Anybody here have any experience with the Army ROTC? I'm trying to maneuver into position to earn a spot in the Marine Corps OCS, but I need my degree before we can do anything. I've got about 1.5 years of college left, and I'm exploring my options. My school offers the Army ROTC, and I'm thinking that it would be a good way to get somewhat aquainted with the military (I know the Army ROTC is nothing compared to what they'll throw at me in Marine Corps OCS, but it's better than nothing)

On top of that, I'm hoping that experience in the ROTC will pad my resume a bit, so when I come sniffing around the Navy or Marine Corps, hopefully they'll be impressed that although I was in the Army ROTC, I chose to pursue another branch.

Any ideas? I've already requested a bunch of information from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, but I wanted to see if I could get some insider info - somebody who's familiar with the program and its options.

I'm not necessarily looking for a comission into the Army (you have to be in ROTC for 2 years, and a full time student the whole time. 2004, I'll be full-time all year, but 2005 I'll only need 1-2 classes, and only for a semester) but I'm hoping that, in addition to bettering myself, my ROTC experiences will help me blend in my first few days of "real" boot camp.

Any comments? Am I crazy? Is it a good idea?

Thanks!

XXL

 

What? Nobody has anything to say about it?



XXL

 

Unless things have changed since 1997....The USMC program your interested in is the Platoon Leader Class program. You go to OCS the summer between your juinor and senior year. Then your commisioned as a 2LT when you graduate. At that time, you go to 6 months of Officer basic training and then your specialty school.

The Army ROTC programs are split into 2 parts. Freshman and Sophmore classes are open to anyone and provide very basic introduction to the Army. Ususally, the first year involves very basic stuff and the second year is intro to small unit tactics and land navigation. The second part is the Junior and Senior years which require you to commit to being commsioned an officer upon graduation. These years continue with small unit tactics, and military history but concentate on leadership development.

The summer between your junior and senior years you will go to Ft Lewis, WA (used to be Lewis or Bragg) for a 6-week "Advanced Camp" which is a leadership evaluation tool.

one thing about ROTC... NOT ALL ROTC PROGRAMS ARE CREATED EQUAL! Some schools are very hardcore, some are girl scouts. The summer advanced camp will let you know which school your's is.

Bottom line is USMC OCS will be tougher physically while ROTC requires a substantial commitment to finishing it. Both will preapre you for your basic training as an officer and put you light years ahead of enlisted soliders comming out of basic training these days. But like I said, not all ROTC programs are equal.

You probably will not eligible for the last 2 years of ROTC. You need 2 years left and have to commit to contract saying you will except a commision as a 2LT upon graduation. You also will need to attend a 6-week basic camp prior to the last 2 years of ROTC if you don't already have military experience.

Basicly.... OCS (army or usmc) is gut check, ROTC is more of a training and leadership development program. I think you can go the OCS route and decline a commision, but I could be wrong.

 

Just do it! The Corps is lookin' for guys with the cajones to stick out college and then join. As I remember, with your degree in hand, you can join up to be either an ossifer or enlisted swine, your choice. When I was in, circa-Vietnam, we needed officers who had some common sense and the drive to excel. Dogface ROTC won't get you a direct commission, but will look nice in your portfolio, along with that degree. Marine programs are pretty few, but do what you can, it all helps.

Join our brotherhood, we need good ones, oooorah!

 

No, it really won't. It may appear as you're not focused on your goals.

Your school doesn't offer Navy ROTC? Just asking. Naval ROTC MO (Marine Option) was my plan way back when. I had to interview with the Navy for the scholarship. The turning point was the recruiter's insistence I admit experimenting with drugs. I refused, and after literally badgering me to give him the response he wanted, he reluctantly accepted my answer. He clearly didn't believe me. I went to the Army, and eventually got a scholarship with them.

I sometimes reflect on that day. Everything I have now - where I live, who I married, my job, etc. is all linked to the decision I made at 17 that the Marines (by way of the Navy) wouldn't trust me to give an honest answer. I have no regrets, but I'm confident my life would be dramatically different had that Navy recruiter not turned me off like he did.

I benefited greatly from Army ROTC. It's not for everybody, but it worked for me. I have no experience with the other branch's programs. I never looked back at the Navy/Marines when I walked out of that recruiter's office.

 

That's what I was looking at - does PLC allow you a comission as a reservist? So far, the Marine recruiters haven't been much help - at first, they want to plan everything out for me, and then when they meet my dad (2 star Admiral), they bug out and start backpedaling when my dad finds little inconsistencies in the program they set up for me (he's my lawyer, as it were ) This situation has happened twice in the last 2 years, and I'm graduating in 1.5 years; I'd like to get this set up. I've got a good job lined up in D.C., and I'd like to join as a reservist so I can (hopefully) stick around and work in D.C.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

XXL

 

Good point. On second thought, I think wahoo's correct; my window of joining up as "play time" is over. The only way I could get in is by signing the contract.

XXL

 

What reserve units are in the DC area? Seek them out and see if you can meet with their commanders. Find the unit you want to be a part of, and seek their assistance in getting what you want.

Just my $.02.

And the "play time" reference is spot-on. At this point in your academic career, you would have to:

a) sign the contract
b) fill your course-load with electives to remain a full-time student
c) delay graduation by a semester to give ROTC four semesters worth of you.

 

Question for the fte Marine expert. My plan after H.S. and college is USMC PLC/ OCS too. Does anyone know when application dates usually are and any other good sites besides the Corp's main page. I understand the OCS concept and purpose becuse I have served 5 years in the USAF Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, and am an instructor at a cadet NCO/ officer leadership program based off Army OCS. Hehe, it'll be lots more PT and "mental conditioning."

 

Not sure about Marine reserves and the PLC program. There are 2 different programs.... guarenteed aviation and the general OCS track. I was accepted into the general track in 96' but the state (they're allocated by state) had filled all it's aviation slots for that year. I took a ROTC scholarship instead. Dumbest thing I ever did but it looked like the best option for me at the time.

Another thing you can do is just go to OCS after college.

Natewoz.... I just contacted a recruiter. If you don't what the first one tells you, call 3 more in different towns. One will most likely tell you what you want to hear.