Looking for some suggestions/goals for eventual NROTC

[xbreaka]

Hello everyone my names Eli and I am 16 yrs old and currently finishing up my sophmore year of HS. I am very interested in the NROTC program at one of the many colleges across the country, in terms of job I am more looking at the SWO area as since I was young, I have always liked being out on boats, and even running my dads 45ft charter fishing boat once and a while in the summertime.

As for school, I have fairly good grades about a 3.2-3.4 GPA, and I am involved in a community internship thing here being a quasi ed-assistant to a disabled kid every other day for about 2 hours. The one issue here that I see maybe precluding me from getting involved in ROTC is sports. I race motocross competitively and usually place in top 10 in the 250 class around new england. However this isnt a school sport, and I have a feeling any boards would sort of laugh as it sounds alot like someone saying i skateboard or something.

Going into my junior year I do have the ability to get on the varsity wrestling team, swimming, and maybe baseball as I do some of each outside of school and the teams are relatively small.
In terms of physical shape, I am on a good footing there I usually do alot of cardio to supplement the 7 or so hours each week I spend at the practice track, and I am starting to get into weightlifting.

In terms of the ROTC program itself I am still looking around, but I would like to take a look at schools in the south as I honestly can't stand living in liberal states like most of the northeast/cali. So if anyone has any suggestions for schools to take a look at I am all ears.

As for my current status, could you all maybe give me some ideas of what I should be doing to get into the ROTC program myself, I took the ASVAB and didn't feel I did my best, I got a AFQT of 78 scoring highest on the shop/mechanical parts as I do all my own work on my race bikes and am fairly proficient in that field. Some have said school varsity sports are almost definitly neccessary to achieve a ROTC scholership and I will commit to these if needed, although I would prefer to focus my energys on my studies and on my motocross racing. And about the SWO field itself are many of the ship captains in the modern navy SWO's, it seems many have their flight wings aswell maybe I am just confused.

Alright to sum it up my basic questions are

1. What sort of things should I do these last 2 years of highschool, to heighten my chances of a NROTC scholarship?

2.What schools preferably in the south did any of you go to, and possibly have any opinion about?

3.any other suggestions/comments?

Thanks for your help,
Xbreaka

 

[mike172]

Hey I DID NOT get a four year scholarship, but I did go through all the paces.

Grades are definetly the most important that along with SAT scores. Volunteering is key, a lot of volunteering is good, but be dedicated. They look for leadership as well, don't just do a million clubs and go once and then not again.

As far as not having sports, yea they do definetly like sports but I think most people here will tell you not to just do it to improve your chances at a scholarship. Do what you like and do it well, and progress through whatever organization/club you are apart of.

My two biggest pieces of advice are APPLY EARLY. This is key it took me many months to get all my teachers and counselor letters, transcripts and the whole shabang together. you apply for most of the scholarship online. nrotc.navy.mil its important to take time with this especially the open ended questions I did not take enough time with this. Also things get lost and what not it happened to me so the earlier you apply the better chance you will have of getting everything sorted out correctly. I believe you can apply as early as Junior Year.

Lastly, know your stuff at the interview and dress decently. They will ask you questions it won't just be walk on through, My recruiter asked me things to see if I really wanted in the Navy, and not just the Navy's money.

My .02 from my experience

Good Luck!

 

[BlackBearHockey]

it sounds alot like someone saying i skateboard or something.

It's not?

As said above grades are the most important, but they want to see you're a well-rounded person. Don't go out and join 80 clubs, just pick a few selected ones that you can put time in and succeed. The thing about motocross, is as XTREME as it is, I would venture to say you're showing it to a crowd with not much experience, and they might want to see something a little more physically demanding similar to athletics (my opinion, if someone more knowledgeable feels otherwise, I stand corrected). I would say even playing something for two years at the junior varsity level would increase your chances.

It's weird, 90% of the mids I've met who wanted to go into aviation didn't get a four year, and all of the swotivated came in with one...

 

[xbreaka]

It's not?

As said above grades are the most important, but they want to see you're a well-rounded person. Don't go out and join 80 clubs, just pick a few selected ones that you can put time in and succeed. The thing about motocross, is as XTREME as it is, I would venture to say you're showing it to a crowd with not much experience, and they might want to see something a little more physically demanding similar to athletics (my opinion, if someone more knowledgeable feels otherwise, I stand corrected). I would say even playing something for two years at the junior varsity level would increase your chances.

It's weird, 90% of the mids I've met who wanted to go into aviation didn't get a four year, and all of the swotivated came in with one...

Yeah well thats a common misconception with it, Motocross has been studied and ranks up there with wrestling, and soccer.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a778559773~jumptype=rss

thats something about it, but ya most of the people deciding if I would get into the ROTC program probably wouldnt know that motocross racing is a physical and all that, and its not like at a board infront of superiors I am going to throw that link in their face.

