Posted on Aug 3, 2018
Should I transfer schools to get a different ROTC recruiter?
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I’m currently a student at Southeastern in Hammond, LA. I’m in the process of trying to join and contract with the ROTC program there. I’ve tried countless times to keep communication with the school ROTC recruiter, but he rarely ever communicates back. Whenever we first met, he told me to text him two days prior to me coming down to the campus. And so I did so, I drove 3 hrs down to the campus to get the paperwork I needed for my checklist. And that day, I called and texted him and he never answered. The only way I was able to get in touch with him was when the NCOIC at the station called him and told him that I was there waiting for him. Over the past 2 months it has been a hassle trying to get him to communicate back with me. Today, I went in to turn in the checklist with all of my paperwork and he didn’t bother to answer, so I just turned it into the station. The PT test is next week for the recruits who want to contract and I haven’t even gotten a response back for what day the test actually is. I recently reached out to the sergeant at LSU, and she was willing and ready to help me with the paperwork there. My GI BILL, classes, and financial aid are already set at Southeastern should I transfer schools to get a recruiter that is willing to work with me?
Posted in these groups: 
Army ROTC
ROTCLouisiana ARNG
Louisiana State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Army ROTC ROTCLouisiana ARNG Louisiana State University Southeastern Louisiana University
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 9
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Get in touch with the admin NCO at the ROTC office. Or call either the Professor of Military Science or the Adjutant. Any of these people should be able to get you squared away. Good Luck!
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Like the other comments said for your question, don’t worry about the recruiter so much I regard to the program itself. The recruiter at my host school is the same way, very difficult to get ahold of and very hard to use to get into the program.
The cadre at the school will be a much better resource for you to get squared away and get into the program. Then you can focus on working through the other issues that you may be having, which they can ultimately assist you with.
The cadre at the school will be a much better resource for you to get squared away and get into the program. Then you can focus on working through the other issues that you may be having, which they can ultimately assist you with.
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1LT Kevin Chapman
What’s the best way you think it would be to get in contact with them? On the schools website there isn’t any numbers there and they normally try to pinpoint you to the recruiter instead of cadre.
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2LT (Join to see)
Generally thats what they will do because it is that persons job to help you into the program.
That being said, if you are able to go to the campus physically yourself that is your best bet to get in contact with them and ensure that you get what you need.
I would explain the situation (tactfully of course) and let them start a plan of action with you to fix it.
Just be wary that currently there is a massive amount of summer training happening at Fort Knox (head of cadet command/ Advanced Camp) and there may be limited hours that cadre is at the office due to minimal staffing.
In the worst case scenario you can simply contact the school and they can transfer you.
That being said, if you are able to go to the campus physically yourself that is your best bet to get in contact with them and ensure that you get what you need.
I would explain the situation (tactfully of course) and let them start a plan of action with you to fix it.
Just be wary that currently there is a massive amount of summer training happening at Fort Knox (head of cadet command/ Advanced Camp) and there may be limited hours that cadre is at the office due to minimal staffing.
In the worst case scenario you can simply contact the school and they can transfer you.
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SGT Tony Clifford
1LT Kevin Chapman have you tried talking to the VA representative for the university. They might be able to get you in contact with the people you need to contact. My college's VA rep was very much about helping people out. If the problems persist, then maybe consider a transfer.
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If all is as you say, you still have time. You need to start classes first before you contract. Go see the PMS
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I am sorry this has happened and it is really poor customer service. However, my recommendation is to stay at that school. The school year will start pretty soon (2 weeks out at where I work) and you have already done the school administrative work. Changing all of that to another school would push you against the deadline. If you are a freshman, you will not be able to contract anyway unless you have a 4-year Minuteman scholarship. So you have time to assess and explore the program to make sure it is right for you. Once classes begin, you fall more under your Military Science instructor so you may still have a positive experience there. Good luck!
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I saw you’re carpentry masonry, what major did you want, what MOS, also, did you try other svcs at all? I’d just be curious if you could elaborate at all...and, how much coursework have done thus far? Assocs? If so what major for that as well? Any flight interests? Would you want to try for Army warrant rotary wing flight at all? Do you want STEM? Non STEM? Clinical? Non clinical? What other svcs have you tried for said asked before at all, also, hobbies, reading interests, sports incl martial arts if any, the more you relate, the more I and others can suggest as other alternatives, I realize you want Army, I just generally ask such things on career/education questions....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
I figured you'd want that, from your MOS, certainly...that being said, you might possibly at least satisfy an associates, if only for the moment, as the normal minimum for an assocs is 60 credits minimum, obviously, pretty much universally across the US at most regionally accredited schools from what I've seen, I'm not saying you need it, I'm merely saying that for a minimal cost of processing, it'd seem silly to me to not ask, satisfying that should only enhance your ROTC chances, or maybe Green to Gold, let alone SMP, that's all I'm suggesting, let me send this....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
The tablet I'm using conks out a good deal, I need to keep what I type short or I often lose it....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
https://www.mpraonline.org/cid-looking-for-officers-to-become-special-agents-through-warrant-officer-program/
I'm not saying you'd want this, necessarily, I'd just stumbled across it just now, and, being as you've got I think enough credits for an assocs, I'd just figured to send it, I didn't know if you'd ever seen it, it seems to be have been from a cpl of yrs ago, so obv I don't know if there's still he a need, you could try for this with what you've got now, hen keep going for the assocs, and commission later, as I'd said, it was just a thought, obv, you know?
