Flieger,
I agree that the Falcon Foundation is not for everyone. I fully understand what you are saying in that the individual needs to research all the options, weigh the pros and cons, and then chose the path they want to walk.
You are right in that an appointment may be "lost" due to a fatal error. A freak accident may disqualify someone medically.
There are other benefits though. This is where "just a mom" is correct. A Falcon can receive his/her appointment and turn it down. They incur the cost of the scholarship ($5k) but they have 30+ credit hours that they can transfer to another university. This means they can look at a 2 and 3-year scholarships also.
I know you said you went to NWP. That is a very good program with great results. However, the other four Falcon schools are MILITARY junior colleges. The Falcon at one of these gets to "test drive" a military school before they go off to the USAFA. I had a Falcon who came to NMMI last August, experienced our military environment, packed his stuff and went home. He used an AFROTC scholarship to continue his education (at least that's what he told me). I consider that a "sucess story" and I wish him the best. He found out early (and at no cost to the taxpayer) that the AFA wasn't for him.
My last point is that all Falcons are PPQ. If a person wants to fly - the Falcon program a great way to get a cockpit. Unlike you I am not an ALO (it would be a conflict of interest to represent both the USAF and the candidate I'm paid to support). I don't have all the current data or "big picture" info. But, if you truly believe a person has a better chance for a flight slot out of ROCT vs. AFA please PM me or call. I never consider myself too old to learn.
V/R - Don
Hi Don!
You are 100% correct!!!
My posting was rather in response to a LOT of PM's I've been receiving, and two candidates who I know personally who have this decision to make.
I think that this is one of the more difficult "dilemma's" Falcon candidates face. Perfect example was a young man I met last night while awarding an appointment to one of his friends.
He comes from a family of limited financial means...he has been offered the Falcon Foundation Scholarship (FYI: I asked him to come here and find your contact info to discuss NMMI) and really is interested in USAFA. However...he also has, IN HAND, over $30K in scholarships that he can take to a local university that has a superb ROTC program. That money, if he enrolls locally, goes into the bank and can be used for his education. That will pay almost 100% of his educational costs for 3 years and he realizes that if he is in ROTC and doing well, he's in a good position to gain a ROTC scholarship, provided the government money is there. In short, he has a college education "virtually guaranteed" right now. This is HUGE to both him and his family.
That's the dilemma: he has this "in hand" and it will afford him a "guaranteed" college education at a very good university and he can gain his commission and potentially a pilot slot that way, although he realizes that UPT from ROTC, while entirely possible, is more difficult.
Or he can "turn all that down" and take the FF scholarship and, as it feels to him and his family right now: "roll the dice." And that is what is "really causing angst" with him and his family.
And having "been there, done that" I completely understand that feeling!
That is why I said what I said. The candidate MUST "want this" completely and must be willing to "go for it!"
And yes, I did point out (although I am a NWPS grad) that NMMI and the other MILITARY schools ARE junior colleges and college credit is there...they have an academic year under their belt, in a military environment, and they'll "know" whether or not that environment is really what they want. That's a great benefit of the military colleges!
Last thing; unrelated to the discussion but to educate me. "One upon a time" NMMI had a program with the Army that allowed Army ROTC students to commission after 2 years at NMMI, then they transferred to "certain selected" universities to complete their degrees and then came on duty with "2 years of commissioned time" already under their belt. Does this still exist?
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83