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.
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.