1000X agreement with Jcleppe. This is probably the best site you will find for ROTC cadets.
I am a spouse of a now retired O5 that I dated throughout college when he was an AFROTC cadet. Lived 21 yrs as a military spouse. DS entered AFROTC as a scholarship recipient the month Bullet retired from the AF.
The best advice I can give you is to not ask any direct questions to your child. Don't say: Well I read on xyz site that you should have this or that. Instead say, Xmas/Hanakkuh is coming up and I thought I would get you ....
~ JMPO the well, I read on this site can feel intrusive to them. The I was thinking about getting you a certain pair of boots or a certain watch, what would you like more will open up the line of communication.
~~ He will probably say what brand of boots he would prefer or the type of watch, running shoes, etc. From there the door of communication/learning will open up by you saying something simple as why that one over the other? They than will probably say something akin to: Well, that watch has this function I can use for PT. Now they opened another door for you to learn from his life. So, how is PT going? So on and so forth.
As stated this site is your asset. When they come home for the 1st time (Columbus Day, Thanksgiving whatever)they will probably speak in acronyms. Read the ROTC threads that pertain to your DS aka A/AF/NROTC. As freshmen there are different opportunities offered. CULP is really an AROTC thing. Understanding what CULP stands for and when it is offered will make the conversation go better.
~ Thanksgiving dinner I want to do ABC this summer, but I need the CoC to support me. Knowing what ABC is and what the CoC is makes life better because you can reply back well if your CoC does not support you for ABC can you fo MNOP?
Bullet and I, as military parents backed 1000% off not only when he was in AFROTC, but also at UPT. We did the backdoor opening like I said about boots and watches. AFROTC as a sophomore they vie for a Summer Field Training spot in Feb. DS's bday is in Feb. Instead of asking him; Have you heard about results yet, or when do you think you will hear? I just said DS would you like us to buy you another dress blues pair of pants for your bday gift. From there he would open up.