Signed on the dotted line...

[DaveJ]

Yesterday, I officially contracted in the US Army through my ROTC program at college. I now have an 8 year total commitment once I graduate and commission, with a minimum of 4 years active duty obligation. Guess I need to pay back the army somehow as they are basically giving me a full ride scholarship  .

I had to wait all summer on a medical waiver, and it finally was approved a few days ago. Couldn't be happier about my situation.

For those of you that are interested, I am currently a sophomore taking both freshman and sophomore level ROTC classes together, because I was not part of the program last year.

Looking forward to driving on!

[gpwurzel]

Congrats Davey



Wurzel

[Denholm]

Thanks for serving our country. Hopefully they treat you better than they have our family.

[Bruv119]

keep your head down davey.  Maybe one day you can be like JunkyII getting wasted in S.Korea and playing AH late   .

[batch]

Congratulations on following in so many of our footsteps...... Im sure you will do us proud and honor your country to the best of your ability

Thanks for serving our country. Hopefully they treat you better than they have our family.

Sorry your family has been treated badly........ might I inquire what has brought this post?

[nirvana]

Congratulations Dave, your best days are ahead of you.

[DaveJ]

Thanks all. Still have a few more years to go though until I will be in "real" army. I need to focus on my schoolwork and other things so that I can get the branch that I want when it comes time for commissioning.

[Maverick]

If you have any senior NCO's in the ROTC program there that are Combat Arms branch, seek them out and ask what advice they would give to a brand new butter bar especially when they join their unit after school is over. Keep in mind that ROTC isn't the "real" military and be ready for a minor "culture shock" when you get to your basic branch school.

Any particular Branch you are going to request?

[Yenny]

/cheer wtg davej =)

[DaveJ]

If you have any senior NCO's in the ROTC program there that are Combat Arms branch, seek them out and ask what advice they would give to a brand new butter bar especially when they join their unit after school is over. Keep in mind that ROTC isn't the "real" military and be ready for a minor "culture shock" when you get to your basic branch school.

Any particular Branch you are going to request?

Infantry will be my first choice- most likely with an ADSO (Active duty service obligation.. makes 8 year minimum active instead of 4). The ADSO will give me a better chance to branch infantry because not everyone is willing to fill one out. Second choice will be MP because that appeals to me as well due to their versatility on the battlefield..

All of our cadre are SNCOs. My MS II instructor is a former MP First Sergeant so I will be asking him about that branch in the future. Right now I am just trying to soak up as much as possible and study on my own. I bought a Ranger handbook so that I can flip through it and pick up useful information.

[Yenny]

Inf and Armor do almost the same job right now. In my unit, we have inf guys taking over cav scout plt. Armor guy taking over Inf. platoon/company. Be ready to learn on the fly =), it's rly fun. Also as inf officer it's mandatory to go to ranger school. Get your PT stuff in.

[USRanger]

I bought a Ranger handbook so that I can flip through it and pick up useful information.

Don't flip through it, read it...sir.

[rogwar]

Armor seems like it would be very interesting nowadays. Thanks for your commitment. You are going to have fun.

[Denholm]

...Sorry your family has been treated badly........ might I inquire what has brought this post?

After making 20 attempts in which three different professionals verified we are sending as much and all the information required, DFAS continues to deny claims for over $20,000 which they are obligated to pay us. Their excuse is either A. You didn't send us proof of "x." (Which just happens to be in the packet they send back with the, "excuse") or B. You were never ordered to travel to "x," therefore your claim is denied (Once again, the order just happens to be in the packet they send back with the, "excuse"). And now, the cherry on the cake. After retiring, the VA is claiming we owe them money for misuse of funds when in fact we have never received money from them....

Therefore, Dave, I hope your military career is better than the one our family experienced.

[DaveJ]

Don't flip through it, read it...sir.

Roger USRanger  . I'm learning very much already from it.

Yenny: Not sure I have much interest in armor. Cav Scout would be my ideal position, but wouldn't want to deal with tanks...