Going into ROTC, what should I expect?

[hyzer]

I'm 14 right now, when I go into high school next school year I'll be 15. Gonna go into ROTC, if anybody has been in it tell me what it's like. All read all the comments looking forward to what you guys have to say.

I was in ROTC many years ago in high school, we still drilled with M14's.  In no particular order this is how I remember how to get along:
Get a hair cut, learn how to shine your shoes, learn how to clean your uniform brass and how to position it when wearing it, learn your right from your left, volunteer for extra details like Color Guard or Drill Team,  keep your mouth shut and pay attention.  We had a pair of retired Sergeants major as our faculty advisers.  One was Special Forces, the other had 2 stars on his CIB, they talked - you listened.
I stayed in 3 years and was an E3 when I joined up after high school.

[Wiseguy980]

4 years of Marine ROTC in high school. I even joined our drill team and won a few competitions. Absolutely loved it... but it also showed me that I wasn't military bound. If you're even just a little bit considering joining the military I highly suggest ROTC. Good people, great times, and it will help you decide what you really want to do. Not too mention, you're young, now is the time to try new things before you get old and sore.

[Hoffman]

^ What they said.  And if you have any kind of competitive PT team, get on it.  Especially if you're thinking of joining the military.  When everything is equal, and you're up for promotion and you're going against someone with the same schools and background as you, PT is the next metric.  Not only does it reflect well on you, being in a shape other than round and staying in that shape whether you join the military or not will make a lot of your life easier.

Rifle and saber teams are great for meeting friends and learning drill.  Get a copy of the DNC Field manual (Drill and Ceremonies. FM-21 IIRC)  Just... just be careful when you do rifle tosses...

Learn to shine shoes and boots.  Although if you're in a Marine or Army JROTC you'll probably be wearing coraframs(Plastic pieces of toejam) and seude boots nowadays.  A good pair of black leather dress shoes are preferrable if you spend alot of time in your dress uniforms.  It's more maintenance work than the plastic already shiny shoes that never need a shine, but you're in school. Those things will get scratched all to hell and there's no way to fix them when some love muffin steps on your shoes in the lunch line.
With leathers 15 minutes with a cotton cloth, some water, and some kiwi and you're good to go.

May sound odd, but back in high school shining shoes was actually one of my favorite activities, gave me something to do while sitting and doing my reading homework. Also, once you get good at it, it's a nice way to make extra money.  15-30 minutes of work for 5$
Get all your homework done a week from inspection and then sit in the corps-room with a sign up.


./sigh  Lots of fun... rifle team... saber team... unarmed drill team, flying model club, rocketry club.  Playing bumper flights with all the cadets.  (You have two flights/platoons of cadets on the drill pad, and the goal is for the two Flight/Platoon leaders to get their flight to run into the back of the other flight using drill commands.)  Great practice.

Although they don't appreciate it on your first day of college ROTC when you correct them on drill and ceremonies.
That's what PT club is for, so that you're used to the front lean and rest position.

[stealth]

Reading everything thanks guys. Well at the high school I'm going to is Air Force ROTC. I just don't want to go bald and not having an unfit uncomfortable uniform. If I don't have to do that then I'll be sparkly like boots.

[B-17]

We were standing at parade rest for 3 hours and the actual inspection lasted around 10 minutes .

In uniform with kit?

[curry1]

I am going to be in the Corps of Cadets and Air Force ROTC at Virginia Tech for the Fall Semester 2012.  I am most afraid that Junky and Vonmessa will make fun of me for being a wannabe Nancy-boy butter bar

[4Prop]

my freshman year of JRTOC sucked. (I thought). we stood at parade rest for 2 hours, marched in a parade for 4 blocks and stood easy for another 3 and a half. 1 of witch was in the 40 degree rain.

however, stay in and join the real military (USMC) and you will go far.

