Prior service to ROTC (and its subsequent commission). Any tips?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:24:04 -0400

Any tips and pointers for an Infantryman who got out and is now looking toward a commission via ROTC?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 15 at 2020 2:26 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:26:16 -0400

Best guess would be to check with the ROTC commander or admissions to see what you have to do brother SPC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 2:30 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:30:25 -0400

If you are completely out and out....your only options are to get back in and apply for OCS, or go to college and go thru ROTC...or if you already have a 4 year degree then see if you can direct commission. That's pretty much the options.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Sep 15 at 2020 2:42 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:42:11 -0400

I am a prior service officer who commissioned from ROTC. As mentioned below, check with the desired college about ROTC availability and likelihood of admission. There are many former NCOs who become officers from ROTC, but there are requirements that need to be met (e.g. age, medical status, academics, PT testing, etc.)

https://www.goarmy.com/rotc.html

Army ROTC Programs and Requirements

Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country. Learn about ROTC scholarship programs, requirements & colleges today.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 15 at 2020 3:20 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:20:20 -0400

I did not commission that way, but I know most of the rules. First, as prior service with an MOS, you are exempt from the first two years of ROTC. That means you can join in your Junior year, attend Advance Camp, and commission at the end of your Senior year. I've had senior ROTC people tell me that you should do all four years since the cadre will get to know you better, but all the prior service guys that
I know that joined in for their Junior year all finished at the top of their classes and got their Active Duty assignments. I'll let you be the judge on which you think is best.

BTW, if you didn't know this already, Active Duty slots are competitive and how many they have for each class is Needs of the Army. If you plan on going Active, you will need to bust some butt and finish with a high class ranking.

One other thing to think about is the Simultaneous Membership Program. You can re-enlist in the Guard or Reserve, apply of ROTC and join as an SMP. You get the experience since they should be letting you shadow or function as an officer, you get paid as an E-5 to drill, and the time counts toward TIS and to a degree, Retirement. I personally recommend the Guard, since most states have tuition assistance or some extra educational benefits. Your membership does not effect your ability to go active as long as you don't take a GRFD scholarship.

I already had a 4 year degree when I enlisted, so back then that limited my options. I can tell you that I would chose the ROTC route in your shoes, OCS is a royal pain in the ass and I disliked all my TAC's.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 4:13 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:13:03 -0400

ROTC uses the Ranger Handbook as it’s “training Bible”. Being a former infantryman you have a leg up in that regard. I don’t suspect the coursework will be an issue for you.
I was enlisted for a little over 8 years before I commissioned via ROTC. The thing I’ve see trip up prior enlisted cadets are the inability to get out of their enlisted mindset/checking their ego at the door.

Remember that the moment you become a Cadet you are just that.....a Cadet. You are no better or worse than the other Cadets. All cadets, whether prior service or not, are not your subordinates. They are you peers. They will look to you for guidance as a prior service soldier unless you give them a reason not to.

I hope you pursue and successfully complete ROTC. I look forward to welcoming you to the Officer Corps.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 4:43 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:43:04 -0400

I am currently an SMSI in ROTC. Regardless of background G2G (Green to Gold), prior service and ANG/RC Soldiers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program. Your insight with your peers will be immeasurable if you educate them. Being selfish or not a team player in mundane tasks will get you nowhere. Look at every opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with your cohort. Think of your crawl, walk, run model as classroom, labs and FTX/CST as far as training progression goes. Be prepared for cadre to rely on your experiences and put you in leadership positions expecting you to do what is needed to be done and provide direction, purpose and motivation. I have had several prior service or guard infantryman and none of them commissioned infantry, not because they did want it but because they sucked. Be humble and take everything with a grain of salt as things in doctrine have probably changed some since you have been in, like the ACFT no longer APFT. I think ROTC is the best commissioning model because you learn some basic knowledge before BOLC and because it helps transform you as a leader while also still getting to experience life as a student. Good luck! Come to Iowa if you want to be the best. Go Hawks!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 5:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:03:53 -0400

I'd talk to your National Guard recruiter and your USAR recruiter. See what options they have for you, as well.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 6:51 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:51:17 -0400

One final thing I forgot to mention. Academics needs to be your main priority while during ROTC at college. It doesn’t matter how fast you run or how well you can conduct battle drill 1A if you can’t successfully graduate on time. No degree = No LT.

