Posted on Aug 2, 2016
I am an 11B SSG entering ROTC. What recommendations do you have as far as interaction with cadre and fellow cadets?
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ROTC
ROTC Instructor
(Pre-Commission)
Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 41
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I am a Cadre member at a University. The biggest problem I have had with prior service is that they think cadets are their privates and treat them like idiots.
You must understand they are college students first and cadets second.
Share your knowledge in a humble way. Do not talk down to them.
As for dealing with cadre use your expertise to help them mentor and guide cadets.
Bottom line be humble.
You must understand they are college students first and cadets second.
Share your knowledge in a humble way. Do not talk down to them.
As for dealing with cadre use your expertise to help them mentor and guide cadets.
Bottom line be humble.
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LTC (Join to see)
I think the MSG pretty much summed it up perfectly. Follow his direction and you will do fine. You will excel at many tasks that the cadets might not. There will be some they excel in. Together, share your experiences. Help each other.
Some things you learn you will already know. I went in as a ARNG SMP cadet. I was ahead of the curve. LDAC/Warrior Forge or whatever they call it now is where you will truly shine. There, uniforms are sterilized and past experience means nothing. Its all about how you perform there.
Honestly though, aside from PT, Weekly labs and your class, interaction with the other cadets won't be more than the non-cadet friends you make in college. Maybe 10 hours a week if even. You will do fine.
Its a different time period from when I went in as a cadet. In my graduation class and year group, I'd say 90% of us were prior service. Different time, different army. Deeply entrenched in two wars. I sometimes find myself needing to step back and give the current LTs the benefit of the doubt. They came in at a very different time in the Army.
One last thing. Get ready for land nav and OPORDERS. The bulk of your time will be doing both.
Some things you learn you will already know. I went in as a ARNG SMP cadet. I was ahead of the curve. LDAC/Warrior Forge or whatever they call it now is where you will truly shine. There, uniforms are sterilized and past experience means nothing. Its all about how you perform there.
Honestly though, aside from PT, Weekly labs and your class, interaction with the other cadets won't be more than the non-cadet friends you make in college. Maybe 10 hours a week if even. You will do fine.
Its a different time period from when I went in as a cadet. In my graduation class and year group, I'd say 90% of us were prior service. Different time, different army. Deeply entrenched in two wars. I sometimes find myself needing to step back and give the current LTs the benefit of the doubt. They came in at a very different time in the Army.
One last thing. Get ready for land nav and OPORDERS. The bulk of your time will be doing both.
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I taught ROTC for 3 years and our prior service guys always did better that our normal cadets. I would say just go in there be a student listen and learn. There will be times that your expertise will be needed. Remember these are truly college kids who have no idea of what it really means to be a Soldier. Just don't come across as a know it all and be willing to help your fellow classmates. Remember you are still in college so your grades will be important especially with your ROTC buds. Please allow yourself to have fun and enjoy your time, you've earned it so go and be the best college student you can be. You will learn a lot and teach them a lot as well.
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CAPT (Join to see)
This is solid advice. We had a number of prior service cadets when I was at VMI (a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...). I do not recall any of them making a big deal of it. They just melded in with the rest of their class, and became leaders by example. They did a good job of just rolling with the BS. It's a different harassment package than what you are used to, but you are used to harassment. Just don't let your pride get in the way of your goals, and you will do fine.
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It's an opportunity to discover ones own failings... This was my own personal experience. I was an active duty SGT/E5 in a Ranger Bn when I ETS and entered the ROTC world - t was a culture shock and I failed miserably at first. Why?... Because as Enlisted Soldiers we assume too many things and think that everyone gets the same "greening" treatment and basic training. As an enlisted trainee we are honed to be worker bees from the day we set foot in basic. As a Cadets we're trained to lead... a very different skill set than true basic tng. As a result, cadets see the world differently. We making that transition must adapt to that world very quickly or will fail...
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