Just got word from my NROTC unit staff today that IRR is definitely going to happen for spring commissionees. Average length of IRR for those graduating this december is roughly 5 months. HOWEVER, this is just the climate right now, the wait could be more or less than this, from about two months up to a year.
This means:
1. Searching for entry-level jobs is probably a bad idea--why would a company invest money in training you if we're leaving in less than a year.
2. Internships or co-ops might be a good option due to the finite nature of the employment period (provided they shell out enough cash for us to support ourselves).
3. Getting a loan and traveling/doing what we want before the Navy owns our ass for the next decade might not be an option if we have a lengthy IRR period. I don't want $20k in loans over my head as an ENS. One of the great benefits of NROTC was graduating essentially without debt.
So, well S***, now what?