Things I Wish I Knew Before I Joined the Army
Joining the military was one of the best decisions I made. It provided me many opportunities from an undergraduate student and will continue to provide me resources even after I transition out of the military. It is my love - most of the time - for the military that motivated me to start this organization. I wanted to write this article specifically due to the apprehension my family felt over my decision to join the military and hope it informs future generations on the decision they are making. I wish I had the knowledge I have now to quell my parents’ worries, but I didn’t and so we all learned together about what the future held (try explaining why it’s totally safe to jump from an airplane 1200 feet off the ground without your mom’s blood pressure sky rocketing). This article shares how I heard about joining the Army, the process of joining the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) during undergraduate, what to expect as a cadet, and some insights into life after graduation as a commissioned officer.
How I Heard About ROTC and Joined
I first learned about ROTC and its full scholarship as a high school senior. Despite missing the deadlines to apply for an ROTC scholarship, I still ended up attending UW-Madison and joining their ROTC Program with the hope of later earning a scholarship. As of note, the first-round scholarship deadline for ROTC is usually October of your senior year to have your application completed and submitted. This is earlier for those interested in attending the United States Military Academy (USMA) – West Point.
I never trained running in high school and THOUGHT I would be fine for my 2-mile assessment. I was wrong. I failed my first physical fitness test to qualify for a scholarship. I still stuck with the ROTC program and by the second semester I had passed the physical assessment. Unfortunately, my program wouldn’t be allocated additional scholarships until the following year.
Not being awarded a scholarship was a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to transfer to the University of Southern California (USC). I met the deadlines to apply for the ROTC scholarship while simultaneously applying to their undergrad program. To receive an ROTC scholarship for your preferred college the student will need to receive two separate acceptance letters: one acceptance to the ROTC program with a scholarship and the second is acceptance to the school.
Admissions Benefits
Does partaking in ROTC help with admissions? The short answer is yes. Participating in ROTC signifies motivation, discipline, and demonstrates an individual’s ability to balance academics and military training. It showcases a well-rounded individual committed to both academics and extracurricular activities contributing to a more holistic profile. The student demonstrates a sense of initiative, a clear sense of purpose, and an institution (your military branch) which can vouch for the student’s character, work ethic and leadership potential.
Scholarship and Obligations Upon Acceptance
I was awarded the 3-year ROTC scholarship which covers the full cost of tuition OR housing, a monthly stipend of $420, and a yearly book scholarship of about $1200. This is not a “free” scholarship. In return I committed to serving 8 years in the National Guard or reserve; or serving 4 years Active Duty. Another route is Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) which is a scholarship through the national guard which commits a cadet to the national guard upon graduation. USC is quite pricey so I’d like to think I came out on top of with my contract.
Time Commitment
The time commitment for ROTC is about ten to fifteen hours a week consisting of a mandatory military science and lab course, and morning physical training for the entirety of your time in college. I assure you that the ‘freshman 15’ will not be an issue if you’re even slightly mindful of your diet. The military science course and lab are very easy to receive an A which counts towards your GPA. As cadets progress through the ROTC program into their junior and senior year, they will be given more responsibility akin to those of an Army Officer. Even the busiest weeks usually don’t amount to more than fifteen hours. Due to this additional time requirement, ROTC programs typically expect engineering students to take five years to graduate with the fifth year focused on academics and not partaking in ROTC activities or classes.
I would recommend a lower course load your first year - close to the university minimum for full time students - for a successful transition that isn’t bogged down my constant academic work. ROTC can be physically and mentally demanding for first year cadets as they also try to balance academics, socializing, joining extracurriculars, and transitioning to a new environment.
What Do You Learn in ROTC?
Cadets ruck marching from the USMA.
ROTC’s primary goal is to teach cadets about the military and transform them into professional leaders prepared to lead Soldiers. The learning objectives are centered around: small unit tactics, land navigation, first aid, marksmanship, physical fitness, and the military as a profession. Physical requirements are a bi-annual Combat Physical Fitness Test, a one-time Combat Water Survival Test, a semesterly 12-mile hike with a 35-pound pack, and an obstacle course. The cadets and instructors all workout together to progressively prepare for these physical tasks and keep injuries at a minimum. I also recommend finding a good mobility program and sleeping for at least 8 hours a night - you’ll have plenty of time to develop a caffeine addiction when you’re an officer.
Small unit tactics (SUT) is a large majority of what you will learn in Army ROTC. SUT is how squads (12-man teams) and platoons (teams consisting of 4 squads) conduct infantry (combat) tactics. This is the standard topic on how cadets are tested on the tenets of maneuver warfare which is how the U.S. military conducts military operations. This does not mean your son or daughter will have to go infantry or combat arms (I am a communications officer). The reason ROTC instruction focuses on SUT is almost everything in the military supports maneuver warfare and to support maneuver warfare one needs to understand how maneuver warfare functions.
