I'm a junior in college and also an e4 in the Army National Guard, I'm a medic and I LOVE MY JOB! I'm considering contracting with ROTC b/c I have only 4 semesters to graduate and my unit is deploying right in the middle of this (my program must be completed in 4 consecutive semesters). My unit NCOIC suggests going ROTC so that I can finish college but I really enjoy being enlisted. So, here's my question: at my last drill we did range quals and I was assigned to be in the tower with two LT's and my job was to tally the brigades scores for 13 hours from the screen. I loved being put to work- I always do and I often come in on my "off days" to do any extra work whether it pertains to my MOS or not. While my senior medic (only an e5) is off trying to hide and sham out of work I am ALWAYS there to volunteer for any work. HOWEVER- in the tower I watched this new butterbar sit on her hiney ALL 13 flippin hours in the WARM tower while my unit (assigned to range detail) had to do certain jobs in the cold ALL day! I listened as the 1LT asked if she'd like to come and "be with the troops" b/c he knew what he was doin ya know- he knew they were freezing and that he should be too. But no- she just kept that dagom heater on and sat there. Myself and another e4, the speaker, were the only two in the tower hard at work and she just sat there all day and said it was "too cold to go out side" and I got this sudden bitter taste in my mouth for officers. I really would like to stay home to graduate from college (after spending almost 6 years trying to finish a 4 year degree) however, I am worried that if I become an officer I'll be doing nothing but sitting on my a$$. Is this truely the life of an officer- not getting to do the work or is this just the type of officer she CHOOSES to be?
hm, well semi answered your own question. Your 1LT obviously was going to go outside, do work, and be with the troops so he was a good officer. She was being lazy. But the reason you answered your own question is due to the fact that you said your Senior medic (enlisted) was being a sham and getting out of work as well. That goes to show that both officers and enlisted can be bums. But you are enlisted and doing work, so that obviously means that not all enlisted are bad. It's what you make of it, and how you prepare yourself. Unfortunately, officers are just like enlisted for the simple fact that just because they are wearing a bar or stripes, that doesn't necessarily make them quality soldiers or people.
You're enlisted. You have experience, and you know what the military is like. You went through BCT, you earned your way up to E4.
When you join college ROTC you're going to have very few prior service cadets. You'll like these soldiers. However, you're going to have ALOT of cocky kids that just came from JROTC and think they are the ****. Alot of rich kids. Alot of people that think they are soldiers.
I hate to sound like a jerk, but we had alot of our cadets wear their uniform outside of ROTC or at a bar and try to act like they are tough "Army Soldiers".
I am resigning my scholarship and going to AIT this summer for the Guard. I'd much rather work for my college money.
Yea I do understand what you are saying about the kids in ROTC- I really do b/c I'm 24 and half of those little **** heads are gonna try and tell me what to do- little do they know I don't really care a whole lot about what they say! See, although I think I'd make a good officer- I really LOVE being a medic and I like being enlisted too- I have fun with it and I can turn around and make fun of a lot of those butter bars! HOWEVER- my unit is deploying next year- RIGHT when I just was accepted into a VERY competitive program that I have spent like 3 or 4 years trying to get into and I only have 4 semesters left to graduate!!!! I had convinced myself that IF I didn't get accepted then I'd gladly deploy with my unit- I really would probably enjoy the change and the learning experience- BUT since I have been accepted I just can't give up something like this and my unit NCOIC told me that the best way was to just go ahead and contract with ROTC so that I can finish college. So- that's the plan and therefore this is what I'm entering into. Thanks for the advice though- you are right about the cadets and I'm SOOOO not looking forward to that haha.
Just remember this about ROTC: Those little "shitheads" may outrank you in ROTC, so you'll have to listen to them. I've seen both sides of the fence. I've seen JROTC guys come in and think they know everything and are tough soldiers. I've also seen prior service come in and do the exact thing because they think they've been there and done that.
Bottom line, is that for the most part, you are all brand new because each ROTC Battalion will have their own chain of command that has their own way of doing things. And it doesn't matter if you are a prior E-4 or E-7, you'll have a new rank when you enter as a Cadet
HOWEVER- my unit is deploying next year- RIGHT when I just was accepted into a VERY competitive program that I have spent like 3 or 4 years trying to get into and I only have 4 semesters left to graduate!!!! I had convinced myself that IF I didn't get accepted then I'd gladly deploy with my unit- I really would probably enjoy the change and the learning experience- BUT since I have been accepted I just can't give up something like this and my unit NCOIC told me that the best way was to just go ahead and contract with ROTC so that I can finish college. So- that's the plan and therefore this is what I'm entering into. 
Thanks for the advice though- you are right about the cadets and I'm SOOOO not looking forward to that haha.
