ROTC Officer Expectations

[K-TownMT]

Hi I'm Tyler and I'm recently new to the forums and I was wondering if there is someone who has gone through ROTC and can tell me what the Expectations are, like what I can expect on dress code, some of the things in ROTC I will be doing and anything else that you think that i will find helpful. I plan on early enlisting this coming January for six years and after High School is when I start ROTC.

Thanks

[CPT Burritt]

ROTC has the same expectations as the Army. Right uniform, on time. That means military style haircut, shaved, etc.

As for your expectations during the program, you're expected to do everything you can to succeed. This is a great learning experience, because it teaches you that the Army is a lot like school for the rest of your life. If you want to be good at it, you're constantly studying outside of the jobs. When I was in ROTC I read manuals on Drill and Ceremonies, Infantry Tactics, basic leadership constantly. Now I train on administrative requirements, operational planning, and more advanced leadership constantly. Its a cycle of learning that never ends. you'll see the poor leaders because they are the ones who believe they already know enough to do their job. If they're not constantly planning to succeed they will certainly fail.

You can skate through ROTC, not learn a lot, and just squeek by, or you can spend the time to learn the secrets to leadership before you're standing in front of 33 people looking to you for guidance. Up to you.

[blake.deville]

It kinda depends on your university's program (and the size of the school and how much money is allocated for ROTC), but like CPT Burritt said they have the same expectations.
I'm about to start my second semester. As and MSI I kinda had to help organize gear and was usually on OP4 (opposing force) when the older students were at lab. The older students teach you a lot even if you're just observing them.
If you aren't contracted yet, then PT in the morning is optional, but try to go occasionally to get a feel for it.
They also do one field training exercise per semester, also optional if you aren't contracted, and the one that I went on was pretty fun. We did land navigation, fired rifles, and got woken up by simulated artillery at 0430.

[CPT Burritt]

and was usually on OP4 (opposing force)


Its OPFOR boss.

[blake.deville]

Its OPFOR boss.
Sorry about that sir. My friends in ROTC didn't buy me an "FNG" nametag for nothing. :)

[ROTCMOM]

I learn something new everyday. I would have spelled it OP4 also. But I am a civilian so I get away with it correct? LOL. My son during his spring FTX for ROTC was OPFOR because he had completed OSUT for 19K (tanks). I didn't know what it meant but I figured he was a bad guy since he was "killing" the cadets.

He told me he was carrying the "Saw" and I knew it probably didn't mean he was cutting down trees so I went and looked up what the weapon was. :cool:

I thought accountants had alot of confusing terms until my son joined the military. :eek:

KTownMT are you from Montana? If so is that where you are looking at doing ROTC?

[CPT Burritt]

someone needs to report this website lol

I miss the term aggresors lol

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/OP4

True.

In case anyone is wondering, everything is in an Army manual... in this case FM 7-100.4 is a good start...

[blake.deville]

I had actually googled to make sure if I was using the right acronym and wound up on that very site.


True.

In case anyone is wondering, everything is in an Army manual... in this case FM 7-100.4 is a good start...
Looking that one up right now...

[Diesel]

Heh. I like "OP4."

I think I'll start using it. Maybe you've started a trend.

Alternatively, it'd make a great name for a band.