Advice to a brand new cadet

One of my friends recently told me that he is interested in ROTC because he wants to be a pilot. He obviously had an array of questions and doubts about the program, the military, and how to be successful. We had several great conversations, and I hope I was able to point him in the right direction.

Here are some of the main points from our discussion:

Set yourself up for success

What do I mean by "set yourself up for success?" Put plainly, you need to set up your life so that you can properly focus on the things that will get you that pilot slot (or whatever else you want). Going to college is hard enough as it is, and many forces will pull you in a million directions. Being "spread too thin"--something I've seen happen to many cadets--will likely lead to failure. You must have your life in order so that you can adequately focus on family, school, and ROTC.

Finances. Good ol' money. Most of us, while in college, are poor. Figure out what you need to do (save for awhile, get help from family, live with parents, government loans) to allow yourself to focus on ROTC. I can't tell you how many cadets have failed to be successful because they are working full time while in school. Maybe you're thinking, What choice do I have--I have to work to survive. While this is often true, you must find a way to focus on ROTC. Remember, ROTC is your avenue to getting your dream job. If you have to work full time, you're going to have a very difficult time focusing on ROTC. In my opinion, it is better to take out a few student loans to allow yourself to be very successful in school and ROTC, because those are the things that will help you succeed for the rest of your life! Not to mention, if you work hard enough and keep your grades up, there is a very good chance that you'll get a scholarship. ROTC is time-intensive. 

Get situated. Find an apartment close to school. If you need a job, get one on campus. Centralize your life around the campus area. Minimize travel times. Set up your schedule in an efficient way. Set up your life so that school and ROTC are accessible. 

Family. If you are married, make sure your spouse is committed to the program. The Air Force is a family affair. You won't get through it on your own, and you need to be careful to not marginalize your family. If you're not married, dating and social activities are important. Make sure you make time for them.

The bottom line is this: Set yourself up for success.