futbol87

I am a Freshman at a very respectable ROTC program. I have a 4 year scholarship, so everything is paid for. But I have always wanted to go to the Point. Last year i got put on the NWL, and I am still waiting to here from them this year. I am very torn as to what I should do if I do get an appointment. I plan to go Combat Arms, hopefully Infantry. I am curious if there is anybody who has gone from ROTC to the Point and what you would advise somebody to do who is thinking about the switch. I also would like to know how difficult it is to branch Infantry at WP. I think I know just about everything one could know about cadet life and classes and all that stuff without actually having gone through it. If anybody could give me some help I'd appreciate it....thanks

james2010

Hey....I dont know if I could help much, but I was given a 4 year scholarship with rotc to the citadel and they were given the best rotc program on the east coast. here's the thing, my chances at west point were pretty much gone by May of 2005. I saw my rotc scholarship as a way to excel at the citadel because obviously i wasnt going to west point. Luckily, I was given a prep offer from the association of graduates at west point so here I am at the New Mexico Mental Institute i mean Military Institute. Was it worth it? I don't know...I still wonder where I could've been or how I would've done at the citadel, BUT i know this was the right decision because west point offers that much more. Now don't quote me on this, but I believe branching preferences go 1) USMA 2) The Citadel 3) VMI I could be wrong...but that's just what I've heard. If you get an appointment. I say take it because it's worth it. Don't do it for the name but for the experience. You wont get it with rotc...hell I aint getting jack from this place...(nmmi). if you have any questions please ask, because i went through the same exact thing last year...and it was a pretty emotional decisions but I can say I made the right one.

mrgreenapple

Branching doesn't go like that... but like this

1. West Point, top choices going from highest ranking cadet down to the lowest. you give your top 3 choices and are selected based on availability

2. All Rotc programs. Every student has a score based on apft, gpa, and other things. you give your top 3 choices and are selected based on availability with top of list getting priority.

3. OCS... they get the leftovers

I'm pretty sure that infantry doesnt close out at wp.

momoftwins

I know somebody posted this year's branching results. If I recall Infantry had the highest number.

taffy

It didn't close out, though.

marines4me

Infantry did close this year, actually.

8IzEnuff

if you are trying to get a branch, and thats everything to you, go rotc. if you add an extra three years to your service time, you get anything you want. but i'd definately go to the point. be a ring knocker!

WESTPOINTCDT

This year only 4 branches closed out. They were (in order) MS, AV, AG, AR. Infantry did not close out, but it had the most cadets (192).

WESTPOINTCDT
www.westpointcadet.com

mrgreenapple

also doesnt wp have that 3 year addition option for guarenteed branch? maybe im wrong

masterchiefll

mrgreenapple:

Speaking of branching, if you don't get your top 3 choices, what happens (for ROTC cadets)?

mrgreenapple

dunno, maybe just put you where they need you?

futbol87

in ROTC you rank all the branches in order that you want and depending upon your ranking against all other ROTC cadets is how you get your branch....so if you don't get your top 3, then you just hope you get your number 4

i am also curious what you guys think just about how the two different styles of preparing for officership matters once you actually make it into the real army

8IzEnuff

most of the time you get your branch but with a branch detail. ie, i've seen a lot of signal corps branch detailed infantry

Mumford2009

I dont understand what does that mean?

8IzEnuff

they give you signal corps, but you spend a few years in something else. so you go infantry, which means going to ranger school. then later you go become signal corps.