Why ROTC is awesome (even though now I can't do it)

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NavyNurseApplicant

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Messages
27
As some of you may remember, last year I was an applicant for NROTC (Nurse Option). I was notified by January, I think, that I did not receive the scholarship. I felt discouraged, but ended up picking a great college that if I had gotten the NROTC scholarship I wouldn't have gotten to go to. I decided to join the AROTC program at a great university.

AROTC was hard. But it was also the most rewarding experience of my first quarter of college. During my winter break, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave my AROTC program. I was already disqualified for history of asthma and eczema, so I was waiting for two waivers (which is unlikely in the current economy) when I injured my knee. I was basically told that if I continued with the level of physical activity ROTC requires, I would permanently damage my knee/leg. My parents and I had a long talk about my options. Emailing my cadre and telling them that with my health, I can't be the officer America's sons and daughters deserve was incredibly hard to do.

Even with all of this though, I do not regret for a second participating in the program. If you're doubting yourself, my suggestion is just: DO IT. Yes, early mornings suck. Yes, you will be pushed past your comfort zone. But it is so worth it. I met some fantastic people in the program, and learned a lot about myself in the process. This forum was a great resource to me while applying/participating in ROTC and I am so thankful for that. Yeah, my path is different now and, unless my health decides to improve dramatically, this is the end of my pursuit of a military career, but I am so glad I can say I gave it my all. Good luck and great job to all ROTC cadets/mids and their parents.
 
Thanks for posting that, NavyNurseApplicant. I'm sorry that you ended up having to change your plans.

DS just went back to school today and said he was most looking forward to "early morning PT, ROTC labs, FTXs," and academic classes in his major. I think he likes the discipline and rigor of ROTC life.

But that's not to say that he couldn't find discipline and rigor in other fields if he had to. He was previously a volunteer firefighter, and loved the brotherhood there as well, one where love of neighbors and helping others was the reason to show up. Training for that was also intense.

Good luck to you. What's your plan B?
 
Sorry to hear that NavyNurseApplicant. I do indeed remember when you applied and am pleased that you gave Army a shot. I feel, in some respects, that this is one of those lose-lose propositions because our country can certainly use some leaders with your kind of heart and awareness. No doubt you will find other ways to serve her. Good luck in your endeavors. And just because you're moving on in some ways, its no reason you can't continue to hang out here. :thumb:
 
NavyNurse,
Can we interest you in a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps? They have scholarship programs very similar to the military branches.
 
Very saddened to hear of your misfortune, NavyNurse. Sounds like all-in-all it was a character building experience for you; and your report tells me that you did really well on the 'character test.'

ABF said:
NavyNurse,
Can we interest you in a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps? They have scholarship programs very similar to the military branches.
Click to expand...

I have tried to learn more about USPHS scholarship program and find they basically (as far as I can tell) don't really have much funding but lots of demand to which they have great difficulty responding.
I'd love to learn more if you have more info. My daughter is currently working on a BSN as a 2nd degree and attempted to contact USPHS regards scholarship as well as to look at as a career option. My sense is she studies the website, but does not learn the sort of stuff one learns on forums such as this.
Perhaps the Forum site Administrators will consider adding a USPHS page to the site? It is a 'Uniformed Service" (not an Armed Service), it is a commissioning source.
 
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Cb7893: Thanks for the offer! So many great folks on this forum.:biggrin:

Payitforward: I’m a nursing major, so my plan B is really just continuing to pursue that. Maybe join more clubs and activities at school now that I have the time.:thumb:

Kinnem: Thanks! You are such an awesome resource on this forum and always supportive of its users.:biggrin:

ABF: I would definitely be interested to learn about this program. I don’t know that much about it.:smile:

JMS: Definitely a character building experience! Would do it all again if I could.:thumb:
 
payitforward said:
Thanks for posting that, NavyNurseApplicant. I'm sorry that you ended up having to change your plans.

DS just went back to school today and said he was most looking forward to "early morning PT, ROTC labs, FTXs," and academic classes in his major. I think he likes the discipline and rigor of ROTC life.
Click to expand...

There is no way ee actually enjoys early morning PT lol?!:eek:
 
NavyNurseApplicant said:
when I injured my knee. I was basically told that if I continued with the level of physical activity ROTC requires, I would permanently damage my knee/leg. My parents and I had a long talk about my options. Emailing my cadre and telling them that with my health, I can't be the officer America's sons and daughters deserve was incredibly hard to do.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind me asking, what type of knee injury did you sustain? I just had another knee surgery this week, so I know how the knee thing goes. They're no fun

Hope you had a quick and speedy recovery.
 
@Bull: Basically, I keep straining the same muscle that goes from my hip to my knee. I'm actually still in recovery- I injured my hip over winter break after already injuring my knee, and it's still not healed. I'm actually going to the doctor again this week to see if it actually tore. It doesn't help that I'm already slightly knock kneed and my family has a history of knee problems (both of my sisters have already had major knee surgery- they're 21 and 25 :thumbdown:). I am thankful that at this point the doctors think it will be able to heal with PT, so long as I don't run that much. I hope your surgery goes well and that you have a speedy recovery!:smile:
 
It went great, it's the weeks of crutches that drive me insane. Looking forward to finally getting everything back together though. Think my timeline for a full recovery is about 6-9 months, so it's a long road.
 
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