Update for SMC's from Cadet Command

I also very much highly recommend Norwich University to anyone considering the school!
 
Thank You NorwichDad. That is the article I was remembering that mentioned the contracting caps. Some people do not realize that the SMC's have an allotted number of slots to fill which varies with each institution. Norwich's number is the only one I have seen.

I think this new "mission" might be instruction for them to fill not only their AD slots but giving them X number of reserve slots to fill also. I assume, do not know, that the number of AD slots allotted can be altered by the commissioning sources as Jcleppe eluded to above.

Since DS is at an MJC, I am sure part of his ROO's post was to let the ECP cadets know that just because they transfer to an SMC, AD is not guaranteed. They still have to compete for that AD slot against a lot of well qualified candidates and that those slots are becoming a lot more competitive for a variety of reasons, one of which would be the directive for SMC's to fill reserve slots.
 
Cav said:
We can go back and forth on this, but congressional intent is a fundamental part of statutory construction and applies to every statute. So, yes the intent of Congress has everything to do with the statute. That is how it works. Further, SMCs are not just like other ROTC programs specifically because of the statute. Again, statutory construction will not allow a provision to be interpreted as meaningless. The presumption is that it means something. Eliminating the distinction between SMCs and other ROTC programs makes the language in the statute superfluous.
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If we look at the specific intent of Congress in Title 10, it seems pretty clear, SMC cadets can be commissioned AD with the recommendation of the PMS. Seems like they are pretty clear in this, if the intent was that all SMC cadets will be commissioned AD the language would be specific. PMS's at SMC's have always been operating under the intent of Title 10, they have always had the option to not recommend a cadet for AD, they have done this every year and will continue to do so. Now, they just may do it a little more often.

I agree with you, SMC's are not like other ROTC programs, if a cadet is well below the AD cutoff at a traditional college ROTC program, they are sent to the Reserves/NG. Fall below the standards at a SMC and you can still get AD. Even making the AD cutoff is risky for traditional ROTC programs, if they're in the bottom 100 but still above the line, they get cut to make room for the 100 plus SMC cadets that didn't make the mark. So over all you are correct, SMC's are not the same as other programs.

I second the recommendation for Norwich, great school.
 
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Someplace back thru the archives, there was a cadet that posted the branching assignments from Norwich this year. It seams like there were 3 or 4 that did not make AD that wanted it. I've searched but can't find the thread. Maybe someone else can have better luck with the search option.
 
At DS's SMC, the stats that were released stated that 86% of cadets who wanted AD got AD in the latest accessions, which leaves 14% who didn't. It was also noted that some who wanted NG or Reserve were branched AD instead. This leads me to the conclusion that the PMS at my son's school is not messing around by recommending an ill-equipped cadet for AD, and that he recognizes talent and skill when he sees it. We throw around numbers in this forum as if we don't really appreciate or understand the end game: fighting and winning our nation's wars. Our AD commissioned lieutenants will soon be put into a situation where people's lives depend on their quick thinking, problem solving, physical preparedness, and the ability to earn trust and foster teamwork in their units. They must be the sorts of men and women who take initiative, who demonstrate the ability to perform well with respect to a mission in an extremely stressful environment. They must be critical thinking problem solvers who constantly monitor and understand exercise physiology; who seek out opportunities to improve their own leader attributes; who understand and appreciate the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of those for whom they are responsible; who take initiative to develop competency in as many areas as possible.

During a brigade briefing recently, the PMS at our school said, "Developing cadets who understand how to effectively plan, prepare and execute training is incredibly important to ensure our Army can effectively generate combat power and win our future wars." He says he owes it to every parent who has entrusted their sons and daughters to the officers he was tasked with training.

So all I'm saying is: show a little respect for the work every PMS at every school is entrusted to do.
 
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