I'm not saying you'd want this, necessarily, I'd just stumbled across it just now, and, being as you've got I think enough credits for an assocs, I'd just figured to send it, I didn't know if you'd ever seen it, it seems to be have been from a cpl of yrs ago, so obv I don't know if there's still he a need, you could try for this with what you've got now, hen keep going for the assocs, and commission later, as I'd said, it was just a thought, obv, you know?
CID Looking for Officers to Become Special Agents Through Warrant Officer Program – MPRA
For the third year in a row, the US Army Criminal Investigation Command is looking for applicants to become Special Agents through their Officer to Warrant Officer program.
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Wow! I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. Recommend you stay in touch with the NOIC any time this guy fails to provide you critical information, like the physical testing dates. I don't know the geography or other personal considerations, but if you can be accepted at LSU that might be your best play. I hope Southeastern is a good school, but LSU has a national-level reputation. This isn't worth much after you get the first post-graduation job, but it can be a discriminator during the initial hiring process. If you plan of going active duty, of course, it doesn't much matter where you completed ROTC.
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1LT Kevin Chapman
Yes sir. I’m just stressing it because I don’t want to miss this pt test. And there isn’t limited to any information about the program on the website so it’s been crazy trying to find the correct person.
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Yes, there may be a lot of issues at play here.
1. The ROO is unfocused due to personal reasons.
2. You are not a good candidate and worth the time.
3. You are taking to the wrong person.
4. That person may be at camp/school until school starts.
5. The ROO sucks and is a wast of oxygen.
In any case, contact the university ROTC secretary and talk with the SMI or APMS and see what is going on. If the school has made mission and does not have a contract to give-find a new college with ROTC to work with. Try to get in a host institution that the ROTC program resides, it makes it easier for scholarships and contracting since some programs just like local Cadets better than affiliated or partner school cadets.
If all else fails contact the PMS to see what you can do. You are looking to ID what the problem is sooner than later. If you want some love, I know numerous programs that are open and looking for cadets; and the opportunities would be amazing if you’ll move. LSUnis a powerhouse program, sometimes the big ones are just too big to have a relationship with every prospect. It’s not personal, it’s just business.
If you want to commission, you can do it...just maybe not at LSU
1. The ROO is unfocused due to personal reasons.
2. You are not a good candidate and worth the time.
3. You are taking to the wrong person.
4. That person may be at camp/school until school starts.
5. The ROO sucks and is a wast of oxygen.
In any case, contact the university ROTC secretary and talk with the SMI or APMS and see what is going on. If the school has made mission and does not have a contract to give-find a new college with ROTC to work with. Try to get in a host institution that the ROTC program resides, it makes it easier for scholarships and contracting since some programs just like local Cadets better than affiliated or partner school cadets.
If all else fails contact the PMS to see what you can do. You are looking to ID what the problem is sooner than later. If you want some love, I know numerous programs that are open and looking for cadets; and the opportunities would be amazing if you’ll move. LSUnis a powerhouse program, sometimes the big ones are just too big to have a relationship with every prospect. It’s not personal, it’s just business.
If you want to commission, you can do it...just maybe not at LSU
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1LT Kevin Chapman
LSU is the host school in the southern region where we are. Everything sounded promising when we met in person and he told me he’d set me up with a Cadet to do my 134r. But when I actually reach out there’s a big lack of communication. It’s been that way for at least 2 months. I’m going to try and contact the PMS.
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Have you attempted to contact one of the instructors at the ROTC unit rather than the recruiter? A while back, I was going to do ROTC for shits and giggles, as I can never reenlist anyways, and had a much easier time communicating with the instructors than I did the lowly recruiter. I agree that switching schools this late in the game can really mess you up; the VA isn't exactly quick with changing paperwork.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
1LT Kevin Chapman - leave it to the programs that are meant to create officers to be as fucked up as a football bat LOL. When are classes supposed to start up at the school? Would the new school accept you simply knowing that your paperwork is being processed? Lastly, would you be able to survive if your housing stipend is postponed while your paperwork is being processed for the new school?
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1LT Kevin Chapman
School starts on the 15th at my current university. I just turned in the paperwork they would need to process today. And I know the record pt test is next week sometime and I have no clue when or where. And when I contacted the other school she told me to call today and she’ll get me in contact with the operations recruiter to start my paperwork and talk about scholarships.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
1LT Kevin Chapman - jeez okay... Well, from the sounds of it you could try going either way. Personally, I would stick with your original choice and continue to hammer at the faculty/personnel that you need to in order to get everything straight. That is my opinion and it is no more valuable than your own. I guess it really depends on which headache you want to deal with.
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1LT Kevin Chapman
Haha I know. I really love my current school, but I’m really passionate about joining the program. I just don’t want to have to constantly blow this guys phone up in an attempt to get him to communicate with me. This is definitely a headache.SGT Joseph Gunderson
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While the situation sucks, I would recomend going to the school you want to. From the outside it can be difficult to see how the ROTC program for different schools run. I wouldn't let a bad recruiter (who isn't involved in anything ROTC related once you are in the door) decide where you should go to school.
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