Posted on Jan 25, 2018
I'm considering joining Army ROTC my sophomore year in college. Is that too late?
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I'm considering joining ROTC my sophomore year in college. I'm currently in my second semester as a freshman, and I don't think it would be great to start in the middle of the year. Is joining as a sophomore going to put me extremely behind? I have not previously been to boot camp, like most of the students in ROTC, so I already feel as though I'm a leg down from everyone.
ROTC
College
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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No many people join the beginning of their junior year.
As another alternative I would consider enlisting in the National Guard or Army reserves going to a short basic and AIT program, the benefits of this approach are 1 far more experience for your ROTC and LT years, also you'd get the educational benefits like GI Bill that are not available to just ROTC cadets. Lastly when you do commission rather than being a 2LT with 0 years in service you'd have 3, that means for every pay check for the rest of your military career you'll be getting about 500 dollars more, every paycheck your entire career and retirement.
Once you finish college you can go active without any issues (unless you take the reserve scholarship) it is called the Simultaneous Membership Program and you are also non-deployable while attending ROTC on contract.
Good luck and enjoy.
As another alternative I would consider enlisting in the National Guard or Army reserves going to a short basic and AIT program, the benefits of this approach are 1 far more experience for your ROTC and LT years, also you'd get the educational benefits like GI Bill that are not available to just ROTC cadets. Lastly when you do commission rather than being a 2LT with 0 years in service you'd have 3, that means for every pay check for the rest of your military career you'll be getting about 500 dollars more, every paycheck your entire career and retirement.
Once you finish college you can go active without any issues (unless you take the reserve scholarship) it is called the Simultaneous Membership Program and you are also non-deployable while attending ROTC on contract.
Good luck and enjoy.
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I joined as a Junior and they sent me to the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, this was 30 days with drill sergeants teaching you how to be a Soldier. Also, when I went, it was non-binding so if you found the Army wasn't for you, then you could simply not join. There may be extra bonuses as well by attending LTC, since I performed in the top 20% at the course they offered me a $5000 sign on bonus as well as the normal full ride scholarship. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have!
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Suspended Profile
CPT Kay is correct. The Cadet Basic Camp Course, conducted each summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky, is an accelerated and fast paced 28 Day training event. It focuses on critical military and leadership skills taught during the first two years of the Army ROTC Basic Course Instruction (Freshman and Sophomore classes). The Cadet Basic Course is based on a leadership development curriculum and situational training exercises that push cadets to their physical and mental limits, challenging them to discover their true leadership potential. When they finish, cadets are qualified to enroll in the Army ROTC Advanced Course (Junior and Senior classes). Scholarships are awarded to selected high performance (as did CPT Kay). Upon completion you will have to decide on contracting into the Advanced Course of the ROTC program.
CPT (Join to see)
All comments above are spot on. I attended the Leaders Training Course (LTC) at Fort Knox as well. However, I had just graduated college and was on my way to graduate school. I did my last two years of ROTC during grad school. I can definitely say that LTC put me way ahead of my peers. I also got the signing bonus and full scholarship. Please message me with any questions you may have.
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Nope. Not too late at all. They might send you to basic camp in the summer to catch you up but you can pick everything up quickly if you work hard
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