[cincymarsdad]

My daughter, Sarah, 17, senior in high school, is pushing me to let her join the Army Reserves with an MP MOS. She would also be going to college/ROTC wanting to be commissioned in CID or similar type job. A few other parameters:

- She has applied to West Point, has all the paperwork in (apparently), and has SAT scores above the mean and good reccos etc., so decent chance.
- She has been offered an ROTC s-ship at Xavier U here locally in Cincy. She says that is her first choice at the moment, even over USMA.
- She is applying to a couple other colleges as well, intending to do ROTC in any event. She applied for the open ROTC s-ships and I'm told is the lead candidate.
- She scored 95 on the ASVAB which has recuiters etc. jumping around etc.
- She is cadet LtJG in her high school JNROTC program (2 years worth).

Some things the recruiters have told me - and I know enough to be leary of some of these things:

- She would be nondeployable while in ROTC, if under contract at year 2 etc.
- She would graduate from boot as an E-4 (!?!?) ... this was sort of waved around and I rather don't believe it for a second that it is guarenteed or even likely. She said she had the two referrals for enlisting in the bag. Actually, I don't particularly care about it that much, it goes to recruiter credibility more than anything. I know it is barely possible for a Marine to come out an E3 but no way an E4.
- Basic is 9 weeks, and they offer a split for MPs and she could do 8 week AIT the following summer, as I understand it.
- If she completed AIT as enlisted reserves, it goes a long way to ensuring she gets into that branch as an O-1 down the road. This I'm particularly interested in as it is a big reason she has for enlisting now. True?
- I'm told if she gets into West Point - and goes, her contract would be voided (and I realize the first swearing in at MEPS is a bit tentative anyway).

My basic question is whether her plans make sense to you folks particularly around going MP and whether that life is something like whatever she may be envisioning. Also, whether enlisting in her situation makes any sense to you. I've had the "enlisted experience makes better officers" thrown at me of course, something others on this forum have said is not necessarily true, that good officers come from everywhere. Should she be "considering" other MOS's? I realize that is her choice basically, I am semi-concerned that MP is not what she thinks it may be, but I don't know. I have a sense it's rousting D&Ds on leave and paperwork, but I don't know. I'll read more here.

Perspective on any of these points much appreciated. I am getting the "bum's rush" with recruiters practically showing up at my house every day and I don't see the rush. Yeah, I'm getting "securing the slot, may not be available later" story, but she can't go to boot until June '06. Do MP slots fill up quickly this far ahead?

I particularly want to avoid a situation by which her college career is disrupted by activation. Already been through that once and result was not so good. I also want some time to consider all this and not be rushed into something if MP slots don't fill until 3-4 months prior to the boot class reports. Thanks much - and please refer me to other sites or threads as appropriate. I've just started looking into this seriously.