If you could go back to when you were a cadet what would you tell yourself?

2019-08-12T18:40:47-04:00

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2019 6:44 PM

2019-08-12T18:44:17-04:00

Don’t stress the little things and don’t take everything so seriously in ROTC. Stay in shape at all times, even on breaks. Enjoy other cadets company and stay in touch, because they’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2019 7:11 PM

2019-08-12T19:11:58-04:00

Trust the process

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2019 8:13 PM

2019-08-12T20:13:16-04:00

Surprise a-hole! *Three Stooges eye-poke*

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 12:40 AM

2019-08-13T00:40:48-04:00

OH MY GOD. WHAT AM I DOING?!

but then again, I was never a cadet

Response by LCDR Mike Morrissey made Aug 13 at 2019 1:10 AM

2019-08-13T01:10:25-04:00

Fortunately my dad did it for me. He was an enlisted bomber crewman in the AAF and USAF and vet of WWII and Korea.
1. Always take care of your men, never let the shit roll down hill.
2. Never let your boss get surprised with bad news, especially if you’re the reason.

I passed that on to our daughter as well, and she readily states that her grandpa’s advice has served her quite well. Now a senior director at Boeing.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 1:24 AM

2019-08-13T01:24:55-04:00

Decide if you are going to be that officer who chases block checks, or you’re going to be that officer that does the right thing and takes care of your people always. Because these two things often are mutually exclusive.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Aug 13 at 2019 1:57 AM

2019-08-13T01:57:06-04:00

Go to Airborne and Air Assault if you can. I chose to stay in the Guard and none of the units I was in had any slots for those school since we were SP Artillery and had no need for those schools

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Aug 13 at 2019 7:47 AM

2019-08-13T07:47:58-04:00

Don't select for Aviation! (Seriously though...)

Realize that your cadre/upper-class aren't "in" either...the Fleet (or Army, in your case) is the Fleet, and once you graduate, no one's going to care about that time you got "smoked" for not being able to recite the menu for noon meal perfectly. Remember that you're there to get a commission...not learn everything you'll need to know to be a good junior officer; that's learned (if learned) from the mentorship of your NCOs (you already know this, I presume), and from experience. It's a long way to the top if you want to rock-n-roll; take it one step at a time, and make each step count along the way. Forge strong friendships with your classmates...you'll need them. Be flexible...don't allow yourself to be so "good" at "career planning" that you miss out on the career you were meant to have. Needs of the Navy (or Army)...They're always going to outweigh the needs of the individual.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Aug 13 at 2019 10:00 AM

2019-08-13T10:00:14-04:00

Spend a lot of time talking to Non-Commissioned Officers who are professors/instructors in your program. Their wealth of experience and knowledge is invaluable -- getting close to them and learning more about their perspectives...I wish I would have done that more.

Response by LTC Ken Bowers made Aug 13 at 2019 10:05 AM

2019-08-13T10:05:42-04:00

Make an effort to stay in touch with your ROTC comrades! it is easier now with the internet, but I went overseas and my classmates were posted stateside and we lost track of one another. ROTC was a great experience for me. It made me a better student, and helped me get my head out of my ass! I credit that to MAJ Pat Carroll, CPT Petersen, MAJ Gallatin, MSG David Washington, MSG O'Meara. I carry their lessons with me to this day!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 12:48 PM

2019-08-13T12:48:32-04:00

You already gotten some great advise here. I was also a 68E before I joined ROTC. Best of luck to you!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 6:56 PM

2019-08-13T18:56:00-04:00

Learn to listen to those around you. Take risks and learn from failure. Have fun. Most of all, take a moment in each day to appreciate where you are, how you got there, and others who helped you out along the way.

