I got accepted to the ROTP Senior program and am quite proud but when I was told the terms I was a lil' surprised. Here's what I was told:
-I was accepted under my 3rd MOC choice, that is MARS. I'm not thrilled since all I want is army and my first 2 choices where armour and infantry, guess I should have picked artillery 3rd but wasn't much interested in that either. The Navy has fewer command positions and I gather that unless you're a boat driver and get a couple other specific assignments under your belt, your career will go nowhere, not to mention all you need is one captain who doesn't like you and your career is finished. The army has way more opportunity, it's getting all the budget and combat arms is a lot more interesting in my opinion not to mention, the way to the top.
-I was always under the assumption that I would serve 5 years after finishing at RMC but I was offered a 12 year contract (includes RMC time) and told that was normal. That's 3 more years (which is quite a bit more than just 5) which NO ONE ever mentioned to me at any time in the process. I was told this was because after graduating I wouldn't be ops ready and that 3 years was built into it for that purpose (so I'd be ops useful for 5 years I assume?). I was also told I could possibly bail after 5 years but I'd face pension repercussions.
-One more point I was surprised by was being told I'd do my 1st year in St.Jean-sur-Richelieu and the remaining 3 in Kingston. I always though the 1 year in St.Jean was for CEJEP kids. They said most BA students would go there. I don't understand why I'd go in the first place, does sending me there for 1 year save that much room at RMC? It's not the end of the world, but is again something that had never been mentioned to me and therefore has me a bit anxious. I'm also waiting to hear from civie schools this month in terms of acceptances.
Those are my main concerns. I'd like any input possible. Should I reject, put my file back in the hat for the next selection board saying what I'm looking for? That might buy me more time meaning I could hear back from civilian schools. I gather I could also accept, do my first year, go through MOC interviews at the end of next year and if they don't give me land ops I can say no thanks and leave w/o penalty. Anyway, it's a big decision to make in 10 days when you're 18 and it dictates your life 'til you're 30, I'd just like your thoughts, any info on when/why the program has changed and, how I should go about getting what I want before I'm in and it turns into what the military wants.
-I was accepted under my 3rd MOC choice, that is MARS. I'm not thrilled since all I want is army and my first 2 choices where armour and infantry, guess I should have picked artillery 3rd but wasn't much interested in that either. The Navy has fewer command positions and I gather that unless you're a boat driver and get a couple other specific assignments under your belt, your career will go nowhere, not to mention all you need is one captain who doesn't like you and your career is finished. The army has way more opportunity, it's getting all the budget and combat arms is a lot more interesting in my opinion not to mention, the way to the top.
-I was always under the assumption that I would serve 5 years after finishing at RMC but I was offered a 12 year contract (includes RMC time) and told that was normal. That's 3 more years (which is quite a bit more than just 5) which NO ONE ever mentioned to me at any time in the process. I was told this was because after graduating I wouldn't be ops ready and that 3 years was built into it for that purpose (so I'd be ops useful for 5 years I assume?). I was also told I could possibly bail after 5 years but I'd face pension repercussions.
-One more point I was surprised by was being told I'd do my 1st year in St.Jean-sur-Richelieu and the remaining 3 in Kingston. I always though the 1 year in St.Jean was for CEJEP kids. They said most BA students would go there. I don't understand why I'd go in the first place, does sending me there for 1 year save that much room at RMC? It's not the end of the world, but is again something that had never been mentioned to me and therefore has me a bit anxious. I'm also waiting to hear from civie schools this month in terms of acceptances.
Those are my main concerns. I'd like any input possible. Should I reject, put my file back in the hat for the next selection board saying what I'm looking for? That might buy me more time meaning I could hear back from civilian schools. I gather I could also accept, do my first year, go through MOC interviews at the end of next year and if they don't give me land ops I can say no thanks and leave w/o penalty. Anyway, it's a big decision to make in 10 days when you're 18 and it dictates your life 'til you're 30, I'd just like your thoughts, any info on when/why the program has changed and, how I should go about getting what I want before I'm in and it turns into what the military wants.
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