All through high school I had plans to be an Army officer, and got a 4-year scholarship for AROTC, and I’m doing well with fitness and leadership positions, but I’m unhappy quite frankly. What should I do if I don’t necessarily want to be in the program anymore as a freshman?
What should I do if I’m unhappy in ROTC
- Thread starter CadetB1
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It depends on why you’re unhappy. Is it directly related to ROTC? Is it something else completely, but having a knock-on effect on your ROTC experience? Is it something COVID-related that may soon pass? Is it school in general, or some aspect of school such as location or social life or academics?
No one here can tell you what to do because we don’t know your circumstances. But you should think through the root cause and make sure you're addressing that, because quitting may not solve the issue.
Also ask yourself, do you still want to become a commissioned officer. If not, then makes sense to quit. If so, then think hard about walking away from potentially your best chance of achieving those butter bars. Best wishes.
No one here can tell you what to do because we don’t know your circumstances. But you should think through the root cause and make sure you're addressing that, because quitting may not solve the issue.
Also ask yourself, do you still want to become a commissioned officer. If not, then makes sense to quit. If so, then think hard about walking away from potentially your best chance of achieving those butter bars. Best wishes.
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I would add, talk to somone who knows you well. Maybe a coach, counselor, teacher, chaplain. Other than you parents (talk to them too but they may not be unbiased). Talk this all through with an adult who has experience, and can help with wading through the muddy weeds, with life experience. You don’t have to decide now. You have a while to mull it over.
Take your time. You have all summer.
Take your time. You have all summer.
DS #1 is an Army O-3 doing well, also AROTC 4 year. DS#2 (medically DQed from NROTC 4yr) is doing well a couple of years out of college in a Mech Eng job, first out of college. The one constant is that nothing in their lives/careers has been as they anticipated. Some things better, others more challenging.
When either of them call to “talk”, I have to beg ignorance, because very little in my background jibes with their current situations. My constant advice to them is the same I would give you. Seek out their seniors; those who’ve been there and done that in your era. In your case, it would be MS-IV’s through Junior Officers. Through their experiences, maybe you will see a path forward to get you through the challenging times. Hopefully, it will give you a goal to work towards.
If you think you can avoid the occasional “suck”, either physical or institutional, it will be hard to endure the “suck”.
Best of luck!
When either of them call to “talk”, I have to beg ignorance, because very little in my background jibes with their current situations. My constant advice to them is the same I would give you. Seek out their seniors; those who’ve been there and done that in your era. In your case, it would be MS-IV’s through Junior Officers. Through their experiences, maybe you will see a path forward to get you through the challenging times. Hopefully, it will give you a goal to work towards.
If you think you can avoid the occasional “suck”, either physical or institutional, it will be hard to endure the “suck”.
Best of luck!