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VonDerTann
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An army officer who was stationed at West Point. I presume him to be correct, but was a bit careful how i phrased my comment.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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I was an army officer. When you’re up for orders, your branch manager does not let the West pointers “pick first” and then everyone else gets what’s left over.
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VonDerTann
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Ok…so are you saying there is no difference in how assignments between West Point grads; ROTC; and OCS are made?
And btw…a sincere thank you for your service. This thread made me take my West Point “profiles in courage” book off my coffee table.
And btw…a sincere thank you for your service. This thread made me take my West Point “profiles in courage” book off my coffee table.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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Once you’re commissioned and out in the actual army, none whatsoever. A lieutenant is a lieutenant is a lieutenant. No one cares how you got commissioned.
As to initial branch assignment, West pointers are ranked against other west pointers and rotc cadets against other rotc cadets, so they’re separate processes, but it’s not like west pointers get first dibs on all the “best” assignments (and it’s not like it’s universally agreed what the “best” assignments are anyway, people have different goals) and everyone else gets Ft Polk. ROTC is kind of a different animal because you’ll have some folks commissioning into the National Guard or Reserves.
As to initial branch assignment, West pointers are ranked against other west pointers and rotc cadets against other rotc cadets, so they’re separate processes, but it’s not like west pointers get first dibs on all the “best” assignments (and it’s not like it’s universally agreed what the “best” assignments are anyway, people have different goals) and everyone else gets Ft Polk. ROTC is kind of a different animal because you’ll have some folks commissioning into the National Guard or Reserves.
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VonDerTann
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Interesting. I think my friend rather described it as you did and I miscommunicated. I did not mean to suggest West pointers were always favored or that certain goals were always favored.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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Totally fair. I’m being contrarian in this thread, but there’s no denying that there ARE unique advantages to the academies, and they’re great institutions. It’s just there are also advantages associated with other routes to commissions that can overlooked.
I will say I am smiling at the idea that women are throwing themselves at cadets because they want to be “officers wives.” This isn’t the antebellum south, y’all. Being a lieutenant in the army does not mean attending state dinners in dress uniform. It means updating PowerPoint slides and watching hungover privates pretend to do maintenance on the vehicles.
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VonDerTann
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Funny, that is precisely how my officer friend described it (unglamorous, as you desired).
The “lady from Ladycliffe” is actually a family member, who claims she was looked down upon by classmates as I set forth. I take her at her word, but this was the 1960s in fairness.
The “lady from Ladycliffe” is actually a family member, who claims she was looked down upon by classmates as I set forth. I take her at her word, but this was the 1960s in fairness.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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I mean, I’m being a bit tongue In cheek. Being a military officer is a great career. But I think some of the ideas about all the ladies at cotillion trying to snag a cadet/midshipman do come from a bygone era.
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VonDerTann
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I said desired.
I meant described.
Typing on a phone. My bad.
I meant described.
Typing on a phone. My bad.
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twf
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I don’t know if I’m qualified to answer that question. I think that would be a good question for one’s confessor…
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whatistrue
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Maybe. If your goal is a career as a uniformed officer, then absolutely a service academy is your best option, bar none. If you just want a good education that Uncle Sam pays for and are only going to serve as long as required, then an ROTC Scholarship to a school with the best program for the field you want to study might be a better option. All five service academies are undeniably good, even in some fields top tier schools, but they are not necessarily the absolute best from a strictly educational standpoint.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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I think that is still generally true, in that more people go to the academy who are really invested in making the military their career, but I think it’s becoming less and less of a thing. Decades ago it was almost unheard of to see a flag or general officer without an academy ring. It was almost a prerequisite. But now it’s not strange to see a senior officer who commissioned via ROTC/OCS.
The current chairman of the joint chiefs, aka the most senior officer in the armed forces, is an ROTC grad. So was his predecessor. OCS/ROTC grads have routinely been putting on stars for a while now.
But I’m sure someone will come by to chime in that General Dunford or General Milley “lacked discipline” or whatever because they went to civilian colleges.
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Tis_Bearself
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No, it’s not wrong, but it’s also not wrong for another Catholic to decide based on his own conscience to serve in the war, or to work for a weapons manufacturer, etc.
I could make you a list of pacifist Catholics I know and an equal or longer list of Catholics I know who served in the military including in combat.
We also have pacifist saints and military saints.
Catholicism is a big tent.
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TC3033
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That would be one chance at getting a Conscientious Objector.
The odds of this actually being in this position are .001%, and to be in that position you’d have to know what you’re signing up for. I’m not going to comment on “innocent”.
Well that was passive-agresseive…But I’m sure someone will come by to chime in that General Dunford or General Milley “lacked discipline” or whatever because they went to civilian colleges.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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Just a good natured poke in a friendly debate, dude. All in good fun, don’t take it wrong.
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TC3033
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No worries…I got a kick out of it.
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RolandThompsonGunner
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This is not true. There’s a reason even the lowliest private gets basic instruction on the law of armed conflict. If a US servicemember receives an illegal or immoral order, he or she is obligated to disobey it, not “obey without question.”
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Fauken
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Just to chime in about public universities and ROTC programs being like electives in college, mine does no such thing. It’s not like the service academies, granted, but they live in their own section on campus, do formation for meals, PT early in the mornings, wear uniforms, and shaved heads on campus… And the Cadet General, Miss Rev, is a very classy lady. 
We also produce the most officers outside the service academies, have produced seven men who have won the Medal of Honor, and are very proud of our university’s military tradition which has existed since its inception and is based upon that of USMA’s.
corps.tamu.edu
“Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I’ll win a battle… Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I’ll win a war.” – General George Patton
Gig 'Em!
We also produce the most officers outside the service academies, have produced seven men who have won the Medal of Honor, and are very proud of our university’s military tradition which has existed since its inception and is based upon that of USMA’s.
Texas A&M Corps of Cadets – The Keepers of The Spirit – The Keepers of the Spirit
The Corps of Cadets is a student-led, military-style organization at Texas A&M and the oldest student organization on campus, established with the university in 1876.
corps.tamu.edu
“Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I’ll win a battle… Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I’ll win a war.” – General George Patton
Gig 'Em!
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TC3033
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I would say this.
A&M is definitely an outlier when it comes to this.
A&M is definitely an outlier when it comes to this.
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Fauken
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And proud of it! That and our fantastic Newman Center, St. Mary’s. The largest in the nation behind Catholic universities.
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