How demanding is the NROTC program?

[EEYORE7763]

Hey SANDERS what officer program did you earn your commission thru?

 

[MIDNJAC]

Good info above, and I would say pretty much everything Navair42 already did (we were both from the same unit, myself being a couple years behind him).

To Navy hopefuls, I would highly recommend the NROTC program. I felt like it was a good mix of getting the college experience while still working towards a commission. You pick up a lot of good experience throughout your time in the program, particularly through middie summer cruises. Not saying it will prepare you for the the tracom or the fleet, but you will have some basic understanding of how things work and what to expect. That said, NROTC makes for a very quick and immediate transition from your comfortable civilian college life to the life of a military officer. For example, I reported to NAS Pensacola about 9 days after I pinned my butter bars for the first time.

Would I go back and do it again? Yes, but it would be painful to start as a freshman again

 

[sanders]

Hey SANDERS what officer program did you earn your commission thru?

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Although I was a member of the corps, I actually earned my commission through the PLC program. I did this mainly so I could avoid having to take 4 years of naval science classes.

 

[navybronxbomber]

good points but...

While I agree with pretty much everyone who has answered your questions, I'd like to add something: NROTC can be as demanding as you make it.

For example, there were many in my NROTC unit who let it consume their entire lives in college -- it was the only thing they did.

On the other hand, I felt like I had chosen NROTC over the academy in order to pursue additional interests in college. With 8 hours of sleep per night and some serious time management, I was able to complete 5 internships, participate in 3 pretty demanding university organizations (including leadership positions in 2 of them), and participate in athletics outside of the university. This is all on top of having several high billets in the unit, working out almost every day, and ensuring that I made good grades.

Ultimately, NROTC is whatever you make of it and you'll get out what you put into it. It is definitely a great option as a commissioning source, so I recommend taking full advantage of your time in NROTC as well as your time off.

Good luck!
~Red

All these are good points. I do have one thing to say. If you have the means to attend college without heavy financial aid, and are planning on being a tech major, and know you are a go getter who will get good grades... DO OCS! Save yourself... Just kidding... sorta

 

[scoolbubba]

Virginia Tech: similar to A&M in that we have a Corps of Cadets within a civilian university, but our school doesn't have as much love for us as A&M does for their Corps.

Loved the school, liked ROTC, hated the Corps. You had to be in the Corps if you wanted to do ROTC, something a lot of doods don't realize till they show up for Rat week. If you don't mind jumping thru your ass over the dumb games retired O-6s can think up to make the Corps look good or playing fuck fuck games with people who will stab you in the back in a heartbeat, it's great. Otherwise, do BDCP and enjoy college.

ROTC had mando PT 2x a week for Navy, 3X for Yuts. Lot of professional development and chances to grow within ROTC, especially outside the Corps. Fundraised by parking cars and cleaning the stadium after games.

All in all, I loved the school, but I'd only recommend getting a commission thru BDCP if you're gonna go there. Avoid the Cadet Corpse bullshit if you can.

Take this all with a grain of salt: I wasn't exactly a model cadet.

 

[sanders]

Pardon my ignorance, what is this 'Corps of Cadets' business and how is or isn't it related to ROTC?

At A&M (and at V Tech, I am assuming) the Corps of Cadets is pretty much separate from the NROTC department. They are not staffed by the same officers, and the headquarters buildings are even separate. Cadets who chose not to pursue a commission in the military are in the corps of cadets, those that do want to pursue a commission are in the corps of cadets as well as NROTC program. Being a PLC'er, I was able to avoid the NROTC department and therefore did not have to take naval science classes my last two years, and never had to deal with lead labs or gay field exercises. But I still lived on the "quad" where the corps of cadets resides at A&M, I still went to formations, I still PT'ed with my Corps unit, and I still wore a uniform to class.

 

[sbpilot]

I'm currently a mid at UCLA... saw your profile said you were lookin at the UC's. PM me if you want the scoop

 

[sanders]

So someone would join the Corps of Cadets, but not ROTC to.......prepare for OCS or PLC?

About half of the Corps of Cadets at A&M goes into the military. Those choosing not to seek a commission joined the Corps in order to stay in shape and have a more structured college life I suppose.

