Backup Plans!

matt123456

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Messages
85
Hello, I'd like to know what some of the applicants for the class of 2016's back up plans were if they were not accepted into the academy :rolleyes:

What are you planning to do in the future if not accepted?
 
Hello, I'd like to know what some of the applicants for the class of 2016's back up plans were if they were not accepted into the academy :rolleyes:

What are you planning to do in the future if not accepted?

I applied to AFROTC and if that doesn't work out I'll be going to a community college and then a state college. :rolleyes: I'll reapply to USAFA next year if I don't get in this year though. :thumb:

How about you?
 
My back up plan is go to college and do AFROTC there however reapply to the academy again. If it doesn't work out a second time, I will continue with AFROTC and be in the Air Force one way or another.
 
I think the son has settled on three options - AFROTC at Auburn, Corps of Cadets at Norwich, and the Service Academy Prep Program at Marion Military Institute. He's been accepted at all of them and if he does not receive an appointment this year, he'll evaluate his options and make a choice at that time (but he's keeping his fingers cross :biggrin:).

Good Luck to you!

Romad
 
AFROTC at Rutgers or Virginia Tech, then REAPPLY!!!

One way or another, I'm getting in :thumb:
 
I applied to AFROTC and if that doesn't work out I'll be going to a community college and then a state college. :rolleyes: I'll reapply to USAFA next year if I don't get in this year though. :thumb:

How about you?

If I don't get in ima go enlisted in the Air Force. Then ill reapply next year for one of those 65 slots that never get filled up. If I don't get in then, im going to do enlisted for 4 years! :thumb:

My dad wants me to do ROTC if I don't get in but I think its a waste of time :/

I'd rather be helping out the community now than later, and banking now then later.
 
Why is ROTC a waste of time? You get a college education and a commission no different from one from the Academy. If you don't think it is worth your time, you should reconsider your reasons for going to USAFA and becoming an officer.
 
If I don't get in ima go enlisted in the Air Force. Then ill reapply next year for one of those 65 slots that never get filled up. If I don't get in then, im going to do enlisted for 4 years! :thumb:

My dad wants me to do ROTC if I don't get in but I think its a waste of time :/

I'd rather be helping out the community now than later, and banking now then later.

I'm not sure the enlisted spots will be an option for next year. You'll have to go through basic and then get to your first assignment. You'll then have to be noticed by your CO as a person who would make a good officer. It may take more than a year or two to be at that point.

ROTC is a solid back-up plan which will train you to be an officer in the Air Force. The training is comparable to what you would get at the Academy and you would graduate as a 2nd LT.

Helping out the community is a grand plan that can/should be implemented no matter where you are (Enlisted, USAFA, or ROTC).

Best of luck. :thumb:
 
Why is ROTC a waste of time? You get a college education and a commission no different from one from the Academy. If you don't think it is worth your time, you should reconsider your reasons for going to USAFA and becoming an officer.

I don't care about the education; the education from USAFA and AFROTC is the same. I hear lots of people talking about wanting to go to USAFA for that "free education"; I could care less.

My main reason for wanting to be an officer from the academy is the heightened caliber of leadership and military lifestyle provided- I want that. I went to the summer seminar and the experience the academy had to offer was amazing; if I can't get that, I'll be good at following others ^.^ (Enlisted)

I know its kinda stupid :wink:
 
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Not knocking being enlisted, did that for 20 years. I wanted better for my kids though. Education gets you everywhere, whether you are enlisted or officer. The education however, is much harder to get while enlisted. Not harder in availability, but harder after working an 8-10 hour shift and then going to school. Many middle to upper enlisted are expected to continue their education. Why not have a better back up plan that includes education. In four years of enlisted service you will barely have the opportunity to lead like you are talking about. Just my two cents.
 
I'm sure there is tons of discussion about enlisting in other threads - it comes down to what opportunities you want and where they will come from. I'm going to assume you have thought about what you want to do in the air force and how achievable that is - going in just for military experience is like saying you want to become a teacher to teach: too general to give any direction.

Don't discount education - I'm sure it fits into your goals somehow and like kdc said, you are in a great position right now to get it, enlisted or officer. I feel like it should be a part of your motivation to go to USAFA anyways because after all it is a school, and academics will be as large a portion if not larger than military training your four years there.
 