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made Sep 15 at 2020 9:56 PM

1LT Kevin Chapman — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 21:56:01 -0400

Hey man. PM me.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Sep 15 at 2020 11:32 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 23:32:15 -0400

Be humble and always remember you have two ears and one mouth, listen as twice as much as you talk. You will have seniors over you that the closest they have gotten to active duty was a wet dream after watching Full Metal Jacket. When I started my first semester as an MS1, I had done CAP, JROTC, drilled for almost two years, and just finished AIT before going on contract. I was 18 and full of ego I did not earn although I thought I did. I needed to shut up and listen, something that took many more years.

Response by CPT J B made Sep 16 at 2020 12:15 PM

CPT J B — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:15:37 -0400

Stay in good physical condition since that's most important.

18 years ago, ROTC training lived and died by the FM 7-8. Maybe it still is that way. As a former 11B, you might be floored by how badly that training seems to be executed compared to the way it's done in a regular infantry unit. In the past, ROTC wasn't about getting the tactical stuff 100% right (most cadets are probably not going into the infantry after commissioning), it was more about troop leading procedures and being a good leader--though knowing the FM is part of that. Again, it's been 18 years and so all that time and two wars may have changed the view on ROTC training.

Response by PFC Jessie Merlino made Sep 23 at 2021 11:55 PM

PFC Jessie Merlino — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 23:55:16 -0400

Thanks for sharing, I am very impressed with your post.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 14 at 2021 10:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 22:15:49 -0400

Study your TACSOP. It will teach you movement formations and techniques, offense, defense, actions on contact. You will need to know those actions to be a good PL. You have lots of time so utilize the time to learn your craft.

Response by Amn Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2021 4:29 AM

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Response by TSgt Wayne Brown made Oct 26 at 2021 2:22 PM

TSgt Wayne Brown — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:22:56 -0400

Just remember being enlisted and who does all the work, and has to live with your bad decisions

Response by SGM Tere Moore made Feb 2 at 2023 3:40 PM

SGM Tere Moore — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:40:44 -0500

For anyone still reading this post, an individual with prior service interested in ROTC must be academically aligned. What that means is that all the school academics required for the BA/BS degree must be completed at the Same Time ROTC military science course requirements are met. Thus, a person with prior service May start the program as a junior, but they won't be allowed to Unless they already have 2 yrs of college at the start of their ROTC enlistment. As a former HRT at an ROTC program, I know this! There's nothing wrong with being prior service & starting at the MilSci level 1. As stated in previous posts, you will be mentor & coach to your fellow cadets. What Is wrong is requiring a 4 yr degree to commission & starting ROTC as an MilSci level 3 / as a junior with only 2 yrs of the ROTC program to complete. It doesn't compute!

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Apr 9 at 2023 1:46 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 01:46:01 -0400

I went AD E-1 to E-4, got out, did Guard PLDC then directly to ABN as an SMP Cadet. I went to Advanced Camp at 23yo & like some of the posts here, I had a difficult time w the Cadet culture which was effectively "cheerleading" (or in the day called "Spotlight Rangers"). You will be evaluated as one Officer posted on Light Infantry tactics, precisely the Ranger Handbook. In "my day" there was a peer evaluation matrix in play so getting along w the culture and squad/platoon because the numbers of "A+", "A", "B+" ratings (4's systems) were competitive & limited. Check ur ego at the door. Put the edge on the blade of your small team leader skills and go for it! Best of Luck! So many of us would do it all over again, our careers were just so satisfying!!!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2023 10:25 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 22:25:45 -0400

Did you end up in ROTC?

Response by Maj Michael Leon made Jun 3 at 2023 12:05 AM

Maj Michael Leon — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 00:05:02 -0400

There are a lot of great comments here. The only thing I would add is, remember that being a commissioned officer has a different focus then being enlisted or non-commissioned. Maintain your focus on this new role and you will naturally be the cream of the crop. Wishing you well.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2023 10:57 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:57:36 -0400

In my experience, they try and get priors out any way that they can. I was prior USAF and they said I did something I did not do and the commander passed it through. I will print it here because it is so unbelievable: a female peer lied and said I went to her house which was somewhere in Kansas and gave her a package. The course was in Georgia. We found out later when I sued her that she was staying at her parents house somewhere in Kansas. I would not have even know where she was let alone want to go there. So yeah, prior service at least for OCS = out. Been fighting this since it happened and have a book coming out soon, including the court transcript where she states on the stand that she lied.