USNA to NROTC?

M

Magnify

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Jan 3, 2021
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I am currently a youngster at the academy. During my time there I have struggled with the physical mission, primarily the PRT. With the academy having higher standards, I have unfortunately been unable to meet the minimum on the 1.5 mile run yet (which is 10:30). I have been improving each time and am close, but am worried about facing separation from the academy. Other than my physical struggles, I would like to think I am a solid mid. Good grades, good conduct, company mates are friendly and like me. I want to be there and don't want the pain and difficulty of leaving be a memory that I have to live with, but I also don't want to put myself in a situation where I may face having to pay back the academy for my education. My goal prior to coming here was to serve my country and earn a commission, regardless of how I got it. If the academy doesn't work out for me, know that I still plan to pursue any and all options to still achieve that goal.

Prior to attending the academy, I had also received a NROTC scholarship, which became my backup plan in case I wasn't accepted into the academy. With the current situation I am in, I have been trying to gain as much information as I can to simply be informed about my decisions and to make the best one that will benefit me the best. I recently found out that if I were to finish out this year and transfer to a university with NROTC, I would not be able to join my junior year because it would be too late since I am not on scholarship at that school. Is there any way around that? I know that if I had attended NROTC and hadn't received a scholarship after my two years I would have had the opportunity for advanced standing in NROTC, but if I were to attempt to join without attending that school it seems that isn't possible. The thing that is confusing though is that I've heard and read about numerous people from West Point who have left during their junior year and be able to join ROTC at a local school. Is it different for them because it is Army ROTC?

I guess that main thing I am asking is what are my options if I decided to not sign 2 for 7 or was involuntarily separated from the academy? I want to still commission and know OCS is always an option, but considering I have a year and half already at a service academy, it would be nice to transition to NROTC or something that is similar rather than just finishing my degree plainly and doing OCS. Has anyone heard of anyone leaving USNA and joining NROTC during their junior/senior year? If I were to leave after this school year finished up, is there any chance I would be able to join a unit since I would be an incoming junior?
 
Magnify said:
I am currently a youngster at the academy. During my time there I have struggled with the physical mission, primarily the PRT. With the academy having higher standards, I have unfortunately been unable to meet the minimum on the 1.5 mile run yet (which is 10:30). I have been improving each time and am close, but am worried about facing separation from the academy. Other than my physical struggles, I would like to think I am a solid mid. Good grades, good conduct, company mates are friendly and like me. I want to be there and don't want the pain and difficulty of leaving be a memory that I have to live with, but I also don't want to put myself in a situation where I may face having to pay back the academy for my education. My goal prior to coming here was to serve my country and earn a commission, regardless of how I got it. If the academy doesn't work out for me, know that I still plan to pursue any and all options to still achieve that goal.

Prior to attending the academy, I had also received a NROTC scholarship, which became my backup plan in case I wasn't accepted into the academy. With the current situation I am in, I have been trying to gain as much information as I can to simply be informed about my decisions and to make the best one that will benefit me the best. I recently found out that if I were to finish out this year and transfer to a university with NROTC, I would not be able to join my junior year because it would be too late since I am not on scholarship at that school. Is there any way around that? I know that if I had attended NROTC and hadn't received a scholarship after my two years I would have had the opportunity for advanced standing in NROTC, but if I were to attempt to join without attending that school it seems that isn't possible. The thing that is confusing though is that I've heard and read about numerous people from West Point who have left during their junior year and be able to join ROTC at a local school. Is it different for them because it is Army ROTC?

I guess that main thing I am asking is what are my options if I decided to not sign 2 for 7 or was involuntarily separated from the academy? I want to still commission and know OCS is always an option, but considering I have a year and half already at a service academy, it would be nice to transition to NROTC or something that is similar rather than just finishing my degree plainly and doing OCS. Has anyone heard of anyone leaving USNA and joining NROTC during their junior/senior year? If I were to leave after this school year finished up, is there any chance I would be able to join a unit since I would be an incoming junior?
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Have you directly contacted an NROTC unit and had a detailed and candid discussion with an officer there, emphasizing your desire to commission and feeling USNA is no longer a good fit?
 
rickdunnjr said:
Just wondering if you have worked with your Physical Mission Officer in your Company. Are you sure you cant meet the 1.5 mile requirement?
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I've worked with them. Not saying I can't meet the requirement, I've been working hard to get it, but still worried I may fall short. Also somewhat worried that if I pass this next PRT, sign 2 for 7, and then fail the following one what would happen to me.
 
