ROTC Sapper Slots?

2021-03-11T09:20:27-05:00

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.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2021 9:40 AM

2021-03-11T09:40:31-05:00

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.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Mar 11 at 2021 9:46 AM

2021-03-11T09:46:14-05:00

Get used to it, Cadet Wentling. A lot of the decisions you will have to make in your career will have to be made with limited information. If you want sapper, stick it out. You may miss out on other opportunities, but that's the nature of the beast. As a crusty old Colonel once told me, some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 11 at 2021 9:55 AM

2021-03-11T09:55:32-05:00

Sir,
I would say that you really have to weigh the probability of getting that slot. as 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 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?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2021 11:16 AM

2021-03-11T11:16:48-05:00

Stick with Sapper, even if there is only a 5% chance. If you don't branch Engineer, you will NEVER get another chance to go. There are like 15,000 slots each year for Air Assault, you'll get another shot at that in your career.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2021 11:50 AM

2021-03-11T11:50:13-05:00

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.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2021 8:25 PM

2021-03-11T20:25:12-05:00

Sapper School is one of those Army schools you can get at any time during your career if you choose to go. It's not a "miss out and luck out" kind of thing. Ranger school is another example of this.

If you're

Response by Cadet 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2021 8:44 PM

2021-03-26T20:44:18-04:00

I don’t know what Branch you plan or going or if your going active, but if you do get into a Sapper unit it is likely that they have some sapper slots, I was talking to the officer in my reserve company(Horizontal) and I met a private in my battalion who is in a Sapper company and they both have told me that reserve Sapper units get 1 to 2 slots a year and my guess is active gets much more. Either way I tell you this because it is possible your unit may not provide some of the other opportunities you listed but they could have a couple sapper slots if you decide to join the Engineers. This is of course what I’ve heard so take it with a grain of salt.