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Started By
Message
OT military brass, ROTC/OCS question
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:32 am
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:32 am
What would be your advice for someone considering the O side of the house? TL;DR follows.
SOs son is a college sophomore and has expressed an interest in commissioning.
Undecided on which branch but has Navy and Marine Corps relatives. He thought about enlisting when he turned 18 but decided on college instead.
Pros: He's smart, personable, physically fit and speaks a foreign language with close to native fluency. No criminal record, never used drugs nothing that would disqualify him medically or psychiatrically.
Cons: he has a shite GPA right now. Partly his own fault, partly circumstances. COVID lockdowns, hurricanes, and poor time management basically. The last few semesters he's been working full time and going to school part time. I think he's finally getting his bearings.
My main question is how much of a factor is the GPA. If he kicks arse his last two years would showing improvement overcome the bad start? TIA.
SOs son is a college sophomore and has expressed an interest in commissioning.
Undecided on which branch but has Navy and Marine Corps relatives. He thought about enlisting when he turned 18 but decided on college instead.
Pros: He's smart, personable, physically fit and speaks a foreign language with close to native fluency. No criminal record, never used drugs nothing that would disqualify him medically or psychiatrically.
Cons: he has a shite GPA right now. Partly his own fault, partly circumstances. COVID lockdowns, hurricanes, and poor time management basically. The last few semesters he's been working full time and going to school part time. I think he's finally getting his bearings.
My main question is how much of a factor is the GPA. If he kicks arse his last two years would showing improvement overcome the bad start? TIA.
22
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:39 am to Jim Rockford
How fast is his 3 mile? Can he do 20 pull-ups? < this is probably more important than gpa
Have him contact the OSO/OSA. I was a recruiter but not going to say what current selection avg/requirements are because I don’t know. If he is in a tough major I’d suggest looking for an easier one, as it doesn’t matter.
Have him contact the OSO/OSA. I was a recruiter but not going to say what current selection avg/requirements are because I don’t know. If he is in a tough major I’d suggest looking for an easier one, as it doesn’t matter.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:46 am to Jim Rockford
You'll likely need to give more details like what he wants to commission as and what his degree is in to get any meaningful feedback. Probably will need atleast a 3.2 minimum by graduation.
You also might be better off googling your questions and add a branch specific subrreddits like r/army, navy, etc at the end.
There's also branch specific forums like AirWarriors.
You also might be better off googling your questions and add a branch specific subrreddits like r/army, navy, etc at the end.
There's also branch specific forums like AirWarriors.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:50 am to momentoftruth87
IDK what his numbers are or if he's even worked on it yet but he can be a PT stud if he's motivated enough to put in the effort. My main concern is if he had put himself too far behind the eight ball academically. It sounds like maybe he can overcome it.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:53 am to deauxbreaux
Well as you know the OT is the source of all wisdom so I thought I'd try here first. 
I don't know any more specifics. I just found out yesterday. Ultimately it's up to him but I'd like to help him succeed if I can.
I don't know any more specifics. I just found out yesterday. Ultimately it's up to him but I'd like to help him succeed if I can.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:53 am to deauxbreaux
If he goes USMC he’s going to have 3 options, ground, air, or law. More than likely it will be the first one.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 4:58 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
IDK what his numbers are or if he's even worked on it yet but he can be a PT stud if he's motivated enough to put in the effort. My main concern is if he had put himself too far behind the eight ball academically. It sounds like maybe he can overcome it.
Like I said, switch majors and find some easy classes. That will help gpa. As for pt, just because he can do it doesn’t mean that’s good enough. Yes it will qualify him but he will need around a 285 score, so under 20 min 3 mile, 20 pull-ups & 100 crunches. But I’ve heard OCS you better be in good shape. Being an officer is a completely different standard than enlisted.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 5:04 am to Jim Rockford
If his GPA is north of 2.5 he should be fine for the Corps provided everything else you said is true. He'll need to run a minimum 22:30 3 mile, do at least 15 pull-ups and hold a plank for over 3 minutes(not sure of the exact time as this is new).