Dietary and Religious Accommodations
I was raised a vegetarian and Hindu. If you vocalize that you are vegetarian or have dietary restrictions, you will be accommodated. If you have communicated these concerns with your senior cadets and instructors and they’ll provide you a vegetarian meal-ready-to-eat (MRE). In the Army it’s difficult to eat vegan, vegetarian. Those with dietary restriction might find themselves filling up on bread and vegetables. Some vegetarians/vegans forgo their beliefs during field exercises or bring their own snacks as supplements. Experiment what works for you and work with your leaders to ensure your needs are being met. There are plenty of vegetarian MREs options that are just as nutritionally balanced at the non-veg. I personally started college as vegetarian and eventually added poultry and seafood to my lifestyle after my first semester.
Summer Obligations
For one or two summers between your freshman and sophomore year and then between junior and senior year you will go to summer training at Fort Knox. This is 3 and 5 weeks respectively. The 3-week block (between freshman and sophomore year) is optional and teaches the basic skills required of all Soldiers in the Army. The 5-week block (Advance Camp) is mandatory. Advance Camp is your evaluation period against a cohort of your peers and a commissioning requirement. These 5 weeks test a combination of technical proficiency of what you’ve learned at your ROTC program (SUT, land navigation, first aid, physical fitness, rucking, etc.). Since this is a summer where many students work internships, a cadet can coordinate this with their ROTC instructors to make sure they can complete their internship and attend Advance Camp.
Receiving your Military Occupation
There are many different occupations in the Army for officers. These include combat operations, information technology and communications, engineering, intelligence, pilots, artillery, and so on. There are plenty of jobs that will never see combat and ones that exclusively train for combat. The way you are matched with a job is dependent on how you perform at your ROTC program, during Advance Camp, and your GPA. This generates an Order of Merit List (OML) which ranks the best to worst cadet in the program. The higher your OML the more likely you will receive the assignment you want. The statistics on this matching process are always changing; however, cadets will rank the occupations from their number 1 preference to their last and 90% of cadets are matched within their top three preferences regardless of the OML.
The question my parents had was, “Will you be on the front line?” This question is answered with many nuances and externalities which depend on global conflicts and ongoing military operations in which the U.S. has a vested interest. War is unpredictable and many things can happen. Some occupations have a high chance and others have a relatively low chance, but if a situation occurs then you will be expected to faithfully carry out your duties. This is part of the oath all servicemember take to serve and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and why military service is not for everyone.
Commissioning and Basic Officer Leadership Course
Once you receive your occupational assignment you will prepare to commission your senior year. This is the culmination of the past 4-5 years of hard work to earn the rank of Second Lieutenant. This is done in a ceremony with their fellow peers, instructors, and families. It generally holds the same amount of importance in a cadet’s college/ROTC career as graduating and is a celebration of their achievement.
First Airborne jump in Germany!
Once you commission as a Second Lieutenant you will receive orders within a month or two to report to your first duty assignment which is the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) that instructs you on how to perform your job. BOLC is generally 4-5 months long depending on each occupation. These posts are generally located in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and California. There are many more duty stations and posts located around the United States and around the world but generally BOLC is a soft introduction for the young officer to the Army. At BOLC the newly commissioned officers are mentored and polished by senior officers on how to act and lead soldiers in the Army. They may receive additional schooling after graduating from BOLC such as Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, or Sapper School which are great opportunities and usually awarded to top performers. These are usually not requirements to promote, but they reinforce your abilities as a leader and teach additional qualifications needed for various occupancies.
After BOLC and Choosing Duty Assignments
Following graduation from BOLC you will conduct a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to your first unit. A PCS is essentially moving from one post to another. Most domestic assignments are served in 3 year terms with overseas assignments ranging from 1 to 3 years. This is considered being ‘stationed’ at a location. A ‘deployment’ is often to a combat environment – think Syria or when the U.S. was in Afghanistan.
If an Officer elects to go into the National Guard or Reserves instead of Active Duty, they will conduct drill once month and attend an annual 2 week training block at their state’s National Guard or reserve base following BOLC. They will have a full-time civilian job while serving in the National Guard. Lawfully, a job cannot penalize an individual for being in the National Guard or Reserves and having to attend drill once a month, and annual training for 2 weeks. These training cycles are projected in advance so there is no surprise. These units can also deploy alongside or in replacement of Active Duty units.
