we've had quite a few brothers who were ROTC as well

there were some in other fraternites also, so I'd say overall your chances are good, especially if you are a legacy

We're known as the ROTC fraternity on campus, CSTAFF is made up of mostly our brothers. There shouldn't really be to much conflict. ROTC on my campus is a hell of a lot more hardcore, not trying to step on any toes but it's damn near a corps of cadets, than most schools so I don't see a big problem for you bud.

Trust me, I was 20 going through rush, with a tour of duty in the sandbox to boot. There aren't too many fraternities that would turn down a guy like you. And the ones that do aren't worth pledging anyway! I will be contracting with ROTC in the fall to keep out of another tour, and I already know a bunch of the guys in the program right now are currently in fraternities. I think maybe 4 of the fraternities on campus aren't represented, and with good reason. Just do your homework on the fraternities histories and the guys in each, and you should be fine. Also, like someone said earlier in another thread, talk to the guys discreetly before rush, so they know your situation.

SigEp, my boyfriend was a former ROTC cadet and joined his fraternity after he was released from the program. They all know he was in it and its not a big deal to them.

I also have a friend in Chi Phi who is currently deeply involved in the Army ROTC here. His brothers, and the rest of the Greek community embrace it and support him fully.

My brother was in ROTC and a fraternity. I believe he did club sports as an undergraduate as well.

dont worry about the age as much, older people do rush, i for one, have a 28 year old pledge brother, hes a marine, and a great asset to our house

As a military veteran you will have no problem with pledgeship. As an undergrad with retainability you will not be at an age disadvantage. Because of your experience any house you would want would be very likely to be happy to have you. You bring maturity and seasoning along with real leadership gained where it is earned the hard way. When added to your obvious enthusiasm this has to count heavily in your favor. In older universities where strong multi-generational traditions are the norm this may actually work in your favor. Third or even fourth generation brothers whose families have a tradition of serving their country before serving themselves will probably be your strongest supporters. You have earned your spurs in the brotherhood of warriors. So now go earn your badge in the brotherhood of your fraternity.

(Watch Animal House again and remember that no house wants a fanatic like Niedermeyer. However, any good house will respect your service as they judge how well you fit the chapter). Good luck.

I disagree with this. There is definitely an age disadvantage.

Since he is coming to the University as a freshman he will have 4 years retainability. Army straight out of High School and then rush after active duty sounds like he would fit easily and have a real understanding of brotherhood and the bonding of pledgeship that he already experienced in BCT and AIT not to mention in his active outfit. Assuming he has a reasonable personality and gets along with the house he ought to be good pledge material. He is not really that much older but just enough so that he could be his pledge class rallying point. In a house with strong multi-generational traditions I think he would be a strong possibility. What think you?

We've pledged some guys who just got back from the sandbox, but if you're older than say 22-24 there is going to be a clear disadvantage a lot of houses don't want to pledge guys older than almost everyone in the house.

This is sort of what I was thinking.

21 isn't so bad, but when you're far older than your pledge trainers? I'd just have a problem going to Iraq and then having to listen to some asshole yell at me whose younger.

elephant walk-somewhere in some thread here a soldier who did serve a tour or two posted about going through rush. and he seemed to think that he would be able to handle it rather well. and from what i recall, several other posters reported that they had solders go through without any problems.

the Air Force ROTC commander here doesn't allow the AFROTCers to join fraternities. I had a friend who was a secret Sigma Pi, cause he was AF. I dunno about Army ROTC, never heard anything about it.

It happens at the service academies when the prior-enlisteds come in as plebes.

It's moreso a question of actually getting a bid.

It depends on where this person goes to school and how competitive it is. If he's over 21 at the UofA, forget it.