I was talking to my ex platoon SGT from when I was in my Army medical unit before basic training, I knew this guy longgg before he was ever a recruiter and we used to talk alot, he knows me pretty well. I was planning on enlisting in the Air National Guard because they are offering me a $15,000 signing bonus and the training would only be 6 weeks for basic and 11 weeks tech school, I'd be able to come home and go to school full time to work towards something I really wanted to do and not the crap job I'd be assigned with for one weekend a month/two weeks a year. I spoke with my old Army platoon SGT who is now a recruiter and he told me about something VERY few know about.

He was talking to me about how with a certain score on my asfab he could put me into an ROTC program at a military academy I forgot what it was called but it was in the top 6 in the country, I would be there for a full semester and THEN ship out for basic training/tech school, however the cool part is that because I'd have a full semester of ROTC I am officially UNDEPLOYABLE because I am in the ROTC program, so I wouldn't be going anywhere for 3-4 years and until after I got my commission. Not to mention my tech school which I would be going in again as a surgical technologist, they have a medical reserve unit on the campus, I could go to drill after just walking acrossed the quad. So I would technically be an enlisted, training ROTC student just going to school and waiting around for my comission. Has anyone here gotten a comission through ROTC or gone to a Military college before? Is it just like a normal college life with a twist? I am prior service Army so as far as the life goes I am fairly formilliar with it, this would definately be a career move. What do you guys think

 

You also get an automatic PFC or Corporal promotion and a extra pay bump for being ROTC.

I did JROTC in high school. There are many benefits for ROTC in college. Also after you gradute college you get an automatic bump to 2nd or 1st Lientent with the ROTC pay bump.

 

I am a Captain is US Army and been in the Army ever since I graduated from the Citadel. Military Schools like the Citadel, VMI, Westpoint, AF Academy, and etc... are NOT like normal college. You will NOT experience regular college life, so I missed out on that. But it will keep you in line and get you to graduate in 4 years like you are suppose to. I have many friends who are in 6 to 8 years plan and some are still in school.
If you take ROTC in regular college, then Yes, it is like a normal college with little extra to do, like going on training during weekends and stuff.

there are always new offers in the military and I cant say for sure that what that guy is telling you is true or just to get you in. Just know that you will be signing a paper that will get you committed.

 

That's the best line about joining any branch of the Military!

 

Im on an ROTC scholarship at the University of Alabama and will be a 2LT when I graduate. I wish I had chosen to SMP though instead of taking a scholarship. Bascially you are in the guard or reserves and in ROTC at the same time. They pay for college and you are undeployable and you get a bunch more money than you would on just a scholarship. Hindsight is 20/20. As far as it being like normal college, there is no difference except you have to wear a uniform once a week and PT several times a week at 0530.

 

Im on an ROTC scholarship at the University of Alabama and will be a 2LT when I graduate. I wish I had chosen to SMP though instead of taking a scholarship. Bascially you are in the guard or reserves and in ROTC at the same time. They pay for college and you are undeployable and you get a bunch more money than you would on just a scholarship. Hindsight is 20/20. As far as it being like normal college, there is no difference except you have to wear a uniform once a week and PT several times a week at 0530.

 

[QUOTE=nwlax23,Mar 31 2006, 01:20 PM] Im on an ROTC scholarship at the University of Alabama and will be a 2LT when I graduate. I wish I had chosen to SMP though instead of taking a scholarship. Bascially you are in the guard or reserves and in ROTC at the same time. They pay for college and you are undeployable and you get a bunch more money than you would on just a scholarship. Hindsight is 20/20. As far as it being like normal college, there is no difference except you have to

 

Very different in the sense that weekends are not yours and you are pretty much cut off from the rest of the world?

 

military academy/college are different in a sense that you wear uniform every day, even when you go out of school. You wake up in the morning and you get into uniform for working out and change into uniform to go to classes. You have formations 3 times a day and you go march in a parade every friday in dress uniform with swords and rifles. It is VERY different.

Normal colleges, you wear civilian clothes 90% of time.

 

What he is saying is true!! The officers in my unit that did West Point said that doing ROTC at a regular college is less stressful and reeps the same benefits.

Granted, going to an Military academy gives you some bragging rights but who cares? You still get the rank and commision