Enrolling in ROTC is one of the best decisions that any young person can make. Not only do you get money for college; you also gain leadership qualities that will be invaluable for your future no matter what you do. You also get the privilege of serving your country in the armed forces. Here is a look at the best ways you can advance through the ranks in ROTC.
Get Accepted
Before you start working your way through the ROTC ranks, you must first be accepted into the program. You will need at least a 2.0 GPA if you are already in college, and at least a 2.5 GPA if you are enrolling straight from high school. You also have to be between the ages of 17 to 23.
Maintain a High GPA
Once you are in the ROTC program, one of the best ways that you can advance through the ranks is to maintain a high GPA. You will need to maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in the program, but you will be able to advance much more quickly the higher your GPA is. You should shoot to keep your GPA at least over 3.0 if you want to advance as quickly as you can.
Meet All of Your Commitments
In addition to doing well in your classes, you need to make sure that you meet all of the requirements of the program. This means always showing up for drill on time as well as attending the social events that your ROTC program puts on.
Show You Are a Leader
When your commanding officer is looking to promote people, he will be much more likely to promote people who show that they have leadership qualities. You can show these in a number of ways. One way is to take charge of any situation you are put in, encouraging your fellow team members and bringing them together as a unit.
Another way you can show your leadership ability is by going above and beyond the call of duty. This means participating in color guard, volunteering for extra duties, and offering to help plan and organize ROTC events.
Indicate an Interest in Promotion
You will not be eligible for promotion until you have been in the ROTC program for at least a year, but you should talk with your commanding officer about your aspirations well before this. Make sure to let your commanding officer know that you are willing to do everything you need to do in order to earn a promotion. Ask for suggestions about ways to increase your chances of promotion. Make sure to take all of the suggestions to heart.
Showing your commanding officer that you have a desire for promotion into leadership positions will give you a great chance of success. As long as you work hard and try to exceed all of the program’s expectations, you will have a great chance of rapidly rising through the ROTC ranks.
