I can't speak for all Army ROTC units; but we have a good number of prior service soldiers in our battalion. As was pointed out already, it is possible for an active-duty enlisted solider (via the Green-to-Gold program) or a prior service solider to enroll in ROTC to earn their degree and an officer commission.
Also, some cadets participate in the SMP program. SMP is the Simultaneous Membership Program where cadets can sign up for the US Army Reserves or National Guard while being in school. SMP members must enlist, attend basic training and possibly attend Advanced Individual Training - that makes them "real" soldiers and they have to attend drill on the weekends. Though, they earn benefits/financial aid and they do not deploy while in school for ROTC.
Based on the information scoobis provides, this pledge's circumstances sound suspicious. Without more information, I don't understand how he could have been in ROTC, dropped out, served two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq (usually at 7-18 mos a piece for the Army) and managed to come back to school so quickly (because other students apparently still know him).
For this story to make any sense, the pledge would have to be a prior enlisted soldier who served in the war, THEN went to college, tried ROTC to possibly get a commission, then dropped out, then decided to pledge a fraternity. If this is the case, he should either have a DD-214 discharge document because he'd be out of the service now or he'd have a military ID because he'd be completing his active duty or reserve obligations.
How old is this guy?
What years did he go to the Middle East?
What years did he participate in ROTC?
He couldn't have completed ROTC because, in order to earn a commission, one needs to have a bachelor's degree. I'm assuming that, if he's in college and pledging and whatnot, that he's an undergrad.
Again, I can only comment on my own personal experiences; however, in all the years I have worked with Army, Navy/Marine and Air Force ROTC, I can say that I have never heard a cadet "talk smack" in this manner about another cadet who has served/deployed. In fact, being an SMP or prior service cadet is not looked down upon, it's almost considered 'cool' to have gotten a head start on their military career. Even cadets have pride in their ROTC "service" and they are looking forward to their active or reserve duty.
If this pledge's personality was so terribly awkward (which would be in contrast to scoobis' glowing description of him) then I could see a cadet saying, "Yeah, Billy Bob was a total dope and washed out of the ROTC program". HOWEVER, I would be VERY shocked and surprised if a cadet would lie to scoobis and say "Billy Bob never even served in the military at all. He's making everything up; it's all a lie." One solider may not like another...but he sure as hell wouldn't say something like *that* just to be spiteful.
I've already been long-winded in this post; so I'll stop prattling on. Suffice it to say that I am suspicious of this pledge's integrity based on the information given and what I know about ROTC and military service. Either he needs to let it go and hope that this guy isn't a pathological liar; ask the ROTC staff if they have any insight; or, as DGTess suggests, just come right out and ask the guy why his former ROTC colleagues would be saying something like that.
.....Kelly
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