

Now there's a leadership role that OP's son could create and own, leading a 6 AM run for folks who can't make a particular practice.

I totally agree with brewmeist and kinnem. He needs to make time to train on his own (and lead others to join him) and to track his progress and share it with the Coach. The problem is that - - so far - - he is not making up for the practices he is missing due to JROTC. He has time to correct this. I like to say "Rome wasn't built in a day." He needs to gradually add to his workload and learn to balance activities as he goes. He is doing pretty well so far, but could stand improvement. I know that the service academies are looking for candidates who manage a very full schedule and succeed at it.