ROTC
ROTC
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Time commitment of ROTC when working full time?
How is balancing a full time MBA program (6 credits), with ROTC all while working two rotating 24-hour softs as a Firefighter? The ROTC recruiter/coordinator said pt is missable, and only need to attend either a class or lab each week. Does this sound doable to anyone with a similar experience? Im looking to commission into the army reserves due to me already having a career if that changes things, Thank you.
How is balancing a full time MBA program (6 credits), with ROTC all while working two rotating 24-hour softs as a Firefighter? The ROTC recruiter/coordinator said pt is missable, and only need to attend either a class or lab each week. Does this sound doable to anyone with a similar experience? Im looking to commission into the army reserves due to me already having a career if that changes things, Thank you.
ROTC
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Army Reserve Elements
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 2
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I went into ROTC married with one child. I graduated ROTC after having two more children, holding two part time jobs on top of reserve life in downtown Chicago, while my wife was also a full time student and working part-time, also a reservist in nearby Indiana.
I went to Wheaton College, a private Christian school with rigorous academics. I remember one class in particular where I had to study for the regular final exam on top of a three-paragraph essay we were suppose to write, with all are sources and citations needing to be memorized. Another brutal class was ancient Hebrew.
Yet, we didn't only survive, we thrived. We both graduated with honors; we made dean's list every year. I like to brag about my wife's achievements during that time. She graduated top of her class with all sorts of distinctions, all while making E5 and birthing two children. There's no reason you cannot achieve the same.
I went to Wheaton College, a private Christian school with rigorous academics. I remember one class in particular where I had to study for the regular final exam on top of a three-paragraph essay we were suppose to write, with all are sources and citations needing to be memorized. Another brutal class was ancient Hebrew.
Yet, we didn't only survive, we thrived. We both graduated with honors; we made dean's list every year. I like to brag about my wife's achievements during that time. She graduated top of her class with all sorts of distinctions, all while making E5 and birthing two children. There's no reason you cannot achieve the same.
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SPC (Join to see)
Wow, thats very inspiring, congrats. Thank you for the uplifting words. I will keep these words in mind
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1LT (Join to see)
Going the ROTC route is worth the time and effort. It will keep you busy, but I don't think it will be too stressfull for you. The demand wll be on your time management skills and mental endurance. But, you will only be a cadet. No one will expect you to know anything or accomplish amazing feats. You will be expected to show up and learn, and display outstanding character. The hard stuff comes after ROTC.
You'll spend a few years getting into the mindset of a commissioned officer, then you'll be in a very low-risk environemnt where you can make all sorts of mistakes. As a prior-service cadet, I believe ROTC will better prepare and orient you for sucess, versus the OCS route. However, this is heavily dependent on the quality of your ROTC program. I had outstanding cadre, and despite being a prior-service cadet myself, the other cadets constantly outperformed me and pushed me to do better. My success is due to the excellence of others. The leadership actually wanted to give me the boot after my first year. But, one of the cadre vouched for me.
You'll spend a few years getting into the mindset of a commissioned officer, then you'll be in a very low-risk environemnt where you can make all sorts of mistakes. As a prior-service cadet, I believe ROTC will better prepare and orient you for sucess, versus the OCS route. However, this is heavily dependent on the quality of your ROTC program. I had outstanding cadre, and despite being a prior-service cadet myself, the other cadets constantly outperformed me and pushed me to do better. My success is due to the excellence of others. The leadership actually wanted to give me the boot after my first year. But, one of the cadre vouched for me.
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You posted about this topic earlier. After re-reading details, my opinion (from completing full time MBA with reserve ROTC cadre duty) is to not do your option.
ROTC recruiter may promise PT on own, but cadre and student leaders may say otherwise. MBA is a tough academic commitment (classes, networking and studying). You should switch to part-time program if you intend to keep your full-time firefighter job.
Your proposal is three components: MBA, ROTC, firefighting. Pick two and give up on one if you truly want to succeed.
ROTC recruiter may promise PT on own, but cadre and student leaders may say otherwise. MBA is a tough academic commitment (classes, networking and studying). You should switch to part-time program if you intend to keep your full-time firefighter job.
Your proposal is three components: MBA, ROTC, firefighting. Pick two and give up on one if you truly want to succeed.
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SPC (Join to see)
Yes, I did post a similar question the other day but I think some details were misunderstood by some. Thank you for some insight, yes, Firefighting is my true passion and what I intend on doing my entire life.
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1LT (Join to see)
I believe you offer down-to-earth wisdom sir. SPC Farley, consider the implication - if you cannot directly see and feel how ROTC will further your growth in firefighting, then maybe it's not best idea to push for it. Meaning, if you cannot find the commitment to it within yourself, the demand of the program will overtake you and the cadre will put you out.
Essentially:
- Weekly, you will have about 5-7 hours of PT if you include travel time. My program did PT on M, W,and TH in 1-hour sessions. It was all I needed to get my 300 APFT.
- Weekly, You will 3-5 hours of lab time, on one day a week.
- Annualy, you will have an FTX over summer break, no more than a week, and a short one in the winter that is probably a few days.
- Studying will be about the same or less than your MBA classes, in my opinion.
- You will have to plan for about 45 days at Knox towards your final year.
- Schools will be optional and earned.
- There will be details and assignments open to you.
- As you increse in ROTC, you will be given leadership assignments. This will take a little more of your time.
All of this is manageable. If fear is what is holding you back, then jump in and go for it. Don't be weak. If a reasonable and mature assessment of what you're capable of and what your priorities are is causing you concern, then maybe you should avoid ROTC.
Essentially:
- Weekly, you will have about 5-7 hours of PT if you include travel time. My program did PT on M, W,and TH in 1-hour sessions. It was all I needed to get my 300 APFT.
- Weekly, You will 3-5 hours of lab time, on one day a week.
- Annualy, you will have an FTX over summer break, no more than a week, and a short one in the winter that is probably a few days.
- Studying will be about the same or less than your MBA classes, in my opinion.
- You will have to plan for about 45 days at Knox towards your final year.
- Schools will be optional and earned.
- There will be details and assignments open to you.
- As you increse in ROTC, you will be given leadership assignments. This will take a little more of your time.
All of this is manageable. If fear is what is holding you back, then jump in and go for it. Don't be weak. If a reasonable and mature assessment of what you're capable of and what your priorities are is causing you concern, then maybe you should avoid ROTC.
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