Not knocking being enlisted, did that for 20 years. I wanted better for my kids though. Education gets you everywhere, whether you are enlisted or officer. The education however, is much harder to get while enlisted. Not harder in availability, but harder after working an 8-10 hour shift and then going to school. Many middle to upper enlisted are expected to continue their education. Why not have a better back up plan that includes education. In four years of enlisted service you will barely have the opportunity to lead like you are talking about. Just my two cents.
I could have written this myself. I retired as a Chief Master Sergeant (for you non-military types, the highest enlisted rank limited by Public Law to the top 1% of the enlisted force). My wife and I went to school at night while we were on active duty to get our degrees and we have always stressed education to our kids first and foremost. I am proud of my enlisted service just as I am proud of those enlisted folks who serve today but as kdc246 said, we wanted something better for our kids and the key to that is education.

I realize that most of you are only 18 and a 20 year career in the AF seems like a long time but you also need to prepare for your life after the AF. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to better yourself through education. Squeezing it in after a full day of work and other family commitments is not easy.
 
Not knocking being enlisted, did that for 20 years. I wanted better for my kids though. Education gets you everywhere, whether you are enlisted or officer. The education however, is much harder to get while enlisted. Not harder in availability, but harder after working an 8-10 hour shift and then going to school. Many middle to upper enlisted are expected to continue their education. Why not have a better back up plan that includes education. In four years of enlisted service you will barely have the opportunity to lead like you are talking about. Just my two cents.

What KDC and 1996 said.

:thumb:
 
I think the last 3 posters have pretty much hit it pretty well. The only thing I wanted to touch on was what dad started to say. Here's the timeline.... Now, figure out how you'd fit it.

Scenario:
1. Find out in March-April that you DIDN'T receive an appointment
2. Decide to "Enlist".
3. This is not Vietnam era or even the 1980's. When you enlist, it could take up to 6-9 months before being allowed in. (So much for Reapplying to the academy next year)
4. Everything works rights and you're enlisted by December 2012.
5. 6 weeks later, Basic Training is done.
6. March 2012 you're going to Tech School. Could be 6 weeks, could be 6 months. Could be close to a year. (So much for Reapplying to the academy in the Fall of 2013).
7. Graduate tech school; get to your first base; speak with the education office, your commander, etc... to apply to the academy.

Earliest you're reapplying to the air force academy is the Fall of 2014. Basically, 3 "Seasons" since the apply this year. And as others have said, being enlisted is a lot of work. Trying to work all day 8-10 hours and studying your CDC's (Career Development Course) "Your job". And possibly getting a college degree. I suggest if you really want to be a commissioned officer, that you make ROTC as a backup if you don't get into the academy this year. If that doesn't pan out, look at getting your degree and applying for a commission when you graduate.

Of course, if you just want the military and being commissioned isn't the most important to you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with going enlisted. Romad, KDC, and 1999 were dead on about being enlisted. For What it's Worth, I too went 21 years as enlisted in the Air Force. I am an ALO, and from my understanding the only ALO in the country who is retired enlisted. But I've been helping individuals get accepted to college, rotc, enlisted, and the academy for quite a while. There's nothing wrong with going enlisted. I had the opportunity to get my commission, but I chose to finish as enlisted. You can definitely apply for the academy while being enlisted, and there are definitely some advantages when applying, but it's not an automatic shoe in. You're pretty much going to be booked for about the first 2 years before you can apply for the academy. So you're looking at about 3 more application seasons. Best of luck to you. Mike....
 
I don't care about the education; the education from USAFA and AFROTC is the same. I hear lots of people talking about wanting to go to USAFA for that "free education"; I could care less.

My main reason for wanting to be an officer from the academy is the heightened caliber of leadership and military lifestyle provided- I want that. I went to the summer seminar and the experience the academy had to offer was amazing; if I can't get that, I'll be good at following others ^.^ (Enlisted)

I know its kinda stupid :wink:

matt, I am glad to hear you are not concerned with the "free education" but you should be concerned with the education. That education will open a lot of doors and give you more choices in life. Also, education will not make you a leader but it will enhance your ability to lead.

If you decide you want to enlist, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just make sure it is a decision that you have thought through and you are doing it for the right reasons.
 
Hi all!

I plan to do AFROTC while at a div 1 university so that I am still doing the sport I love. Question... will AFROTC help out your chances?
 
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