Posted on Mar 11, 2021
Cadet PVT (Pre-Commission)
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Im a Jr in Army ROTC at a very big university in the SEC and our brigade was allotted 2 sapper slots. I was not granted one but I am the primary alternate for the two kids from other schools going. Im very torn at the moment because my program has CTLT slots in places like Hawaii and Japan as well as slots to send us to an Aviation unit in the summer or air assault. Im the type of person where I would rather the certainty of knowing what I am doing this summer rather than banking on the fact that one of the kids going to sapper in my brigade drops out but sapper is something I really want and i'm afraid if I resign my alternate slot for something else they might need me and I would have just passed up an opportunity I might never get again being that I want to go Infantry.
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Responses: 7
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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Welcome to the Army where you'll be making possibly life altering decisions with ever changing, limited, and conflicting information. You do what you can with what you got. It's very possible that your school gets an additional slot over the summer that another school can't fulfill, or that your school loses one because a more high priority unit takes one. It's very possible, likely even, that you aren't branched to Infantry. You could be branched AG and branch detailed to Artillery and be a howitzer platoon PL or a Fist Platoon PL. But, just do your best and you'll get opportunities at your unit for additional schools.
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1LT Digital Strategy
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If I was in your shoes, the chance to go to Sapper is FAR more valuable than any CTLT or Air Assult slot you may get.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
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Sir,
I would say that you really have to weigh the probability of getting that slot. as 1LT (Join to see) said, Sapper is FAR more valuable than CTLT or AASLT. But, if there is a 5% chance of Sapper or a 100% chance of CTLT, I would probably go with the CTLT slot.

I try to think of it in terms of gambling. Am I buying a powerball ticket (odds of winning ANYTHING are 1 in 24.9) or am I playing a hand of blackjack (46.36% chance of doubling my money, as long as I know what I am doing)?

That Sapper slot is high value - but what are the ACTUAL chances you get it?
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LTC Stephan Porter
LTC Stephan Porter
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I mostly agree with this, but would say that even if you stay on track with seeking Sapper school, and don’t get it, you may still get an opportunity to do another anyway.
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