I'm considering going career with the army. Would it be better to go through ROTC or try my luck at a military college?

2018-05-03T22:34:53-04:00

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 3 at 2018 10:38 PM

2018-05-03T22:38:47-04:00

If you are "highly motivated" and think you would enjoy going to college in a highly regimented military lifestyle then consider a military academy such as West Point, Norwich, the Citadel or VMI. If you want a more "normal" college experience then go to ROTC at a "traditional" college. Good luck!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2018 11:15 PM

2018-05-03T23:15:26-04:00

Al,

I would recommend trying both routes. The process for the Military colleges is the same as ROTC on their face, but in the end; military colleges are no different than a ROTC Battalion at a university, and those military colleges actually fall in one one of the Brigades under Cadet Command. If you are referencing going to an Academy that process would be separate and unique from ROTC. In the end, work to get into the University that best fits your finances, has the degree you want and has the prestige you seek. You graduate from an ROTC unit and Military College as a 2LT so from there it’s about what you see as your best end State in the profession of arms and set conditions from that frame to maximize your opportunities and talent moving forward. If you ever have any questions contact me anytime and I can assist in your course of action development.

DB

Response by LTC John Griscom made May 3 at 2018 11:26 PM

2018-05-03T23:26:36-04:00

Depends on how much of a military environment you want in college. In addition to the service academies, There are six senior military colleges where the environment is primarily military.

Response by LTC John Griscom made May 3 at 2018 11:55 PM

2018-05-03T23:55:56-04:00

A little more background on options.
Under current law, there are three types of ROTC programs administered, each with a different element.
The first are the programs at the six senior military colleges (University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, Georgia; Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont; Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; The Citadel; Charleston, South Carolina; Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia), also known as military schools. These institutions grant baccalaureate degrees (at a minimum) and organize all or some of their students into a corps of cadets under some sort of military discipline. Those participating in the cadet program must attend at least 2 years of ROTC education.
The second are programs at "civilian colleges". As defined under Army regulations, these are schools that grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees and are not operated on a military basis.
The third category is programs at military junior colleges (MJC). These are military schools that provide junior college education (typically A.S. or A.A. degree). These schools do not grant baccalaureate degrees but they meet all other requirements of military colleges (if participating in the Early Commissioning Program) and cadets are required to meet the same military standards as other schools (if enrolled in ECP), as set by Army Cadet Command. Cadets can be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army Reserve/Army National Guard as graduating sophomores. Upon commissioning, these lieutenants are required to complete their bachelor's degree at another institution (of the lieutenant's choosing) while serving in their units. Upon receiving their bachelors, ECP lieutenants can assess active duty and go onto active duty as a first lieutenant. Only the Army currently offers an Early Commissioning Program. In time of war, MJC's have played a significant role in producing officers for the Army. During the Vietnam war, the requirement to complete one's bachelor's degree was not in effect. Therefore upon commissioning, lieutenants went straight onto active duty.
One difference between civilian colleges and the senior or junior military colleges is enrollment option in ROTC. ROTC is voluntary for students attending civilian colleges and universities. However, with few exceptions (as outlined in both Army regulations and federal law) it is required of students attending the senior and junior military colleges. Another major difference between the senior military colleges and civilian colleges is that under federal law, graduates of the SMCs are guaranteed active duty assignments if requested with the approval of the school's professor of military science.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 12:00 AM

2018-05-04T00:00:47-04:00

I personally did the Junior Military College, Early Commission Program, route through Marion Military Institute. It was one of the best decisions I made. I put my captains packet before the board this year and I’m 25. I’m also now one of the Board Members for their Alumni Brigade.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2018 4:11 AM

2018-05-04T04:11:50-04:00

Purely as a suggestion, you might need to be more flexible as to svc, I realize you want Army, I get that, however, you'd need to elaborate way, way more, before being able to answer you coherently...how well did you do in high school? grades? GPA? Specific score titles? AP credits? SAT or ACT scores? ASVAB scores? Your preferred major if you went undergrad? Ambitions? Objectives? Motivations? What specific Army branch would you want, and why, if you know? Would you want flight? Ground? Would you he receptive to other svcs? I could suggest many, many things to you, state military and the !maritime colleges, also, if you go to a college or through a program for one svc, you can commission into another svc, my next younger brother was USMMA Kings Point, I commissioned him, I was Army ROTC then USAF OTS instead, I trained with my Army ROTF unit a good deal at West Points so I got a fairly good look at it. Also, you'd be competing from among the best in the country, it',# not about what you want, it's about who wants you, OK? So, indulge me, OK? Do a really borough, detailed bio sketch, reading, hobbies international sts, sports !martial arts, which other svcs you'd looked at and, also, why Army, particulaly, in as much concrete detail as you'd want to give...the more detail you give, the more can be suggested,njowever, doing this is a major life changing event, it's not that I'm trying to dissuade you, I'm trying to educate you, and the single most important thing you can do is take adequate time to do adequate research, and ask adequate questions, not acting impulsively, you need yo plan this out properly, with your family, as they'd be directly involved with you in he whole thing, that much I can assure you, it:s not solely about what your ambitions are, OK? Send more, of you want to ask questions, I'll try to suggest what I can, OK? Humor !e and do that dwarf taioled bio sketch, take the time to really make it long, thorough, and detailed, so all of us here can help you as thoroughly as humanly possible, and as coherently as we're all able, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2018 4:19 AM

