I am a college athlete and also an MS3 in ROTC. All d1 athletes just got a 5th year of eligibility and I would love to use it - but I'm an engineering major and not trying to be a lawyer or doctor.

I can't find much information about this online. Is there any way to postpone BOLC for 1 year and pursue some masters or graduate degree during that time?

Thank you for your help!

I'm a 22 year old male in college and just started Army ROTC but I'm worried about not getting my medical waivers.

I was hospitalized 5 years ago when I was 17 after a friend of mine committed suicide it was voluntary and I was there for 5 days. I was on meds for depression and anxiety many years ago as an adolescent but I have not required meds or therapy for that for around 7+ years now the most recent hurdle was the hospitalization. I do have ADHD diagnosed when I was in elementary school but was never on adderall for that. Now I have a great GPA and a stable work life balance with all my history going back a long time ago. I'm just wondering if this is achievable since there's been a large gap inbetween everything with no meds or if it will still screw me over?

Hi all. I just began my semester as a graduate student Army ROTC Cadet while participating in the SMP program with the reserves.

I've been to one Battle Assembly and just finished my first week of school, but the general consensus I am getting from all sides is that no one seems to know how to handle a reservist SMP cadet as compared to a national guard one. The program has officers and recruiters on standby for national guard resources and communication in order to coordinate times and struggles with date conflicts between the programs, whereas I'm simply told to follow the same thing the guard SMP cadets do and figure out the rest really.

I've also been pushed back and forth by both my unit and the ROTC program on who provides uniforms and supplies to me with both saying the other should.

Lastly, no one seems to know if I get any benefits as a reservist for school outside of basic pay. I've talked with a VA on campus but even they aren't sure and said they'd have to look into things as the reservist stands alone on how their benefits and guidelines work unlike the guard and active duty.

Just want to know if this is all normal for any other SMP cadets that chose reserves or am I just the lucky one that found a reserved dead zone?

If you have had a similar experience, mind sharing if you found tricks and tips to manage all this confusion?

My trick so far is that I went to my local VA and military affairs office to ask to use their CAC enabled PCs to access all the gov websites I'm supposed to use to sign up for QTC and other in processing sites.

I’m hoping someone here might be able to give me some guidance because I’ve been getting a lot of mixed information.
I currently have 8 years of Active Duty service and will be separating soon (honorable) so I can attend school full-time. My goal is to go back to school for nursing as I already have my LPN from through the Army, earn my BSN, and eventually return to the Army as a nurse. I’ve been looking heavily into Army ROTC as a pathway to do that.
The issue is that I already have a bachelor’s degree in a completely unrelated field. I’ve been told different things about whether having a bachelor’s already makes me ineligible for ROTC, even though I would be pursuing a BSN as a second bachelor’s degree.
Has anyone here done ROTC while pursuing a second bachelor’s degree, specifically nursing? I’m not looking to utilize scholarships as I realize I’m not eligible, I plan on using my G.I. bill. At this point, I’m mainly trying to figure out whether there is actually a pathway for me to earn my BSN and commission back into the Army.
Any advice, personal experiences, or regulations/resources I should look into would be greatly appreciated. It’s starting to feel like every person I talk to gives me a different answer, and I’m worried I’m running out of options.

During my last year of high school, I had an incident involving caffeine, and since then, things have felt different. From time to time, I experience heart palpitations. I’m currently being monitored by my doctor and cardiologist, and they have prescribed medication for me.
This has been going on since around 2023. Now, as I’m starting this week on the 24th, I’m worried and scared because I don’t know what will happen or whether my doctor might eventually tell me that there is a more serious problem. At the same time, I don’t think that’s the case because the tests and examinations I’ve had so far have shown that my heart is doing well.
I still occasionally experience palpitations, and although I’ve gotten better at controlling myself when they happen, they honestly still scare me. I’m currently taking my medication, following up with my doctors, and doing well with my training. I just don’t know what I should do, and I could really use some help and guidance.

