EDIT:
I never saw the replies to my thread, so my apologies for starting a new thread. This is mostly a response to ComdCFRG and HamiltonGS, as well as WWPD. Also, I am frankly not keen on doing another Basic Course if it can be helped.
/EDIT
Four things are holding me back from going ROTP:
1) I am very loyal to my regiment, and in our current state, my loss would be a fairly bad blow to the band. I'm training 4 or 5 others right now, and I have a good amount of knowledge in piping.
2) I go to Ceremonial Guard in the summers, and I get a lot of unique experiences during that time. I also will make fairly good money during the summer ($138/day for 3.5 months), so I'm not certain which is the best move financially.
3) I'm not certain where I will be at the end of my degree with the regiment, and if it will hold any weight. The CT is such a unique circumstance, that Recruiting isn't sure what would happen hypothetically. If I become the Pipe Major for my regiment for example, that may hold a fair bit of weight, on top of the Sergeant's Rank. I'm next in line for it, so that is a consideration. I don't know what happens during the summer months of ROTP for a MARS officer, given that I would have 2 summers (2010 and 2011) to do training. The PLQ is not a definite thing of course, and a musician's PLQ has less field work than the standard PLQ, as in we only do the Small Party Tasking component of Mod 6.
4) I don't know what level of commitment I will have after 2/3 years of ROTP...When will I be accepted for MARS? Before or after BOTP?
I'm not 100% sure that that is what I want, only about 90%.
To WWPD:
I am a Corporal now, with 5 months at the rank. I will be a sergeant in Sept. 2009, with merely 3 years in, and a musician no less. That is because of 1 year to Cpl. (Musicians Only), and then 2 to Mpl, + accelerated promotion to sergeant since I will have my QL6a's within the next year and a half. To be honest, we get no respect, and I understand why. I don't fully agree with it, but I respect Combat Arms trades for their dedication. I have wanted to be a naval officer for some time, and I don't think that I would go Reg. Force NCM.