[JunkyII]

I am going to be in the Corps of Cadets and Air Force ROTC at Virginia Tech for the Fall Semester 2012.  I am most afraid that Junky and Vonmessa will make fun of me for being a wannabe Nancy-boy butter bar

Since your becoming an officer I'll let you in on a secret.....your NCOs and enlisted can help you along in your career just as much as your superior officers do. If you take the time to listen to them they will respect you and work harder for you, in turn giving you a good OER.

[ozrocker]

The best and most successful Officer's ARE the ones that listen to the NCO's, who will be the
ones training the Louie in the bush. One of the first things a new butter bar will hear is
"Lieutenant, throw that book stuff you learned away. It was written by civilians.
Most of it is worthless in the field". How true.   
                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                          Oz
                                                                                                                               

[AHTbolt]

I was in Navy ROTC and was going to go into the Navy because my father and uncle were in the Navy in WWII, but they wanted to make me a Spoon! So I went to the marines, but my head wouldent fit in the jar, so I spent 23 years in the Army as a parahooper and as a tanker.

[B-17]

me a river....You ever been in a 4 star change of command ceremony? Stood at attention for 8 hours? Been on patrol for 36 hours with 120 pounds of gear on you?

Nothing to worry about going to JROTC or ROTC....start worrying when you actually get into a military branch.

 

Standing at attention for almost 6 hours, marching while playing bagpipes for an hour and a bit on either end, in full dress (with the big hats, straitjackets, and plaids, in full July heat on Parliament Hill in Ottawa... And yet we still have it soft compared to some from a Canadian

[curry1]

Since your becoming an officer I'll let you in on a secret.....your NCOs and enlisted can help you along in your career just as much as your superior officers do. If you take the time to listen to them they will respect you and work harder for you, in turn giving you a good OER.

That's exactly what I keep hearing and I will keep it in mind.

[VonMessa]

I am going to be in the Corps of Cadets and Air Force ROTC at Virginia Tech for the Fall Semester 2012.  I am most afraid that Junky and Vonmessa will make fun of me for being a wannabe Nancy-boy butter bar

For my part, at least, I am just breaking balls.  If I were given the chance to do it all over again, I would have went for Warrant officer.

Take to heart the advice about listening to your NCO's while training AND in the field.  These are guys that have been boots on the ground and know the drill.  They will teach you how to properly lead, from the front while keeping you and your troopers alive and healthy.

Never forget, as an officer, s%*t rolls downhill and gripes go uphill.  If the orders suck, the troopers will know it because you are handing out all of the s%*t details BUT, never complain about orders to anyone under you in rank.  Your troops will fare better and respect you for it.  hey can't change the orders, only those that outrank you can.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ ____

The colonel had three Second Lieutenants eligible for promotion. The problem was, he only had one First Lieutenant Slot available.

The colonel called the first butter-bar into his office and said, "This is a promotion test. If I was to tell you that I wanted a flag pole erected in front of Post HQ by 1700, what would you do?"

The Lt. thought about it for a second, and said, "Sir. I would get a shovel, head for HQ and start digging…."

"You're not ready to be promoted," the Colonel interrupted.

The colonel asked the same question of the next candidate.

"Sir," said the next butter-bar, "I would fill out a CE work order, making sure I made provisions for the appropriate environmental study and….."

"You are definitely not ready to be promoted," the Colonel said.

The Colonel asked the question of the final candidate.

Without hesitation, the Lieutenant said, "Sir. I would call the First Sergeant, and say, 'Top, I want a @#$#@ flag pole in front of HQ by 1700!"

"You're ready to be promoted," the Colonel said.

[JunkyII]

Standing at attention for almost 6 hours, marching while playing bagpipes for an hour and a bit on either end, in full dress (with the big hats, straitjackets, and plaids, in full July heat on Parliament Hill in Ottawa... And yet we still have it soft compared to some from a Canadian

Worked with some Canadians in Korea...big  to one of the States best allies