Should I apply for an AFROTC scholarship?

Nick0726

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I'm about to start the application process, and I know for sure I am applying for the Army ROTC scholarship.

I was also considering applying for the AFROTC scholarship as well. Several of the opportunities for officer careers in the Air Force are appealing, like Air Liaison Officer and pilot. AFROTC is also offered at more schools in my state than ROTC.

What do you guys think? I know if I get the Army scholarship, I'll take it. But should I widen my options with the AFROTC, or is it a waste of time?
 
Options are a great thing to have. Why close the door on the possibility by not applying? Not sure why you would consider it a waste of time.
 
If you would be happy serving in the AF, than you should apply. Just remember AF is AD upon commissioning, there is no Guard or Reserve option for AFROTC grads.
 
A couple other thoughts having just finished college hunting with DS. ACT scores can be a consideration for additional financial aid and/or room and board. At one of the private universities we visited the financial counselor asked DS specifically for his ACT/SAT score, counselor took the time to confirm the score in the school database, and then committed the aid...the ACT score mattered. Also, a lot of your grades/volunteer work/achievement is in the rear-view mirror (you can't change your Bs to As). What is in front of you is the opportunity to improve your ACT score and physical fitness score.
 
Very true HerksRule regarding the SAT/ACT. SOme colleges also have automatic acceptance if you carry a certain cgpa and a certain SAT/ACT.

It is also important for the OP to understand the AFROTC scholarship process is different than AROTC.

It does not include anything from your Sr. yr.., except a new SAT/ACT score and your PFA scores. It is everything from 9-11th. Thus, if you know you will be the football captain before the school yr ends, place it on your resume.

11th grade: selected football captain for school yr 2103-2014


AFROTC boards also do not meet until Dec. You still want to have it in early because many SA candidates by Sept will have submitted their application. It is a first come, first boarded. You want to be in that 1st board, because if not selected, you have more chances to be reboarded.
 
I'm about to start the application process, and I know for sure I am applying for the Army ROTC scholarship.

I was also considering applying for the AFROTC scholarship as well. Several of the opportunities for officer careers in the Air Force are appealing, like Air Liaison Officer and pilot. AFROTC is also offered at more schools in my state than ROTC.

What do you guys think? I know if I get the Army scholarship, I'll take it. But should I widen my options with the AFROTC, or is it a waste of time?

Both branches offer great jobs, but there are A LOT of differences between the two.

If it were me, here are some thing's I'd keep in mind.

Jobs - Are you looking for something that ties directly into a boots on the ground role? Or more of a support role? Both branches have them, but the Army does have more combat related jobs.

Deployment Length - From my experience, the Army has longer deployments. (This depends greatly on what job you take in either branch) This is why I personally switched to the Air Force because I wanted a family in my future and less time away from them was important while still serving with the best military in the world.

Bases - Check out the locations of where all the installations are. Overseas as well.

Quality of Living - Not to knock on the Army, but I've experienced the Air Force quality of living to be better than the Army. I cannot speak from an Officer standpoint though. Could be different! (This is a personal opinion remember)

Just my two cents... Enjoy
 
impulse,

JMPO, and throw it in the garbage can after you read it.

Bullet in the AF was deployed more than his Army counterparts over the 21 yrs ADAF.

Gulf 1, AF was there in August 91. Left Mar 92. Army came home 92/93. Didn't come back until 01. AF F15Es never left since 91 (ONW/OSW ring a bell?). Every 18 months they were gone for 4 months deployed to the sandbox. That was on top of Red Flag, WSEP. Cope Thunder, etc TDY's. Many get hit with a yr remote somewhere in their career.

Thus, when you assume that they will be home, you assume wrong. Bullet was home for our DS2's 1st halloween. (6 mos old) and not home again until he was 7. He was in SKorea for our DS1's 1st communion. 7 yrs out of 21 he missed Valentine's Day, my b'day and our 2 eldest b'day (their b'days are 2 weeks apart from mine). DS1 was 10 days old when he went to Vegas for Red Flag. He was deployed for Desert Shield when he was 5 months old.

