Anonymous
01/04/2026 17:08
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
If your kid is ambivalent about a military career, at least long enough to fulfill his obligation, he should pass and let the next kid go.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:41
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Still want your kid in our military????
How utterly horrific parenting at this point in time.
How utterly horrific parenting at this point in time.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:40
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
I have not heard of an undergrad who can’t do ROTC at another school. Have 1 kid who did ROTC on campus and 2 who did it on another campus- Army and Air Force.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:29
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Why do you conclude that? Most universities -USC, Harvard, UVA - have it.
Just to be clear - Harvard does NOT have a ROTC program. Harvard hasn't allowed the military on their campus fir many years at this point. Harvard students are allowed to join MIT's ROTC program. I was a ROTC student there so know this small but important detail.
I think this can be said for most colleges: they either have an ROTC program on their campus or students can participate in a nearby college’s program. I know my own large state university’s ROTC program had students from a couple nearby private SLACs that joined us.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:18
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Why do you conclude that? Most universities -USC, Harvard, UVA - have it.
Just to be clear - Harvard does NOT have a ROTC program. Harvard hasn't allowed the military on their campus fir many years at this point. Harvard students are allowed to join MIT's ROTC program. I was a ROTC student there so know this small but important detail.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:16
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:A SA gives you a leg up as an officer but you just need a college degree. If they want a SA, great, but if not I wouldn't do ROTC if you can afford college and just have them get a degree and go in as an officer so they owe nothing.
Everyone owes something. You can just “go in as an officer and owe nothing.” Just going to OCS will land you a 3 yr active duty service obligation and an 8 yr total obligation (fulfilled remainder by reserves or IRR). This is practically the same as the ROTC obligation having them pay all of your college tuition plus a stipend (at least 4 active/4 reserves or IRR /8 total yrs) No one joins the military with the ability to quit whenever they feel like it.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:52
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Why do you conclude that? Most universities -USC, Harvard, UVA - have it.
Also I think schools without ROtC often have a partnership. I went to Amherst during years when there was not ROtC on campus due to the ban on gay servicemembrrs but I had friends that did their ROTC at UMAss. (ironically at least one was gay.).
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:51
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
But it seems like if his ultimate goal is to be a military officer, then they would be looking at schools with ROTC as an alternative. The fact that he is not suggests to me that he likes the service academy more for the prestige than for the ultimate result of becoming a military officer. Which suggests that maybe it’s not the right fit.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:43
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
A SA gives you a leg up as an officer but you just need a college degree. If they want a SA, great, but if not I wouldn't do ROTC if you can afford college and just have them get a degree and go in as an officer so they owe nothing.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:25
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Ok, so there’s no comparison of ROTC to the academies, but he isn’t sure he *wants* the academies.
It’s unclear to me what is sort of maybe appealing about the academies but not appealing enough to be certain he wants to go, that some of what he likes couldn’t be gotten from ROTC with less commitment.
But whatever. You and he seem far more committed to “no ROTC” than committed to the academies. Good luck with whatever he chooses.
Omg you’re a freak. Why are you so angry about what an 18 year old kid wants or doesn’t want?? So so weird. Kids have preferences. Why do you care?
I’m not at all angry, although you seem so. I *am* confused but what seems to be an irrational line in the sand, but it’s your (and/or his) choice. As I said, good luck with the decision, either way.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 14:49
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Ok, so there’s no comparison of ROTC to the academies, but he isn’t sure he *wants* the academies.
It’s unclear to me what is sort of maybe appealing about the academies but not appealing enough to be certain he wants to go, that some of what he likes couldn’t be gotten from ROTC with less commitment.
But whatever. You and he seem far more committed to “no ROTC” than committed to the academies. Good luck with whatever he chooses.
Omg you’re a freak. Why are you so angry about what an 18 year old kid wants or doesn’t want?? So so weird. Kids have preferences. Why do you care?
Not the pp, but there are some applicants who chase prestige and aren't actually interested in being military officers. Someone with no interest in ROTC if they decline an Academy appointment seems to fit this mold. Not a lot of patience in the SA world for this type...
Anonymous
01/04/2026 12:29
Subject: Anyone with a dc applying to an academy? Dc received a congressional nom yesterday. But they’ve somewhat lost interest
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree that if your kid isn’t totally committed to the idea, the academies are probably a bad fit. But that doesn’t mean they need to drop the process now. It doesn’t hurt to keep going and give some time to consider it.
I’m surprised at the “all or nothing” attitude about ROTC, however. As others have pointed out, ROTC would provide a middle ground that can give a lot of the benefits while also having a more mainstream college experience and more flexibility to drop the program without disruption to their academics if your kid decides they aren’t 100% invested in it.
If your kid is wishy-washy about the academies, ROTC seems like a reasonable foot in the door without as much commitment. What is it about ROTC that makes it an absolute no-go vs the academies?
The school where dc will likely end up does not have ROTC. and as others said, there is no comparison to the academies. Fwiw dc has plenty of background on the academies, and is not going in blind whatsoever at all
Ok, so there’s no comparison of ROTC to the academies, but he isn’t sure he *wants* the academies.
It’s unclear to me what is sort of maybe appealing about the academies but not appealing enough to be certain he wants to go, that some of what he likes couldn’t be gotten from ROTC with less commitment.
But whatever. You and he seem far more committed to “no ROTC” than committed to the academies. Good luck with whatever he chooses.
Omg you’re a freak. Why are you so angry about what an 18 year old kid wants or doesn’t want?? So so weird. Kids have preferences. Why do you care?