Capt MJ said:
Have you directly contacted an NROTC unit and had a detailed and candid discussion with an officer there, emphasizing your desire to commission and feeling USNA is no longer a good fit?
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I personally haven't had a chance to talk with a NROTC unit, but my mother had been assisting me and was in contact with one last month when I was busy finishing up the semester and that's how I found out about the possibility of not being able to join the unit during my junior year.
 
DD is a 2/C who had a battalion-level billet last semester that oversaw the improvement of mids struggling with the PRT. My impression is that USNA will do just about everything to help a mid pass the PRT. It’s not unlike EI, in which as long as you’re willing to show up, heed the advice and do the work, you’ll be OK. If it’s a training issue, there are steps for that. A bit overweight? There’s a nutrition program for that. A mental or emotional issue? There’s help for that also.

And if you can do it once, then discipline and perseverance — along with the PRT support program — strongly suggest that you should be able to do it again. With all due respect, I suggest you shift your attitude from “what if I fail” to “how I’ll succeed.”
 
Is the run the only part of the PRT you struggle with? Especially if you've been putting in the work to get the minimum and you have been passing, I see no reason why you should give up now. Half the battle is mental. If you can physically hit the minimums once, then there should be no doubt in your mind that you can do it again
 
What are you doing to work on your run time? Most people incorrectly view the 1.5 or the 2.0 as a long distance run when in actuality they are long sprints. They think running long distance will help their 1.5 mile time. Well, if you are running long distance but running at 11 minute mile paces you will probably run a 1.5 at 11 minute mile paces.
The best way to train for anything less than a 5K is by doing HIIT, 220s, 440’s, and 880’s. Look up Stew Smith and his methods for improving your times if you haven’t.
Good luck no matter the route you take. Get that 1.5 time then, if you still want to go NROTC do it on your terms.
 
Related question: if you have, say, a knee injury that doesn’t allow you to train and/or prevents you from completing the PRT, can you be separated?
 
If you're improving each time, it won't be long before you're below that threshold, no? Is your sustained improvement and effort documented by the PMO staff? Have you sought dietary advice from a nutritionist? Get everything you've done to try to fix this documented on paper.

"If" it gets to that point, you would still go up to a board prior to separation. Proving you've expended all resources available and have made every effort to improve (and that you've improved slowly and surely over time) will keep you in the fight.

ders_dad said:
Related question: if you have, say, a knee injury that doesn’t allow you to train and/or prevents you from completing the PRT, can you be separated?
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There's a medical waiver process that allows you to suspend the PRT until the injury recovers, up to a limit. SECDEF Mattis' "be deployable, or get out" policy is still in effect.
 
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nuensis said:
If you're improving each time, it won't be long before you're below that threshold, no? Is your sustained improvement and effort documented by the PMO staff? Have you sought dietary advice from a nutritionist? Get everything you've done to try to fix this documented on paper.

"If" it gets to that point, you would still go up to a board prior to separation. Proving you've expended all resources available and have made every effort to improve (and that you've improved slowly and surely over time) will keep you in the fight.


There's a medical waiver process that allows you to suspend the PRT until the injury recovers, up to a limit. SECDEF Mattis' "be deployable, or get out" policy is still in effect.
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I've sought as many resources as I can. I've been keeping track of all my workouts, talked with a nutritionist, talked with BTT and the Human Performance Lab. I'd like to think that I have my ducks in a row in case it does come to that but obviously hope I won't have to be in that situation.
 
Magnify... I don't have anything to add, but I do wish you luck. As someone who spent time in Mother B, I understand your angst. You want this and it appears you have done everything you can to improve yourself. But, I also understand the hesitation, anxiety and reality you are facing with 2 for 7 on the horizon and not putting yourself at risk. Good luck.
 
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