Posted on Jan 17, 2017
SPC Alisha Barca
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At 14, She just started homeschool in an effort to slow down graduation, which was set for next year at cyber school. She does musicals, track, dance, gymnastics, majorettes, anime club and sports med. She has been tested at the gifted level, been accepted to community college, studies 3 foreign languages, psychology, art history, and more to take ap tests. What would be the best option for her?
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Responses: 18
LTC Kevin B.
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The "best option" depends on a lot of factors. Here are some of the standard routes people take to getting a commission (under the assumption that she wants to go active duty):

-Join ROTC while in college (can also be done while serving in the Reserves or NG)
-Pursue admission to the United States Military Academy (very competitive)
-Go onto active duty and try for Officer Candidate School (also competitive, and not many slots)
-Get a college degree and try for a direct commission (very few slots, and normally in specialized areas)

Those are listed in order of likelihood, based on the number of active duty commissions granted each year. I enlisted onto active duty right out of high school, and then joined ROTC after I ETS'd (and while in college). I think being prior enlisted made me more competitive to get into ROTC, as well as getting onto active duty in my branch of choice. The tradeoff is that it took me four extra years to get to that commission. So, some alternative/hybrid paths do exist.

For now, the best things to do are:
-Make good grades
-Stay fit
-Demonstrate some leadership abilities
-Learn about the different branches (MP, MI, Engineer, etc.) to figure out her career interests, and to help select a supporting college major
-Stay out of trouble

If you think she'll go the ROTC route, feel free to connect with me directly, and we can discuss that more in-depth. Regardless, best of luck to her!
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LTC Jason Mackay
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SPC Alisha Barca I find myself deferring to LTC Kevin B. , as he has some good advice. That mechanically is the path to a commission. Consider the following factors:
- at the current burn rate, she will be about 18 when she graduates from college. I am assuming she will meet all requirements to be a high school graduate with a diploma and transcripts.
- minimum age for entry to ROTC is 17. 19 for a civilian attempting OCS.
- her unconventional path may help with entry to a service academy. They typically want to see student team and leadership among their experiences. So does ROTC if you are competeing for a scholarship.
- either ROTC or OCS programs would require an accredited four year degree. The whole 120 credits thing changes frequently, and is dicey as you then have to beg borrow and steal to get degree completion or time to finish. Assume credits will drop off. Community college won't cut it. Perhaps consider a college/university that has a 3+2 dual degree program.
- your daughter's year group peers will be significantly older. Along with Some relatively significant life experience, especially at that age. Your daughter's soldiers will be older than her. Couple that with the usual LT hazing/razzing. This may also impact her ability to successfully compete physically.
- I am sure your daughter is bright and gifted, but has she had the chance to develop as a person since she has been fast tracked?
- what is her interest in this process? What does she hope to gain as a commissioned officer? What branch does she want? What branch(es) is she prepared to accept that weren't her number 1 choice (just finished that 22 year experiment)?
- As another has pointed out, her interests are in areas that do not line up with a career field. What is her desired academic field? How does that align with a branch?
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
8 y
SPC Alisha Barca - as you are more than familiar with, you have to love this. You don't do it for fame or for money. My concern would be if she is ready for what this will bring and prepared to accept that. Same advice I gave to all my soldiers going to OCS or Green to Gold. Not trying to be a dream killer.
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SPC Alisha Barca
SPC Alisha Barca
8 y
LTC Jason Mackay - I think part of it is that a large percentage of the family enlisted in one of the branches. She also spent a lot of time with the petty officers, sergeants and NSA guys from my unit when she was little.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
8 y
SPC Alisha Barca - lieutenants are typically not assigned to strategic organizations right of the gate. Managing expectations is critical when balanced with going hard after goals. Those assignments are out there after you have learned your craft as a company grade.
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SPC Alisha Barca
SPC Alisha Barca
8 y
Community college is more to supplement the homeschool education.
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CAPT Kevin B.
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I'll do wet blanket duty on this one. With an extremely bright, energetic, teachable and fast tracking young one, the question morphs more into what will the kid be held back on. One thing about the military, it goes at it's own pace. It's incompatible with internships and fellowships. It is limiting in itself. If she loves what she's doing and has a greater hunger for more of one or two things, then that's likely the direction to go. Military doesn't do "gifted" too well. There's always some drag force to not allow the brilliant ones to climb faster. That is driven both by policy and fear. I was always amused, and discouraged, watching senior leaders go into awkward mode in dealing with great talent. They failed to have the skill in steering and reverted to control.

Bottom line, just looking at the descriptors, the Vegas odds say there's more opportunity for growth and excellence outside the military. Of course, results will vary.
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