ROTC Workload

[Wm226]

Hello!

How much workload and commitment can I expect from ROTC... particularly the Air Force ROTC program at ERAU. Will it be feasible to be an Aeronautical Science Major, be in ROTC, and hold a part-time job while having some free time to study and go out?

Thank You,
William

 

[C150J]

I think it probably depends on your detachment, but all of my friends in ROTC are having an absolute blast, and don't see it as too much of a challenge. That's not to say that it isn't a great thing to do - just wanted to stress that it isn't too hi-speed.

Bear in mind that this is from an outsider's perspective. It could just be that these folks like the military lifestlye so much that they don't mind.

J.

 

[BJ]

Like a lot of things, the workload is what you make of it. When I went through, we had our classes during the week...an hour 3 times a week and a 2 hour Leadership Laboratory. In the first 2 years, there wasn't much extra. After your second year, you have leadership positions withing the Detachment. There were guys in my Detachment that you hardly ever saw unless they were required to be there and there were the guys who were always there. One thing that you have to be careful with is that your overall Commander's Ranking can affect you assignment/pilot selection. So, you can get away with "min-running" things, but it may come back to haunt you. There were many folks who took full-time class schedules, worked part-time and also did ROTC. I can't speak for ERAU in particular though. Hope that helps.

-BJ

 

[Mike Lewis]

I would talk to the instructors at ROTC and let them know you plan on working part-time. Especially during your junior and senior years, they expect you to be a full-time student (part of that rationale for the $100 a month; yeah, like that helps your quality of life), and they get very concerned about part-time jobs and the impact that might have on your academic and military schedules.

The schedule isn't too bad. I believe the hardest part will be trying to coordinate your part-time job around your flight schedule, which will take a huge block of time.