Response by SPC Shawn Durnen made Aug 13 at 2019 8:28 PM

2019-08-13T20:28:12-04:00

Go enlisted ;)

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Aug 14 at 2019 12:16 AM

2019-08-14T00:16:25-04:00

Do CTLT and if you can do SMO with a NG or Reserve Unit. Also, don’t listen to the recruitment propaganda. If there is a career field that fits your needs wants and desires go for it. Combat Arms is only 1/4 of the Army. Kearn from the NCOs and Officers. They pushed Troops and Commanded. They know what they expect and can pass on to a new LT. Lastly, find that prior service Cadet and pick their brain. They know troops and what Troops expect from the layers of leadership.

Response by COL David Turk made Aug 14 at 2019 8:33 AM

2019-08-14T08:33:23-04:00

I’d tell myself to place a reflective mat on the inside of my windshield of my car. Drove my car to ROTC summer camp at Fort Bragg and parked it along side other ROTC cadets cars. Didn’t realize it would get so hot inside the car; it cracked the steering wheel. Great summer camp though.

Response by MAJ Monique Salinas made Aug 14 at 2019 5:50 PM

2019-08-14T17:50:13-04:00

Get letters of input from instructors. I did a lot of great things that were not on paper because cadets don’t get evaluations that are visible to the rest of the military. Letters of input are informal evaluations in memo format to document noteworthy performance, and upload into military records. These can also be submitted as performance evaluations to include in job applications for military jobs.

Response by MAJ Joseph Ward made Aug 14 at 2019 6:27 PM

2019-08-14T18:27:19-04:00

I would tell myself to remember to actually turn the PRC 77 on after assembling, cost me a full scholarship. LOL.
I would tell myself to research the branches more thoroughly for career progression, promotion trends, have an exit plan in case there's a "Peace Dividend". Do what your good at and enjoy.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Aug 18 at 2019 2:27 AM

2019-08-18T02:27:19-04:00

Two things: (1) Always have a back up career plan. (2) take care of yourself, especially with medical issues. I planned to stay active as long as I could. I got passed over for Major and did not have any plan on what I was going to do outside of the Army. As a young officer, I felt it was a sign of weakness to go on sick call. Those injuries add up and can result in a VA disability. But only if they are in medical records.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2019 6:56 PM

2019-08-18T18:56:37-04:00

Stay in touch with your classmates that graduated with you. You may see them again 5, 10 or 15 years later.
If you become an Officer and you are in a unit that is too political or where you don't fit in, go into the IRR to get your promotion instead of taking a promotion delay. I did the delay for 3 years putting me behind my peers. Also, go back in the USAR once you get your promotion and you will find more opportunities for Major, LTC and COL.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2019 7:30 PM

2019-08-18T19:30:09-04:00

I was never a cadet, but I met many at Jump School, alot of them didn't make it through Jump School, because they didn't have the right mind set. It's all in the mind, if the other guy can do it, then so can you, and even you can, and might be better then the other guy.
Stay with the program and you'll do just find, don't mingle with the Bad Attitude individuals, even if they have more time in service then you.
"Be all you can be, and then some", I had 632 individuals on the first day of Jump School, most were cadets, after 3 weeks, we graduated with only 263, not all were cadets that didn't finish jump school, there were officers, NCO's, and enlisted that didn't, even four Marine officers.
So, with all that said young man, "A 1000 mile journey starts with one foot forward, and the other foot will follow".

Response by PVT Robert Bernhardt made Sep 15 at 2021 3:29 PM

2021-09-15T15:29:21-04:00

Be more skeptical of everything, including your perception of your Self and national agendas.Do you really believe in killing for any nationally stated reason?

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Sep 17 at 2021 12:08 PM

2021-09-17T12:08:33-04:00

ROTC is a great program for those that are just starting their military career but as an NCO and having already been in and serving for a number of years and have taken a few senior ROTC classes while in college I tell myself to stay enlisted because it's the NCO's that will be the ones that will train and advise help the brand new newly commissioned 2nd LT's to help them get oriented and established as an officer you'll find that the best officers had a really good NCO to rely on