Posted on Oct 24, 2015
How to deal with ROTC after being active duty Soldier?
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After serving active duty for 2.5 years, I was accepted to Green to Gold and became effectively an ROTC Cadet. I had heard all of the horror stories about ROTC and how life would be different, but I assumed that being active duty I would easily adapt and perhaps be given some respect due to me being a GtG candidate. Upon first arriving to the unit I was stripped off my rank in front of formation by another cadet and told "to know better than to wear that here" and generally given very poor impression of ROTC. Now I am a month in and I absolutely hate it, seeing toxic Cadets being given praise and junior cadets following in lock step, too afraid to make their opinions heard. I wanted so badly to enhance my army career by becoming an officer, now I question how I could ever be a part of an organization so broken.
Do any prior enlisted have any words of wisdom? To officers that commissioned ROTC is there anything I could be doing differently? Thank you in advance.
Do any prior enlisted have any words of wisdom? To officers that commissioned ROTC is there anything I could be doing differently? Thank you in advance.
ROTC
Transition
Prior Service
Green to Gold
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 29
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I remember thinking the same thing. I thought,"I can't believe you will be my peer." But you know what?! I'm still in and they aren't. They didn't survive when it came to the reality of what they are training to do. You'll see or hear about how their first assignment and leaders will put them in their place. They'll get a rude awakening.
The trick is to stay true to yourself and accomplish what motivated you to be an officer. I wanted to become one to make positive changes in my organization. The only way to do that and most effective was to be at the top. Nothing will change unless you make that stand to say that you won't be part of the problem but an ambassador for what leader should look like. Soldiers that you will lead will appreciate that and will follow you. To me, that's the best reward (to know that you have gained their trust and confidence to be led by you).
Mentor the junior cadets that come after you to change that toxic culture.
Good luck!
The trick is to stay true to yourself and accomplish what motivated you to be an officer. I wanted to become one to make positive changes in my organization. The only way to do that and most effective was to be at the top. Nothing will change unless you make that stand to say that you won't be part of the problem but an ambassador for what leader should look like. Soldiers that you will lead will appreciate that and will follow you. To me, that's the best reward (to know that you have gained their trust and confidence to be led by you).
Mentor the junior cadets that come after you to change that toxic culture.
Good luck!
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I've been in your shoes. Hang in there, get into a leadership role, and change the leadership environment. The alternative is backing out and choosing another path in life, which leaves the problem for others to fix. Just remember, you're dealing with college kids who are not yet the veteran that you are.
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Treat it like any school. Do what they say and don't worry about shit you have no control over.
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COL Jon Thompson
SPC (Join to see) This is a good point and remember, there is nothing in the accessions process that relies on how the cadets view you.
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