ROTC / TAC NCO

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 10:38:14 -0400

I'm currently a 11 Year SFC that has his 2 years of Platoon Sergeant time complete. I want to see if anyone out there has any info or first hand experience as a MSI instructor at a 4 year ROTC program or a TAC NCO at West Point. Want to try something different for a bit and was just curious if anyone out here would give me the pro's and con's of these positions. Also do you have to be close to retirement for a ROTC gig? Thanks

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2014 2:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 02:15:43 -0400

Is my question really that boring for a discussion? Half the RallyPoint discussions are about what color socks to wear or I have a 90" waist do you think I am fat? Nobody wants to give input on ROTC/TAC NCO .... WEAKKKKKKK

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2014 3:55 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:55:12 -0400

SFC Cochran,

I'm a product of 2.5 years at USMA and 2 years in ROTC (where I received my commission) and I will tell you that both are fantastic opportunities for NCOs to impact future officers.
I don't remember well my USMA TAC NCO (hey, it has been almost 25 years!), but he was responsible for a company of 100+ Cadets and since my reason for leaving was Academic, all I can remember is that he was around for inspections and gave some feedback about being a Soldier.
My ROTC MSI on the other hand is someone I remember well. He was an Airborne Ranger, (slightly broken, and he retired out of the job) SFC who could smoke us into the ground and was a tactical expert. I went to a small school, where the ROTC program only had @ 10 cadets as MSIIIs and IVs (Juniors and Seniors) so he had direct, personal interaction with us very often. Of course, we did not live in close proximity, but in the classroom and outside, both in the field and in his office area, he taught me what I should look for in a SFC, especially a PSG.
From my first PSG as a 2LT, I have always compared them to my ROTC SFC.

Don't wait until you are ready to retire to do it, take your skills and knowledge as a young NCO to impact our future officers.

Jkp

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 11:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 23:17:24 -0400

You absolutely do not have to be close to retirement. I can only speak on the ROTC portion of your question, but I think it is one of the few places where you can have early and often impact on our Army's future leaders. Advantages: impact on our future leaders, decentralized environment, back to the basics, break from Army posts, opportunity to get involved in community, pursue civilian education, charge your batteries. Disadvantages: away from mainstream Army, away from the perks of an Army post (medical, dental, PX, commissary)

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 25 at 2014 11:08 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:08:19 -0400

SFC Cochran, the biggest advantage of being an ROTC instructor is that you get to mold and influence future Army officers at a very crucial stage of development. Unless a cadet is prior service, YOU will likely become the mental model of what an NCO is for the rest of their careers. Do a good job and you will have officers who will respect what their NCOs bring to the table. Do a poor job and you will sew contempt for NCOs at a very early age.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2014 11:33 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:33:42 -0400

I can't speak for experience on being a TAC NCO. But my friend is currently a TAC. He loves it. He is a PSG/1SG mentor for a company of cadets. I spent 30 days training cadets last summer and all I can say is it is refreshing training so many outstanding young people. Truely cream of the crop of future leaders. I can't speak for his day to day. But I do know he had his office in their barracks (converted barracks room) he spends 90% of his time in Class Bs. A lot of pomp and ceremony thruout the year. Expect to go to every home football game, and the Army/Navy game. You are also expected to go to the "field" for part of the summer. WP is busy in the summer with "army" training for incoming cadets "beast", or training for the other cadets. I was surpirsed to learn that WP does not do a lot of "army training" during the school year. A lot less then ROTC. As for the Area, it is aweseome, real close to NYC (but its very small town life)

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 12:09 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 12:09:58 -0500

SFC Cochran, I'm SSG Anderson looking to do an ROTC MSI instructor as well. Branch is working with me on this, do you know who to reach out to for this opportunity? TIA.