Would it be better for me to join and ship off to basic, or go through ROTC?

Remember, the military will put the military FIRST! Before EVERYTHING! Kids, marriage, co-habitation, EVERYTHING.
Think VERY, VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.
Bee there, done that!

Get in shape, go through BCT, then do an SMP scholarship.

I went to RSP and to basic one month later. I was at the threshold of the weight and tape limit. I couldn’t pass a pt test until a few in to basic. I steadily got better and better in basic and lost close to 35lbs at the end of infantry osut training. There were struggle points considering I had a new born son just two weeks before I shipped out. I spend every day with him now. If you have the will and dedication to getting in and passing all the exams at MEPS, you should do it sooner than later. It all depends on which route you want to go

As a ROO with an ROTC program, here is my take: First of all, the medical fitness standards for both enlisting and contracting with ROTC are the same. So for either option, you would have to be medically qualified which may require a waiver for your ACL tear. Probably not a big deal if it happened a while ago and does not affect your performance. If you do decide to enlist, you are signing a contract right away and will ship when you have your slot. That would require you to be gone for several months due to basic and AIT. With ROTC, you can do the first two years of classes without having to make the commitment. Of course, that depends on how long it will take you to graduate. To go into the 3rd year (MSIII year) you have to meet the qualifications and sign an ROTC contract. This would require you to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test and soon the Army Combat Fitness Test. A good thing about ROTC is that you can do PT and fully participate without making that commitment. So that would help you get in shape. The other requirements for ROTC include being a full-time student (12 credits/semester), academic qualifications, medical qualification, and a dependent waiver since your spouse is in the military. Besides training during the semester, your one mandatory training camp is ROTC Advanced Camp which usually takes place after your junior year of college (ROTC also has 2 year Masters Program). Other time requirements include on field training exercise per semester, a weekly leadership lab which ties in with your Military Science class, and the actual Military Science class. At graduation, you would receive your commission in the regular Army or one of the reserve components. After graduation and commissioning, you would depart for your Basic Officer Leader Course which is specific to your officer branch. That would be 4-5 months away from home. So regardless of whether your enlist or commission, you will be away from home for quite a while. The biggest advantage of ROTC is you get to try it before making the decision and also after commissioning, there is a significant pay differential. The other significant difference is in the responsibilities that you have as an officer vs. a junior enlisted. That alone discourages some people from pursuing the officer track. If you have any questions about how ROTC works, feel free to message me directly. Good luck with your decision.

There are a LOT of routes, both Active duty and reserve component for both options. It's really a matter of what your needs and goals are. That question is as broad as, "What vehicle should I buy or lease?"

I'd always recommend Basic then ROTC, especially with the reserve option, basically enlist in the reserves get your PT up to par and start your time in service clock. Do the Simultaneous Membership Program (ROTC and Reserves) then commission active duty. You'll get much more money for college and commission with several years in service, meaning much higher pay for the rest of your career due to the experience and knowledge gained in your enlisted service.
Good luck, also dual military is a stressful and hard life (rewarding but hard)

20 years ago I went through a similar situation. I had started college and wanted to go to BCT and continue my service, so I joined the reserves. After finishing my associate's, I found a good ROTC program and did the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). Personally I think the benefits of being enlisted first and working the way through the program is why I am still going after 20 years. The one thing you will need to check with recruiters about is your age. I started all this in 1999 and know max ages and waivers have changed 100 times since then so check with an expert before making any decisions or signing any legally binding contracts.

First, don't dismiss your service and sacrifice for the nation as a spouse. Joint military with children is very difficult, so weigh your priorities carefully. Contrary to what some claim, you can't have it all. But you can have what you choose as priorities.

Rather it's going through BCT or ROTC program neither of them are bad choices; but I say utilize both of your options. I'd recommend going completing Basic Training and AIT first then go through ROTC. You'll be a MOS qualified soldier and you have your MOS to fall back on, if for whatever reason you can't commission or you just decide ROTC is not for you. Also if you complete Basic training it will open up doors for the Army ROTC SMP program, which is a really good program, with good benefits that can actually put more money in your pockets.

Christy C it really depends on you, your end goal, and your resources to achieve this goal.

I would generally recommend to anyone pursuing a commission to pursue it now vice later. The demands on officer candidates (ROTC, OCS, Service Academy) don't get any easier, and your initial Lieutenant time will be demanding in many ways. Don't compound the difficulty level with being older, slower, and trying to dodge age waivers etc. If your goal is to serve as an officer cut to the chase and do it. If you can't afford college or need other service benefits to go to college, then an enlisted path may be right for you.

My recommendation would be to see an ROTC program. They have recruiting and operations people that can advise you, on your specific situation as they stack against their current accessions rules. At least see where you stand.