What should I do if my Advanced Camp and Fire Academy schedules conflict?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:13:57 -0500

I got selected to attend the Fire Academy, dates aren't out yet but it's likely this summer. Advanced Camp is definitely this summer (I'm an MSIII), dates aren't out for that either. I'm expecting that they'll overlap.

I want to join the Army NG and do firefighting as a career. The selection for firefighters doesn't happen every year, I've been waiting for the recruitment to open for the past 2 years.

Guidance on what to do?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 8 at 2020 6:36 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:36:05 -0500

You cannot reschedule Advanced Camp to the next year, those dates are written on stone. How often does your FD offers an academy? That would be your flexible point

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 7:06 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 07:06:24 -0500

Would it work if you went to AC in the very beginning or end of the summer? I had friends swap AC Regiment training cycles just a few weeks out.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Dec 8 at 2020 8:01 AM

CPT Andrew Wright — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 08:01:55 -0500

Sounds like the Fire Academy dates are the most flexible. However, I remember some cadets attending Advanced Camp after college graduation and commissioned at the end of Advanced Camp. Best of Luck!

Response by COL John McClellan made Dec 8 at 2020 8:12 AM

COL John McClellan — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 08:12:56 -0500

Talk to your ROTC advisor!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 8 at 2020 9:21 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:21:58 -0500

Start now talking with your ROTC instructor about this. There may be multiple Advanced Camp Dates available. Many of the Cadets from my ROTC Det went to a different Summer Training than I attended. Things probably changed several times over the last 5 decades but it’s a good start to let your instructor know

BTW commissioning will probably eliminate the opportunity to be a frontline firefighter in the ArNG. You’ll be assigned to an officer leadership and management position no matter if you’re active or reserve component. I greatly appreciate your willingness to train as a firefighter. It should lead to a rewarding life of service to your community. It should fit in with your service in the Army Reserve or National Guard.

Response by Alec Roman made Dec 8 at 2020 10:09 AM

Alec Roman — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 10:09:18 -0500

I am not sure what the situation will be with covid however normally there are multiple regiments for throughout the summer. I was told that they normally try and put west coast cadets in the later regiments due to when their schools begin classes. However, I would talk to your cadre now and express when you would like to go. Since fire academy isn't something through USACC I am not sure the likelihood of them making accommodations but I don't see it being difficult. I was selected to intern the Army Cyber Institute at West Point and do CTLT at Ft. Jackson and they gave me a 1st reg slot so that I could attend both of those for the second half of my summer. So it is certainly possible and not unusual. Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 12:24 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:24:27 -0500

I shifted my AC Regiment from 4 to 10 so I could go at the end of the summer because my unit wanted me to go to annual training. Scheduling to a later regiment seems more likely than an earlier regiment depending on how much of a notice you give. You could also do advanced camp after your MS IV year and commission at the end. It'll just push your date of rank a few months to the right. Or you could see if the fire academy dates are flexible. Lots of choices, just make sure you're communicating early so you give all these groups as much time as possible since you're the one that needs the accommodation.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 2:45 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:45:41 -0500

My advice to you is to make your full-time firefighter chosen civilian career goal your priority. You have been accepted to the fire academy which is only open every couple of years. Don't pass this chance up as you may not be offered a slot again in the future. The National Guard or reserve is a part-time job. There's no ROTC scholarship involved, correct? Worst case scenario is that you don't fulfill commissioning requirements now. You can try another path to commission (if you still want to) after you complete the fire academy, complete your probationary employment period and you're secure in the firefighting position. I wish you the best whatever path you take.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Dec 8 at 2020 11:00 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 23:00:04 -0500

Check with your ROTC Cadre you may be able to go to Advanced Camp after your MS IV year and commission when you complete it. When I went to Advanced Camp there were close to 20 maybe more cadets that went there after they graduated from college and completed their MS IV year. As soon as they graduated from Advanced Camp they changed into their Class A’s and had their commissioning ceremony. They all were in a similar situation to you and had classes or other training related to their degrees that conflicted with their original Advanced Camp dates.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2020 3:47 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:47:28 -0500

Inquire immediately about an “End of Camp Commission”.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Dec 10 at 2020 10:14 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:14:07 -0500

Talk to your PMS. I would plan on going to Advanced Camp though since that is an ROTC requirements. They do several training cycles at Fort Knox so you may also be able to schedule Advanced Camp where it will not conflict with Fire Academy. Another alternative is you may want to wait for the Fire Academy until you complete your BOLC. Because if you are in the middle of Fire Academy and you get orders for BOLC, you are heading to BOLC.

Response by LTC Michael Hrycak made Dec 12 at 2020 5:30 PM

LTC Michael Hrycak — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:30:25 -0500

Advanced Camp is a prerequisite to completing your MS IV year and commissioning. But, your PMS (Professor of Military Science) may be able to get you a waiver so that you can attend Advanced Camp after graduation and get commissioned there.