2018-05-04T04:19:59-04:00

Also, look up on Wikipedia, the preparatory schools for the main three svc academies, Army Navy, and USAF. Look up VMI, look up the Citadel, look up the military junior colleges, look up the state !maritime colleges I'd !mentioned. Also, ifmyou have any clinical interests, look up the USPHS COSTEP, the USPHS analogue to ROTC, as well as the USCG scholarship program!s. Look up the Army high school to flight school program for WOCS, as that only needs high school, if you want flight at all. Look up the NOAA Commissioned acorps, the USPHS Commissioned Corps in relation to COSTEP, look up the NOAA flight programs, look up the OCS foundation website, look up all that, as well as USCGA and USMMA for USCG and the Merchant Marimez and how the !erchamt !marine relates to the US Maritime Svc (USMS), and going USNR-Merchamt !marine Reserve (USNR-MMR), and going deck vs engines or deck engine combined licensure through USCg licensure. Look up all that, trust me, and really take the time!e to think the whole thing throughz you go through all that and do that detailed bio sketch, we'd all he far more able to be intelligently suggest things to you, OK? If you family was military, so far as you'd wamtz elaborate on that as a motivation as well, only so far as you might care to explain, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2018 4:21 AM

2018-05-04T04:21:31-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Look through this, it doesn't have Army WOCS, NOAA BOTC, or the OIS indoc programs as opposed to the standard five OCS programs however I think you'll find it of usez, OK?

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2018 4:22 AM

2018-05-04T04:22:24-04:00

And !y best friend from USAF on active was VMI, that's another reason I suggest that as well....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 5:30 AM

2018-05-04T05:30:25-04:00

And miss out on all the shenanigans of being an enlisted? You're loss buddy.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made May 4 at 2018 8:07 AM

2018-05-04T08:07:31-04:00

Before going, do research on the schools and your own background. Service academies and military colleges require robust grades and prefer athletic background. Side note, atmosphere of service academies and military colleges are not like traditional military. Although you have cadet rank, the culture is more like a college fraternity (high jinks, goofiness), than serious military duty.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 8:40 AM

2018-05-04T08:40:43-04:00

Al, the term "military college" can be misleading.

One obtains a commission through one of several channels. Coming out of high school, one can apply for an ROTC scholarship, or take ROTC with hopes of being "invited" to continue on towards a commission. Many "military colleges" offer ROTC programs of course. Another route (the one I took) is to apply for acceptance to a federal service academy (West Point, Colorado Springs, Annapolis, King's Point) and pursue the adjoining congressional, senatorial, VP or presidential appointment (you have to get both). Complete four years at one of those, and you graduate an O-1.

Yet another route is OCS. If you have a degree, this is usual path. Plenty of enlisted people come up this way as well. There are other more complicated routes...or simpler, depending on one's point of view; direct commission (pretty much just docs and lawyers), limited duty officer (usually fairly senior enlisted subject matter experts) and warrant officers (also generally SMEs, though I believe the Army has younger warrant officer aviators).

There are "military" schools which pattern themselves after the academies, and may have "connections" that aid in applicants obtaining ROTC or even Academy appointments...but some merely offer a "military style" education.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 4 at 2018 11:34 AM

2018-05-04T11:34:37-04:00

I got my Congressional nomination to West Point from Rod Blagojevich, who is in prison. Chicago/Illinois politicians tend to pass through prison regularly... ;-)

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Jun 18 at 2019 9:20 AM

2019-06-18T09:20:58-04:00

I am biased towards ROTC. A military college would most likely be more restrictive on your personal life and spare time. ROTC at a good public or private school along with a little more dedication than the rest of your class can get you the branch and component you want at commissioning (RA vs. Reserve forces). Best of luck!