 

[chupacabra]

You're on the right track, and just thinking about what to do to improve your chances of receiving a NROTC scholarship with 2 years of HS left is putting yourself ahead of the game (I wasn't even aware of NROTC scholarships before the start of my senior year, and I received a 4-year Marine option scholarship.)

1. Join at least one of the sports teams you mentioned and earn a varsity letter, and try to become a team captain. If you can only excel and make varsity in one of the sports, do that instead of being JV on all three.

Try to join local or school clubs (e.g. NHS, Civil Air Patrol, or a church group) and take on a leadership position. As mike172 said, beaing a leader in one or two clubs will look better on your application than becoming just another member of several clubs.

Continue your community service internship.

As far as your physical shape, you seem to be on track. Joining a sports team should prepare you physically for NROTC. Running and body weight exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups will be your primary PT during NROTC.

2. As far as the school, several factors go into that decision. The major you want to pursue, the size of the school, the size of the NROTC unit, the location, the girls, etc. I'll put in a plug for the University of Texas. The school is consistently one of the highest ranked academically in the country in many fields of study, the women are some of the hottest on the planet, and I'd put the bars and entertainment scene of the live music capital of the world up against any other college town in the nation. Not to mention Tex-Mex food, several lake and river recreation areas, and plenty of camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and yes, even dirt-bike riding areas to keep you more than busy than your 4 (or 5) years of school. Damn it sucks I just graduated!

3. Like I said, you seem to be on the right track. Keep up your grades, do well on the SAT or ACT, and like mike172 said, start the application early. Also, don't worry about including your motocross racing on the application. It may help you out more than you would think.

 

[SDNalgene]

This thread might help you out. http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135245

If you have more questions after reading that thread you can PM some of the guys who seem to have a good handle on the process. Most people here will be glad to help you out if you ask nicely.

With regard to the sports, I played golf in high school. That's it, and it's hardly a sport, but I still got a scholarship. I was good at it, went to state, and was captain for 3 years, but it's not really a team sport and its not physically demanding. My take on it is that they want to see you pursue something you are passionate about, excel at it, and take leadership in it. Sports will definitely help you, but you don't have to letter in three sports and make the all state team by any means. Do what you have fun doing and enjoy the last two years of high school.

To address a few other random things you mentioned. You could up your chances by enrolling in AP/IB classes if your school has them. It isn't necessary, but it can't hurt. Also, if you grades get constantly better, however slightly, you will look a lot better than if the selection board sees a solid first two years and a less than stellar finish. Oh yeah, about the ship captains, most are SWOs. As far as I know carrier COs are always winged aviators, but destroyers and such have SWOs as captains. 16 years old and already contemplating command at sea.... As far as schools go, don't completely discount the rest of the country. I suggest you only apply to schools that have a ridiculous amount of good looking girls, and a lot of California schools are good for that.

The fact that you are thinking about the scholarship at 16 puts you ahead of the game. Good luck bud.

 

[statesman]

The above is all good advice as far as getting into the program.

You mentioned your ASVAB but unless you dont take the ACT the ASVAB is not going to weigh as much as an SAT or ACT. Youre going to need them to get into school anyway so spend some time making sure those grades are high, especially if you have trouble on standardized tests.

I didnt see your other question addressed about schools.

Although I dont go to UT Im from Austin and can tell you its a great school, and one I think you should look into. There are a fair amount of leftists (I dont use the word liberal because I believe the word has been hijacked by socialists and leftists who dont know the meaning of the word, but I digress), but its also Texas and there are plenty of people who support the military and the 'conservative' element. I think its also good exposure to go to a school where there are plenty of people who don't agree with you. As an officer you'll have to be able to think objectively and if you go to a school that only has people from one back ground you might not get develop that mindset.

Other schools you might want to look into:
Texas A&M (look into it, but the Corps of Cadets might be more than you want to deal with)
University of Virginia

You can also find a list of all the schools that have NROTC here

 

[xbreaka]

in terms of sports do you lose sport if you say do cross country, instead of football?

 

[statesman]

Most any organized sport is going to be what they are looking for. Something team oriented. It has little to do with the actual sport, and more to do with team work.

 

[chupacabra]

Most any organized sport is going to be what they are looking for. Something team oriented. It has little to do with the actual sport, and more to do with team work.

Agreed, it doesn't matter how popular the sport is you choose, because it just matters to show that you are a well-rounded person who can handle and succeed in academics, leadership activities, community service, and physical fitness all at once.

If you can excel at all these activities in high school, it is a good indicator that you will be able to handle going to college and participating in NROTC, and eventually, the various responsibilites of a Naval officer.