Practical Matters for Incoming Freshman

[SusanW]

Hi experienced Navy NROTC moms,

Now that son's senior year is almost over, I am starting to worry about what to expect in the late summer and fall. We've gotten only one communication from his NROTC unit, so I know that orientation week will begin in late August, but don't know much else. Son is attending a cross-town affiliate school, so things are probably a little different than if he were attending college where the unit is located.

My first question has to do with how much parents should be involved in making certain that everything - financial aid and payments, accomodations for the required classes/PT at the unit, etc. - is all set to go. I know that it is time for son to start taking control of his life, but he seems to feel that the school and the unit will give him the guidance he needs when the time is right. I, of course, want to know that everything is set NOW. I know that I will not be there in three months to push him to do what has to be done, so I'm wondering if this is the time to back off (as hard as that may be).

I imagine that son will start to hear some things from the unit soon. When does that typically start happening?

Another big concern is about finances and the payment of tuition, fees, and the kids' stipends. How does it all work? Is there a delay in the payment, so that we need to be prepared to cover the first semester's costs - at least for awhile?

I have a million other questions, but I guess for now I need some advice on what my role should be at this point in my future midshipman's life? (I don't suppose that you can tell that son is my oldest?)

Thanks a bunch!

[Kay M.]

We are wondering about financial matters, too. We know most will be covered by either the Navy or RPI, but it will be helpful to see this in print and see how things will be doled out. Your question about needing to cover things for a time is a good one.

We have already received info about when to report for orientation, and also a page of needed measurements for uniforms, so there has been some communications from our son's unit.

Kay

[Paulette - NROTC mom]

Hi Susan-
My girl in NROTC is our oldest too so I totally understand. You're not only sending him off to college but all of this stuff is rolled into that as well.

My number 1 piece of advice for your son - Stay in Shape over the summer !! Run, run, and then run some more !! My daughter was in great shape when she went in - Varsity rower, Black Belt in karate ... and she still fell out (could not keep up) in the running. It was shocking to me just how much her unit works out and most of it is running. So my next piece of advice is by him a really good pair of running shoes. After a month Kara's were falling apart and we had to buy a new pair.

The unit will give him a list of exactly what he will need for his orientation week. Kara's was really basic like, 7 white tshirts, 7 white pairs of socks. We signed up late in the summer so I don't know how early they usually send all the information. They ask for measurement sizes so they can have his uniforms/ gear ready for him. It really is down to a science on their end.

They will treat him like an adult- It is hard on us moms. He will learn really fast exactly what is expected, how to dress, take care of his uniforms, and conduct himself as a midshipman. They will not let him fail :) :)

Let yourself and him have a little downtime and enjoy HS graduation for a bit before you stress too much-
Paulette

[Beth hokiemom]

Hi, Susan,
I am not sure how similar our situations are - my son is at Virginia Tech, and when I took him for the university scheduled orientation in July before his freshman year, they had a special NROTC orientation session. This is where we learned what would be expected of him as a midshipman in the unit. They set up his direct deposit at this time, so take his banking info with you. They also fitted him for his Corps of Cadet uniforms at that time. He didn't get a khaki USN uniform until spring, but along with his Corps uniforms he got Navy PT gear, camo/BDU pants and shirts. We ended up buying some extra PT gear because he likes underarmor (sp?). He did need really good running shoes, and my podiatrist/former Army brother-in-law gave him some excellent advice about his boots - break them in early!! They will end up running in them and marching in them, etc. and they need to be well broken in! The unit should give him some tips on that, too. As far as finances go, the Navy pays late in the semester (looks like that is the case everywhere) so we only end up paying whatever is due above that. The bill is usually due before Navy pays, but then we get a refund from the university. Although his NROTC scholarship is "full" it only really covers tuition and fees, plus his book stipend and his mid pay. He has an additional scholarship through the Corps that pays most of his dorm, so we basically pay for food and incidentals. His mid pay covers gas money, triathlon entry fees, entertainment, etc. Since he got the scholarship, we pulled money out of his college savings for his laptop (the one that was required for engineering students) and paid for the tech support at the university - bought it at the bookstore to have that support available (he has needed it once, I think). The stipend for books comes directly to him as does his midshipman pay. We have paid for the books and then he reimburses us when that deposit comes because, like the tuition payment, it comes later than the deadline for buying books! One thing about financial aid... if you are going to apply for it, go to the FAFSA website and fill out the application. This has to be done each year he is in school. It is a requirement for our son in order to get his Corps scholarship. The orientation at Virginia Tech walked the students through the classes they would need for their major, and basically there wasn't anything I could do to help with that. It is all done on the computer by the student.
It was extremely difficult for me to let go - in fact, I really haven't let go completely, but I am trying!! My son has surprised me with some of the mature and difficult decisions he has made over the past three years, and his leadership assignments mean that he's impressing somebody out there, so I guess he hasn't suffered from my parental involvement too much. Daughter number one graduates in June, and she's a completely different story!! One day maybe I will find a website for mom's of ... I don't even know how to describe her!!
If you have more questions, ask away!