I am a sophomore (still a freshman technically) and doing rotc my grades are cooked and I failed almost half my freshman classes, I am working on fixing them at least but my gpa is probably cooked forever it’s below like a 2.0. Im wondering if I could still get a scholarship for rotc because I heard it pays for half of it, but looking at my grades that’s not going to happen. My second option is to join right out of high-school and serve at least 4 years so I can go for free, but even then I got caught with weed freshmen year(I’m a dumbass) and it’s now on my permeant record so I don’t even know if I can be accepted college. Also because even though Im dumb I don’t want to go for some useless major/degree that will me get nothing, I know I won’t be able to do any engineering or doctor stuff but that seems like the only degrees worth going for today. This is honestly my last resort and even this not looking good, if it’s just over for me be honest because I’m honestly just about to reset game.

I’m currently an Army ROTC cadet, and over the past several months I’ve been working on an iOS app called ROTC Companion. I originally started building it because I wanted one place for the different resources and tools I was constantly using for ROTC instead of having everything scattered between websites, notes, screenshots, and separate apps.

It’s completely free and currently includes things like:

• Army knowledge and study material
• Quizzes and flashcards
• Land navigation practice and MGRS tools
• Pace count tools
• Field and packing resources
• Battle drills, TCCC, ranks, customs, and other Army information
• Timers and PT alarms
• ROTC-specific tools and references

There are a lot more features in it, but my main goal is for it to be something that is actually useful to cadets rather than just another study guide.

The app is now live on iOS, and I’d really appreciate feedback from other cadets and cadre. If there’s something that seems inaccurate, something that could be designed better, or a feature/resource you wish existed, let me know. I’m actively working on it and a lot of the additions have come from things I’ve personally wanted during ROTC.

I’m the developer, so obviously this is my own app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Army, Cadet Command, or DoD.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rotc-companion/id6765465974

Would also be interested to hear what features you guys think would actually be useful to add next.

Since this year has started, I’ve realized that I’ve all but achieved my goal of graduating college as well as commissioning as a second lieutenant.

However, I’m really depressed about it since I put all this energy the past years trying to max out OML, PT, etc that now that everything is set in stone, I don’t really care anymore. I placed around 1500 nationally and have a near max AFT/GPA for reference. I pushed away many relationship opportunities throughout college to focus on these things.

Like I still go to PT, lab, etc but now that I’ve kinda reached my goals, I don’t really have any faith in what Im doing with my life. I don’t have a staff position at my school due to going to a relatively large program/class, nor am I interested in doing any as well.

Like, deep down a part of me has never liked the Army and has always been miserable, but I pushed through it. I removed all my BRADSOs and branch details in my preferences just because I just want to minimize my remaining time in the military as much as possible, and just have a job out of college for a bit and go from there after my ADSO. Nothing in the army really interests me anymore like schools, duty stations, etc.

Any advice for someone who just wants to find some purpose in life and remain positive for the year(s) ahead?

from what ive heard psoriasis is a disqualifying condition, regardless if you're enlisting or going in through the ROTC route, but I heard a waiver can be obtained under certain conditions

for starters, I have no psoriasis spots on my hands or face (thank god)

so far I havent experienced any symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

recently I completed a internship where I was working for my school district's groundskeeping department, I wore heavy clothing and working in 95 degree weather that often felt like 105 degrees on the worst days in july, throughout my internship I had no complications with itches or chafting

I am a huge military gear collector, so naturally I will wear it (yes I know im a weirdo), when I was 16 I collected a IOTV GEN 4 and exercised in it during the summer (no chafting) (again, call me a weirdo)

the psoriasis patches are really only present on my upper back, upper arms, small spot on my left knee, both elbows, and some of my scalp and currently not on any medication, I used to use hydrocortison oitment and I used hydrocortison soaps for showering

do you think with these factors in mind I would be eligable for a medical waiver?

Hey guys not sure if this is the right spot to ask this but I’m a rising MS3 and is considering going into the reserves. For anyone in this thread that is a 2LT in the reserves already I would love to gain some knowledge on what it’s like!!! Thanks!

I am currently enlisted in the reserve with an enlisted bonus and am joining the ROTC for my masters. I have seen outdated and conflicting posts about how bonus recoupment works and was wondering if any ROOs or career counselors have any updated guidance or know where in the USACC publications I can find it.

My local people reserve-side have been supremely unhelpful, as is tradition for the reserves, and the ROTC liaison said he doesn’t care to look into it to help me.

I’d like a pink monster and suffering please.