The Corps made its recruiting mission this year but barely. The Army didn't so they may be less selective on their admissions. Good luck to him.
The Corps made its recruiting mission this year but barely. The Army didn't so they may be less selective on their admissions. Good luck to him.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 5:27 am to momentoftruth87
quote:
better be in good shape. Being an officer is a completely different standard
And having a leadership personality goes a long way. It wouldn’t hurt to take some speech classes to get over the fear of public speaking.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 5:31 am to Jim Rockford
I did Army ROTC. I also had a shite GPA when I started, was able to pull it up a bit and got my branch (Army job) of choice. But, that was in the 90’s, so things may be different. Have him make an appointment with the ROTC folks on campus and lay it all out openly and honestly. They’re not quite like regular recruiters so he’ll get up to date feedback on his prospects for getting what he wants out of it
Eta- if in Louisiana, consider the Guard- you’re tuition exempt at that point with a little extra $ per month, which could alleviate some of the need to work- more time to focus on the gpa. You can be enlisted in the guard while going through ROTC for a commission at the same time. That’s what I did, and it worked out great
Eta- if in Louisiana, consider the Guard- you’re tuition exempt at that point with a little extra $ per month, which could alleviate some of the need to work- more time to focus on the gpa. You can be enlisted in the guard while going through ROTC for a commission at the same time. That’s what I did, and it worked out great
This post was edited on 9/13/23 at 5:37 am
Posted on 9/13/23 at 5:44 am to Jim Rockford
Have him go Air Force or Navy to have a better choice of career options.
This post was edited on 9/13/23 at 5:49 am
Posted on 9/13/23 at 5:59 am to Jim Rockford
He should get his grades up. Like everyone has said, he should be in shape. Running especially. Did he take the ASVAB? You can take it online. If he scores in the 90s he'll be considered officer material. Did he talk to a ROTC rep on campus? If they want him, he can get some $ for school and commission when he gets out. I would not recommend he go Marines, but that's up to him.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:02 am to Jim Rockford
As long as he graduates, he can go OCS.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:08 am to Jim Rockford
quote:Recently retired from the Navy and would not recommend it for you son. There's been an unfortunate large cultural shift that's forcing more great people out then otherwise would have retired.
Navy and Marine
The Marines seems to have avoided most of the nonsense so I'd go with them over the Navy currently.
It's very beautiful when someone has so much pride in their country that they want to serve. However, it's the first time in my life in which I've told my kids that I have no desire for them to.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:25 am to momentoftruth87
quote:
285 score, so under 20 min 3 mile, 20 pull-ups & 100 crunches
This is no longer the standard. Needs to be doing 23 pullups and a 3:45 plank.
And your advice about switching to an easier major is not great. First off, he may still not get selected, and now he has a shitty, worthless degree. Secondly, it's true that GPA matters, but degree also matters. It's not a purely objective process where a 3.8 in Quilt Making holds the same value as a 3.8 in Electrical Engineering. The selection board is made up of real humans, and they know the difference.
This post was edited on 9/13/23 at 6:27 am
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:26 am to jivy26
quote:
The Marines seems to have avoided most of the nonsense so I'd go with them over the Navy currently.
Believe me, we have not avoided the nonsense.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:48 am to Jim Rockford
Oh, and just caught the “going to school part time” part- for ROTC you have to be full time. If he graduates, and then enlists then having his degree already will help with an OCS application down the road, but I don’t think most people can go straight to OCS regardless of service (unless a Dr, lawyer, etc already). So he’ll need to do a good job as a junior enlisted guy for a bit before he can go to OCS
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:50 am to Jim Rockford
(no message)
This post was edited on 9/13/23 at 8:05 am
Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:51 am to HillabeeBaw
quote:
Have him go Air Force or Navy to have a better choice of career options.
Not with that GPA..
Pounding ground for the Marines will get his college bills paid off, and he can make a career out of it
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