Pay and Wages
Salaries of Officers can be found here and it depends on rank and total years in service. This only illustrates part of the compensation received. Officers also receive something called the Basic Allowance for Housing or Overseas Housing Allowance that provide tax free income to cover the cost of housing, and utilities. This is dependent on the zip code of the military installation that service member is stationed; NOT where they decide to live. If they are assigned to Fort Campbell but elect to live in Nashville, they will receive Fort Campbell BAH, not Nashville BAH. If living overseas, service members will receive compensation based off where that overseas base is located. Overseas stations (Germany, Italy, England, Japan, Korea, Qatar, etc.) also compensate service members with a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to provide additional financial support if there is a large difference in the cost of living requirements based on what the service member is paid and what is required for the area.
All medical expenses are covered for Active Duty by the health care provider, Tricare Prime when going to a military hospital. This hospital can refer the service member to an “out-of-network” provider if the hospital doesn’t have that specialty or there is too long of a wait time to see a provider. National Guard service members have a different version of Tricare that acts closer to a traditional health insurance provider with premiums and costs associated with it. I have always been provided excellent care with Tricare Prime, but everyone has a different experience.
Active Duty Experience
I loved my time in South Korea and Germany. I was able to travel, experience new cultures, and make so many friends. My first position was a platoon leader which essentially means I was responsible for about 50 Soldiers to include their training, resourcing, and their health and well-being. This is a tremendous responsibility; however, the newly minted officers will be very well prepared from their time as cadets. Second Lieutenants are also paired with an experienced non-commissioned officer (NCO) to guide and mentor the young officer. The Army understand that Second Lieutenants are inexperienced, and their first assignment will be an opportunity for them to learn from more experienced officers and non-commissioned officers to refine their leadership style.
My second duty station was Germany. Normally the Army won’t send someone to two consecutive overseas assignments unless that individual elects to do so. I elected to go to Germany as what’s better than living in Europe with a full-time job and support network provided by the United States government? Not much in my opinion. I loved living in Europe, cherish the relationships I made, and fondly remember my travels. The Army gave me the opportunity of once in a lifetime and I was very glad I took it. I had promoted to first lieutenant and served as a Signal Detachment Commander during this time. I had only 20 Soldiers under my leadership, but this position was more specialized in its mission set and did not require as many Soldiers to accomplish its task. I lived in Stuttgart, Germany and got the experience of living in a proper European city. It was incredible and transformative for a young adult in their mid-20s.
Hiking to the top of Pulpit Rock in Norway
My third assignment is in Quantico, VA which is just south of Washington D.C. I am a student at the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Warfare School where I am learning to integrate air assets, ground assets, naval assets, and amphibious assets during warfare. Basically, how does the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps all work together during war? It is generally considered an opportunity for service members to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the regular military and falls under the category of professional military education.
Opportunities If The Military Isn’t For You?
I entered the military knowing I would evaluate my career at my 4 year (minimum obligation), 7 year (GI Bill received), 10 year (half-way point), and 15 years (nearing retirement). These each mark a transition point in most Officer’s careers. I decided I would secure my GI Bill and pivot to a graduate program. The GI Bill covers tuition for most universities and provides a BAH at the E5 level. There is also a program called Skill Bridge through the DoD that allows service members to work at a company while still in the military before they officially transition out.
Important Note: to receive your GI Bill you need to have served your initial contract FIRST. For instance, I completed my 4 year obligation for my ROTC scholarship and only then does my 3 year clock start for my GI Bill. Things change, always check the rules and regulations and read the fine print before signing. Pilots…you incur nearly a decade long commitment when you branch Aviation. This will all be made clear to you by your instructors as you get closer to choosing.
Prior to transitioning out, many service members benefit from receiving free civilian certifications. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is constantly offered for free across the military to include the class and a free testing voucher along with many IT certifications to include Sec+, Net+, etc. Officers and enlisted service members can use tuition assistance to receive funding to attend college course as part-time students, but there is an added service obligation if they choose to go this route. There are a tremendous number of resources offered at the education center at all military installations that allow service members to earn certifications and college credits towards higher education. These resources are underutilized, and I highly encourage all soldiers to take advantage of them.
Conclusion
I’ve highlighted my journey from high school to undergrad and then to my first few assignments. While this focuses on just what to expect the few years, everyone’s experience varies. I have been lucky in my career as the Army has generally accommodated what I wanted in terms of duty assignments and job positions. Other people are not so lucky and elect to transition out of the military at the first chance they get. I hope this clears up some concerns you and your family might have had. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out on our Facebook group or send us an email at:
indianveteransassociationofamerica@gmail.com