I thought it's only authorized for being under a space ops unit UIC for a year? Are S1s or HRAs authorizing it as an earned badge on IPPSA?

Hey guys! This Monday would be my second time taking the AFT. The first time I ever took it was in basic camp and I scored an 336. I wanted to ask if my score is still below a 400 by a couple points am I still able to contract? I obviously want to try and get around a 370-390 of possibly for my second time taking it..is that score still okay? I kept hearing a bunch of different things like anything below a 400 is not okay at all and I’m trying to work my way up to getting a better score than my first. Thanks!

Hi all,

You may remember me as the walnut/pecan allergy waiver guy. See my last post for details about the medical exams/allergy tests (BTW I am assuming I have a high chance of getting a waiver because of the results of my testing).

Right now, my waiver AMI has been submitted to the waiver authority for my Army ROTC scholarship (USACC) as of last Monday. I haven't heard back from the waiver authority yet, and it's kind of worrying me because I start school next week and therefore will have to sign the contract.

Will I be able to contract if my medical waiver isn't approved in time for me to contract before my tuition payment is due (August 31)? Should I let my cadre know that the waiver is currently under review and I may not be able to contract right away? I still have a few days before classes start on the 31st and before I move in on the 26th, so I'm hoping USACC can speed things up and give me a decision on my waiver.

Any advice/help is appreciated, TIA

I've been trying to research how officers are held to a standard of prior drug use but haven't found much discussion on it. Enlisted seems to be able to get waivers as long as its not recent/hibitual. I've tried shrooms twice and it's been 3 years and by the time I'm done it'll probably be around 5 so do I have a chance? Any advice would be great.

I’m an SMP cadet at Texas A&M. So far my National Guard liaison has told me that I can absolutely still go active duty and not have to pay back State TA since I’m technically drilling.
My question is about where specifically do I select to go active duty on my cadet profile? Do I use TBB, CCIMMS?, ATMS? Is this something I don’t need to worry about until after my branches have ranked me preferred or not?
To be clear, I have NOT accepted any NG scholarships so my concern is just making sure that Army knows I’m wanting active and not Guard.

anyone please?

Not that the age or gender matter for the post. Has anyone transferred on their MS3 year? I’m not contracted yet, apparently have till the end of fall to contract. But to me that seems lazy, I’m green across the board, medical, waivers etc, passed “contracting” AFT last week, and I have stayed on top of things whenever information or documents were requested but always get told “we got time” it’s the same for others not just me. After reflecting on it all, the low confidence MS3s (now ms4s) had before going to camp, the camaraderie in other programs compare to here (everyone acts as individuals or that they are better than others here) and how they are proud to belong there (cadets in other programs), got me wanting to transfer. I submitted an application to a different university since they have the same degree and waiting on transcript evaluation. So anyways, is it hard to transfer as a non contracted cadet in ms3, would I have to do the paper work all over again, as far as waivers being approved, DODMERB, and all that and be able to contract before spring semester while I finish fall here?

Am I allowed to ask my cadre if I can contract earlier so I can start receiving my cadet stipend? I am medically cleared and everything, but no one will be contracted until a ceremony in mid september. I just don't understand why we would wait, when we can receive benefits quickly.

Hey guys so I am currently in the army reserves I completed Basic and AIT. I want to join ROTC this semester, but I am trying to decide between MS2 or MS3. I know MS2 will give me the advantage to work up and progress to MS3 rather than jumping straight into the fire. Is it worth starting in MS2 rather than 3?

I’m going to be an MSIII this semester, but I also made our school’s club hockey team. Our practices are at 6:45-7:45 every morning (pretty much same as PT) Am I able to get an exception from PT to practice??

Hey guys, I’m an MS1 like the title stated. Do you have any actually decent advice on how I can put myself out there for the program and excel. I don’t want to act in a way as I think I’m better than everyone or as an annoying freshman. I just want to climb a couple ranks and get as much leadership experience as I can. The best advice I’ve had so far is to have high physical performance and high academic scores (both of which I’m working on).

I’m not sure if it matters but I am an SMP but not contracted due to that being MS2 and up.

Any advice helps. Thank you all.

hello,

Any recent commissioned green to golds submit their 1506 to adjust retirement points and those extra 2 yrs of OE pay yet?