Yes, the last decade the Army has carried the burden, but when they leave the AF and the Navy will still be doing support missions. When you take a rated officer that joined in 92, and an Army officer...counted up the days, I bet they are close to being equal. Nobody flame me. I am saying for the last decade the Army paid the toll. I am also saying for 20 yrs., the AF has as much time away from the family....just spread across 2 decades, not 1.

If you investigate ABM, you would join the Army. They are deployed 1/2 of the yr at least. ALO (not the AFA ALO type), deploys with the Army.

Just saying, this should not be a blanket statement. People plan...God Laughs, or in this case the AF laughs.

Yes, you will have family time, but like the Army, it depends on your career field. ABM family life is not the same as a T38 instructor at Columbus. C130 maintainer is going to be deployed more than the A & F officer from that same base.

Great example: DS attended no less than 10 schools, in KS,VA, NJ. NC, AK. We arrived at SJAFB 12/98. Moved to KS 5/01. His GF arrived 12/98 (Dad was Mission Support enlisted). They never moved again. She graduated in 09, 11 yrs later.)she was a townie IMPO) DS Meanwhile, moved to KS, moved to Va, moved back to SJAFB, and back to VA in the exact same amount of time. That is a stresser on family life, especially when a spouse has a career, and kids have friends.


Like I said throw my opinion in the garbage can, I am not offended if you do. I am just saying don't make the AF life appear to be easier than the Army, because for many it isn't.
 
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impulse,

JMPO, and throw it in the garbage can after you read it.

Bullet in the AF was deployed more than his Army counterparts over the 21 yrs ADAF.

Gulf 1, AF was there in August 91. Left Mar 92. Army came home 92/93. Didn't come back until 01. AF F15Es never left since 91 (ONW/OSW ring a bell?). Every 18 months they were gone for 4 months deployed to the sandbox. That was on top of Red Flag, WSEP. Cope Thunder, etc TDY's. Many get hit with a yr remote somewhere in their career.

Thus, when you assume that they will be home, you assume wrong. Bullet was home for our DS2's 1st halloween. (6 mos old) and not home again until he was 7. He was in SKorea for our DS1's 1st communion. 7 yrs out of 21 he missed Valentine's Day, my b'day and our 2 eldest b'day (their b'days are 2 weeks apart from mine). DS1 was 10 days old when he went to Vegas for Red Flag. He was deployed for Desert Shield when he was 5 months old.

Yes, the last decade the Army has carried the burden, but when they leave the AF and the Navy will still be doing support missions. When you take a rated officer that joined in 92, and an Army officer...counted up the days, I bet they are close to being equal. Nobody flame me. I am saying for the last decade the Army paid the toll. I am also saying for 20 yrs., the AF has as much time away from the family....just spread across 2 decades, not 1.

If you investigate ABM, you would join the Army. They are deployed 1/2 of the yr at least. ALO (not the AFA ALO type), deploys with the Army.

Just saying, this should not be a blanket statement. People plan...God Laughs, or in this case the AF laughs.

Yes, you will have family time, but like the Army, it depends on your career field. ABM family life is not the same as a T38 instructor at Columbus. C130 maintainer is going to be deployed more than the A & F officer from that same base.

Great example: DS attended no less than 10 schools, in KS,VA, NJ. NC, AK. We arrived at SJAFB 12/98. Moved to KS 5/01. His GF arrived 12/98 (Dad was Mission Support enlisted). They never moved again. She graduated in 09, 11 yrs later.)she was a townie IMPO) DS Meanwhile, moved to KS, moved to Va, moved back to SJAFB, and back to VA in the exact same amount of time. That is a stresser on family life, especially when a spouse has a career, and kids have friends.


Like I said throw my opinion in the garbage can, I am not offended if you do. I am just saying don't make the AF life appear to be easier than the Army, because for many it isn't.


You're exactly right and I probably should have done a better job at explaining that it was just from my experience. Don't take it that the AF life is easier, because its not. BUT deployment times still should be taken into consideration when figuring out where you want to go. (Some jobs deploy a ton, six on, six off while others might be longer times away with shorter time at home)
 
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