Post
by Anonymous User » Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:39 pm
OYCP Selectee here. I just wanted to post a few thoughts as I am completing my first semester of ROTC since there isn't too much about the process after being selected. No one has asked for this information, but I know when I was looking for it last year around this time I couldn't find it. So I figured I'd share.
After being selected for OYCP you should get started training with your Det immediately! I contacted them as soon as I got off the phone with the SJA finding out that I was selected. It took about 2 months for me to get a physical due to my schedule (I wasn't allowed to participate with my Det at all until this was completed). I was only able to attend 2 L. Labs and 1 PT session. This is not sufficient. If you're applying for OYCP I would recommend reaching out to your Det now to see if you can get the sports physical done over Christmas break so you can participate more if you're selected. Make it clear that you're only talking about the sports physical and not the DODMERB (you can't do DODMERB until you're officially selected).
With that said, participation with your Det prior to going to Field Training (FT) in the summer is not required, however, I HIGHLY recommend it. You will be going to FT in Maxwell for about 3 weeks (5 days of FTAP and 13 days of FT). This is unpaid. No matter what you have heard or read online, FT is UNPAID and does not qualify for military leave from government jobs (a few of us tried). FTAP is suppose to teach you the academic curriculum that is covered in the first 2 years of ROTC. Our class also taught us the basics of marching and had us PT. But this is not the norm. In prior years, it was strictly academic with very little marching. Upon being dropped off at FT, it will be expected that you know everything that your peers know. EVERYTHING including the FTM that you will be given and have to memorize word for word, cover to cover. No one will care that you're a lawyer, or a one year cadet with no training. This is why getting in with your Det early is necessary. You will be thrust into it and will be expected to succeed. However, just remember it is all a game. You don't need to be top-third, you don't need to be DG, you just need to graduate. Unlike other cadets, our job is already secured, we're not competing for anything. Just give it your best effort, don't give up, don't have a bad attitude and you will likely pass. (This past summer there were 16 of us selected for OYCP, 12 accepted, all 12 passed FT [most of us were middle third, a few were top third, a few were bottom third]).
After graduating from FT you will go back to your Det as an AS400 (this is the group of individuals who will be commissioning in May). You will get paid $500/month ($250 on the 1st and $250 on the 15th). You will be assigned a random "job" within the Det. Some Dets will ask you for your input as to what you want, others will not. This "job" is for you to develop your leadership skills. Take it seriously, although you've already secured a JAG slot, the Det can still "Det drop" you (ie kick you out). These jobs will vary from training 100 and 200 to running the Det's social media to being in charge of cleaning operations. Just do your best, assign tasks to those under you, and have a positive attitude. All in all, your Det "job" will take 2-5 hours a week depending on what job you're assigned.
Additionally, in the fall and spring semesters of your 3L year, you will be enrolled in 7 ROTC credits a semester. These credits will include AS300 (3 credits) AS400 (3 credits) and L Lab (1 credit). But ROTC will take up more time than that. L Lab is 2 hours a week (not 1 like the 1 credit would imply) and you will be at 2 PT sessions a week (these vary by Det but are between an hour and an hour and a half). The AS classes are not difficult, but they add extra work. You don't have to prep for them like you do a law class, but you do have to read and have assignments to turn in. L Lab varies too much by Det as to what it entails, but basically this is a time for you to practice your leadership skills on underclassmen.
As a note, AS classes do NOT count for law school credit at most schools. The ABA does not allow undergrad courses to count for law school. There was 1 of the 12 of us that was able to get their school to count it for credit, but the rest of us were told the same thing about the ABA. As such, you will be taking 14-16 law school credits plus 7 ROTC credits. This is a lot of work.
As far as PT goes, you will be expected to pass the PT test during FT. If you can not pass it there, you will get one attempt in the fall semester. If you fail then, you will be kicked out. Make sure you know what the standards are and are able to pass. Start training now, don't wait until you find out that you were selected.
If you have any questions feel free to ask. I check this forum about 3 times a week or so just to read this thread. I hope someone finds this post helpful. And as a close, just for reference my stats when selected were as follows:
URM
3.2x Law School GPA
161 LSAT
T20
Prior Court experience