 

[MasterBates]

Those people, are called retards.

 

[redmidgrl]

What unit/school were you in?
Did you find it really time consuming?
Did it prepare you for OCS/Fleet?
What did you like or dislike about the program?
If you could go back, would you choose to do it again?

-George Washington University NROTC
-You can put in as much or little time as you choose (AKA you can be a ROTC Nazi or actually have a life), I chose to have a life and it was grand!
-Not sure yet, I'm still in training commands over a year after commissioning
-The good stuff: Friendships that you carry into the fleet, Summer Cruise, good training and knowledge that prepares you for military life, access to OC's and MECEP's so you can pick their brains about the fleet and what makes a good officer, and it's not NROTC 24/7 unless you want it to be; The not so good stuff: Not partying as much as your non-ROTC college buddies, some BS that you have to put of with in order to get the check in the box, Calc and Physics (unless you like that stuff)
-Yes

If you have any questions about GWU NROTC in particular, feel free to pm me.
~Red

 

[Uncle Fester]

So someone would join the Corps of Cadets, but not ROTC to.......prepare for OCS or PLC?

About half of the Corps of Cadets at A&M goes into the military. Those choosing not to seek a commission joined the Corps in order to stay in shape and have a more structured college life I suppose.

It seemed kind of weird looking from a Boat School experience (you could stay in school and choose to dump all the military stuff...and didn't?). The guys I knew who did D&C (Drill & Ceremonies) at A&M Corps did so for varying reasons. Some didn't get picked up for a scholarship, or had enough civvie money that they didn't need to, but were going to OCS after graduation and wanted to stay in 'military mode'. Some had most of their friends in the Corps and wanted to stay with them instead of moving to a non-Corps dorm. Some wanted to keep up with the Corps activities. Some just liked the structured atmosphere.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Just kidding, just kidding.

Texas was great.

They treat you like an adult, but give enough supervision to make sure that you don't fail at the primary mission (passing your classes). There is a mandatory study program for the first semester or so, but once you get your grades you are on your own. The study areas and computer lab are slick enough that you don't mind studying there, and it's a good way to make friends with your classmates. The view ain't bad either.

You will finish your Naval Science program at Texas as well prepared to be an officer as any other school in the country. You will know that you don't know everything, which is much better than some more intense programs that ship you out thinking that you have it wired because of how "hard" their ROTC program is. You will know the basics and be prepared to handle your first challenges as an officer.

When I was there, the CO we had for my first two years was a USMC Colonel. He was a fantastic officer and every bit a Marine. We wore uniforms twice a week, and he scheduled the classes so that you were in the building daily. When a Navy Captain took over, we only wore uniforms once a week, and the class schedules were a little more random (some Tuesday/Thursday Naval Science classes so you could only end up in the building twice a week).

There was a sailing program on Lake Travis at the time, but that may not still be going on. Rufio?

The women and night life are incredible. There are other good college towns out there, but Austin is at the top of the list.

The athletics are also top notch, and every sport has a strong student following. All of the stadiums are on campus, so they are easy to support.

There is currently a sailing program. MIDNs still need 6 hours of sailing experience in order to commission and what not. There isn't a regatta like in the past, so if people want more time and experience on the lake you could join the University Sailing Club.

As for the current drought, it might hinder the sailing program in the future...

 

[bunk22]

I'm currently a mid at UCLA... saw your profile said you were lookin at the UC's. PM me if you want the scoop

I went through the UCLA NROTC program back in the day, 88-93'. I was crosstown so the unit used to be pretty big...around 150-200 mids. Once it shut down the crosstown universities around 92 or so, it became a pretty small unit. Damn I had some good times back then. Then I went to fligth school and had even better times

 

[Kyoowashugi]

There is currently a sailing program. MIDNs still need 6 hours of sailing experience in order to commission and what not. There isn't a regatta like in the past, so if people want more time and experience on the lake you could join the University Sailing Club.

As for the current drought, it might hinder the sailing program in the future...

Units can get waivers for the sailing program; we don't have one.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Units can get waivers for the sailing program; we don't have one.

I meant Mids at UT, I don't know what/if there are any sailing requirements at other units.