Should I pursue ROTC or wait until I am eligible to apply for WOCS?

It really comes down to your goals and what you think you’ll be happy doing.

For almost a decade I chased after that butter bar only to end up falling short. However, looking back it was all for be best. Because I love going intel and would have been miserable dealing with the internal politics I’ve seen from the outside in the officer Corps (no offense to RLOs).

In the end, you’ve got to do what’s best for you. One thing that’s great for RLOs is that they get great opportunities for civilian education. It sets them up for success after they hang up the uniform.

However, the Warrant Officer Cohort is really tight and small. Usually only one degree of separation between warrants.

I hope this helps you make a decision on which path to you’d like to take.

No need to be binary at this stage. Since there’s still plenty of time on either path, you can create a bit of optionality for yourself later in life (a rare asset, indeed). ROTC can be a great experience, both as a skill-building and network-building program. It'll set you apart as a student and a Soldier in your unit. And wearing the dot doesn’t preclude you from enlisted promotions, so you can continue developing as an SME and gain the experience necessary to become a Warrant.

As someone who has been on both sides, I’ll say that there are benefits to each. Heed others inputs here regarding the difference between a technical expert and an organizational leader. Use this time in your career to decide which you prefer, which you’re better at, and how you’d like to spend the rest of your career.

Enjoy the journey! In either outcome, you’ll look back fondly on your time as junior enlisted when you had the time to consider and pursue such grandiose courses of action.

There is no mystique with either. The both have very distinct purposes and responsibilities. I recommend you do more research on each, speak with both and make a decision. Thank you for your service.