[SusanW]

Hi all, We did get a nice surprise today from my son's college financial aid office. Last week I contacted the financial aid office to let them know that my son had earned an NTORC scholarship and asked them about the impact on son's financial aid package. Since out EFC was fairly high (at least in my eyes), I assumed that we would have to pay for room and board out of pocket. I was wrong. Instead, it looks like the school is giving my son a grant which will cover half of the room and board expense. That was unexpected and very welcome since a lay-off and job reductions have cut our income to about 60% of what it was last year.

So..what I've learned is that 1) it is important to notify the college's financial aid office about the scholarship & 2) sometimes you'll get a nice surprise.

[NavyMomXXXY]

HI Everyone - I'm new to the Forum, but hope I can provide helpful information. Both my son and daughter are NROTC grads. I can echo what others have said. Mother Navy will take care of your children, and as hard as it is to let go, and allow them to grow, it is best for you and for them. The hardest thing I have ever done was watch both of them go off for their week of training before school started - but it's meant to be hard, because they now belong to the Navy. And please, please, please make sure they stay in the best physical shape possible the summer before they start - it will make things sooo much easier.

Often, at the private schools, the school picks up all or part of room and board. We didnt have to do anything, because NROTC notifies the school of the scholarship status. It's much less common at public colleges/universities.

Happy to answer any and all questions

[Mamajoey]

Susan - when our son was in college NROTC the payments went directly to the school from his scholarship and he was able to track in on-line through the University website. The only thing we paid for was room and board. The Navy set up through the school the way in which he received his monthly stipend. I would suggest that all of this will be taken care of when he reports to campus. There will be an orientation for parents too. The Bursars' office at your son's school should be able to guide you through alot of this - just let them know he is NROTC and what level of scholarship he is on. In our experience, the Navy made it quite clear during the orientation that the apron strings were being cut right then and there! In fact, my son was the youngest freshman in the unit. They immediately called him "baby" and announced it to all the parents as they need to find "the parents of Baby _____(last name) so we could sign his official paperwork. HAHAHA They took great care of him for 4 years!!

[SusanW]

Thanks for the info, Mamajoey. Son just got his id/password for the college website in the mail yesterday. One more question for you experienced moms. Did any of your kids do work study or internships while participating in NROTC? Keeping up with academics, NROTC, and work study seems like a lot to me. In my son's case, each semester he will have at least 16 credits at his cross-town affiliate and another 4 naval science credits at the University of Minnesota. Then there are the required NROTC activities (i.e. all freshman/sophmores must be on the drill team). It seems like a lot to manage, especially for a freshman.

[Beth hokiemom]

I am not sure that the NROTC students have room in their (overall- four or five year) schedules for work study or internships. Really, the summer cruises that they go on for three summers ARE their internships!! I know some of my son's friends have gone on mission trips over winter or spring breaks, but I don't think anyone in the Corps of Cadets has an outside job during school. They do have the additional courses/activities required as members of the Corps, but, even without those, I think most of them have pretty heavy course loads (engineering, science and math majors have crazy hard courses, too!) When my husband was in NROTC, he did have a part time on campus job, but his whole experience was different.

[Centhea]

I'm new to the forum today and this is a wonderful thread. Thanks for all the advice!

[SusanW]

We found out two things from son's college today. His college is a cross-town affiliate of a unit at a large university about five miles away.

1. Son will be able to have a car so that he can get back and forth to the unit. There is no cost for keeping a car at his college, but there are pretty steep parking fees at the host university. I wonder if NROTC students get a discount? We'll have to ask.

2. Son's college will allow him to move his things into his room a week early (before NROTC orientation) so that everything is set when he returns from NROTC orientation. He'll also get to stay on campus for the two days before orientation begins.

[NavyMomXXXY]

Hi Susan - my daughter is a graduate of the Twin Cities NROTC program - I haven't checked this forum for awhile, so didn't see your post. Is your son at St. Thomas? If so, he will find there a quite a few other NROTC students there - and they all have to get cross town for the classes. He will probably be able to carpool with someone, or provide rides for someone else. To the best of my knowledge there is no discount for NROTC student parking. My daughter did have a job her junior and senior years - working as a parking attendant - it was great because she could study at the same time. The schools are used to accomodating ROTC students' needs regarding housing, moving stuff in, etc. Our daughter's stuff was actually kept in the unit, in locked storage during O Week. We were lucky to live close enough that I could return to help her move her stuff in. Any other questions, I'll be happy to help.

[SusanW]

Hi NavyMomXXXY,

Thanks for the information! My son is going to school at Macalester and will be the only NROTC student on campus. Macalester has given him a waiver to have a car on campus (parking is free), so he should be ok that way. They are also allowing him move in the day before NROTC orientation begins and will let him stay on campus for the two days between the end of NROTC orientation and move-in day for freshman. We're pretty happy with that. A BIG challenge for him will be to get the classes he needs since Macalester is so small (2000) students and there are only one or two sections of each class. It looks like his Tuesday and Thursdays are pretty much dedicated to NROTC with classes/PT in the morning and mandatory drill team in the late afternoon. He'll be a busy guy.

So how did you daughter like her time with the unit?