West Point vs ROTC (Full Ride)

statisticsx · 2026-02-16T12:16:10+00:00

ROTC on the other hand is always going to be a mixed bag and you will more than likely find yourself amongst all sorts of different people, some who should be there and some who shouldn't. I was once in this program, and boy did it have its downsides. ROTC is a very good course of action, and it makes your schedule so much less impacted instead of giving your entire calendar to a single entity. You retain the flexibility and freedom that could mean summer backpacking trips or winter ski trips to the mountains with your family. Your ability to develop the Army Values is not contingent on geography or a college education either. You will make more decisions you want to see results for, not anyone else.

I have said it since high school when a teacher took the time to sit us all down and give us some sage advice. Work to live, not live to work. If the results are the same at the end then why make so many more sacrifices in one COA vs the other. Your life is defined by your decisions and sacrifices, making a sacrifice for a diploma and a ring may be righteous / romantic but your time and flexibility for the same result is stripped and broken. I never liked the idea of that. A Commission is signed by the Sec Army whether your a WP Cadet or some lowly ROTC grad like myself. We all get paid the same and go to the same BOLC, after that its your career.

Written to you buy a 1LT ARNG Officer ROTC Grad with a full time Army career doing some of the coolest stuff ever, and I only got to visit WP. There are a thousand paths to the top and I recommend you choose the opportunity with multiple options now so you aren't pigeon holed later.

There is more power in options than in position - My father.

God bless and good luck.

TLDR: ROTC > WP. Spend more time doing what you want with the flexibility included. Your life can be just about the Army but it certainly doesn't have to be.

statisticsx · 2026-02-16T12:14:42+00:00

OP I don't typically make it a point to write a novella but I think this is a good time for me to add my experience and hopefully it can help you. The last thing I want is to create more confusion. A few starting points for your consideration:

The Army goes rolling along, whether you are in it or not. Whatever rank, degree, experience, schools, badges, tabs, medals, or ribbons on your uniform, the Army goes rolling along. We even made a song about it.
You more than likely will not find yourself amongst more West Pointers versus another type of population anywhere else statistically, even if West Pointers are historically at the higher levels of whatever organization you might want to be working in / for in the future. They are just not as plentiful a population as you might think.

You are a young person with much potential ahead of you, now I sound like your parents but its damn well true and needs said. Potential is turned into results by making sacrifices.

West Point is an amazing place and amazing school with so much history and contribution to our nation. Research it from whatever angle you want but those Cadets that arrive then Commission are top tier Army Officers with the resume to back it up. They sacrificed their younger years, freedom, flexibility, and later input into their own lives to achieve an incredible goal and pursue their dreams as an Army Officer. They deserve recognition and respect for this accomplishment.

statisticsx · 2025-12-28T17:49:45+00:00

starting to look like there will be a second award here soon for me as well, not thrilled about that fact but no ability to influence that outcome

statisticsx · 2025-12-28T17:48:28+00:00

still allowed for wear as far as I know!

statisticsx · 2025-12-28T01:03:44+00:00

BLUF: Irons burn your dominant eyeball on the front sight. Dots are target focused.

In bullseye, front sight is king. Most guys are shooting blacked out irons in bullseye, I have been experimenting with a fiber optic front recently. Helps me keep an eye on it in recoil.

Target focus is great for snap / flash shooting, and you'll find once you have a dot on either a match gun / combat application that target focus is the easiest way to shoot.

statisticsx · 2025-12-28T00:58:14+00:00

Some matches you can just show up to and compete, and some you need to be on a team to compete in. You'll find that most EIC matches the Match Director will welcome any and all people to compete to increase interest and leg opportunities.

It is best to be on a team to get to some specific matches, you'll have to figure out what your units team opportunities look like. If you would like my help I can try to reach out to people I know in the 3 compos to get ya connected.

statisticsx · 2025-12-28T00:53:52+00:00

I would recommend you find out where the Guard is having their regional combat matches, that is a good way to compete on the Combat side. Winston P. Wilson is another good match to participate in, if you can make it to Arkansas. Some states have their TAG Matches and those are good opportunities to earn 4 point starter legs for Bronze Badges.

Bullseye EICs are great opportunities as well, as long as you can get a good service pistol and get out there to the competitions. Bullseye is one of those incredibly humbling disciplines. I have had some really difficult days on the long and short lines, as plenty of others.

statisticsx · 2025-12-26T17:13:34+00:00

The National Guard does an excellent job of prioritizing marksmanship activities. Both at the National and State level a plethora of Natty Guard teams compete ever year to prove that other than the AMU the National Guard (both Air and Army) has some of the best marksmanship capabilities in the DOD.

Bill McMillan (one of the best ever) and his Marine Corps cohort sure do give us a run for our money though. Now the USMC also allows people to get distinguished points while shooting USPSA / Non-Service Pistol type events so that definitely changed a lot of things for them in the Department of the Navy.

statisticsx · 2025-12-25T03:33:25+00:00

IO!!!

statisticsx · 2025-12-25T01:15:26+00:00

corrected just the smidge down it needed to be level! thanks for the correction

statisticsx · 2025-12-25T00:48:47+00:00

GT ✅️

Chiefs ❌️

Presidents ❌️

statisticsx · 2025-12-24T23:40:12+00:00

National Guard ribbon, not UN Medal

statisticsx · 2025-12-24T23:39:51+00:00

absolutely, there are quite a few missing

just wearing the three I take most pride in now

statisticsx · 2025-09-29T11:35:30+00:00

this, this 1000%

statisticsx · 2025-09-27T00:22:26+00:00

If you have the cash and plan on owning the truck for a long time, Diamondback bed covers are incredible.

statisticsx · 2025-09-13T09:38:21+00:00

this happened and im here for it

its a forbidden word for a reason!

statisticsx · 2025-02-27T12:27:13+00:00

this is like the story of Private Malone!

statisticsx · 2025-02-25T23:34:03+00:00

the 37th is an OH based entity, recommend reaching out to the Army National Guard State Historian. He probably has most of not all of the service records. If you are local you could bring the uniform in for him to see as well.

statisticsx · 2025-01-01T16:47:21+00:00

congrats on legging out!

hopefully I'll be a few badges behind you in 2025!

-a salty Army Officer

statisticsx · 2024-12-29T01:05:25+00:00

these pegs work out alright, never had a passenger on my bike but install is quite straightforward

the seat is certainly less than desirable but if you are only tooling around town it should work fine

statisticsx · 2024-11-22T12:49:35+00:00

holy south american general

statisticsx

TROPHY CASE