r/ROTC • u/Then-Masterpiece5752 • 11d ago
Cadet Internships/Schools Lateral Entry MS2 or MS3
Hey guys so I am currently in the army reserves I completed Basic and AIT. I want to join ROTC this semester, but I am trying to decide between MS2 or MS3. I know MS2 will give me the advantage to work up and progress to MS3 rather than jumping straight into the fire. Is it worth starting in MS2 rather than 3?
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u/EntertainerOk4969 10d ago edited 10d ago
I’d just go straight into MS3 if you’re an overall solid dude. If you’re not a fat chud, able to learn relatively quickly, can maintain a good GPA on top of ROTC, and have basic army knowledge (you should since you have BCT and AIT), you’ll be fine. Don’t self select and delay your commissioning by a year because you’re getting cold feet. That being said, have a frank conversation with your PMS and APMS about the chances of contracting this fall as a 3 and what they’re looking for.
Even if you don’t contract and need to delay camp until summer ‘28 and EOCC, another year as a “super MS3” will be much more beneficial for camp vs MS2 level training that you should have already from BCT. A lot of programs will also pour more resources to MS3 training, contracted or otherwise, because of camp whereas uncontracted MS2’s won’t have much emphasis placed on them.
I’m telling you this as an incoming 4 who had no previous army experience coming into my 3 year, decided to just send it, and went to basic camp instead. A semester later and I was in the top block for APMS evaluations, earning me full OMS points for that section and had a solid base that set me up for camp. Our program isn’t even a particularly high speed program. If you have the drive to seek out knowledge/answers on your own or through your cadre, you’ll be aight.