AFROTC and reapplication

DesertDad

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Hypothetical question - If you attend Freshman year under a AFROTC scholarship and reapply to USAFA, and get in your 2nd attempt, what is your obligation to AFROTC ?
 
To add on to this question... what if you are doing ROTC with one of the other branches? Do they let you give up ROTC to go to the SA of a different branch? Are they sometimes unwilling to "steal" from other branches?
 
Based on others experiences, if you have a HS scholarship then once you arrive at AFA the scholarship would just end. Obviously advise your det of the situation, but it shouldn't be a problem. The problem some get into is if they are applying for the in college scholarship program(CSB) while applying to the academy. You may be strongly discouraged or even not allowed to apply, situation seems to change from det to det. It will also depend on a variety of other factors. But long answer short is if you have a HS AFROTC scholarship and want to reapply to the academy you'll be fine.

Bailey as for your question it shouldn't be a problem, but you should go AFROTC if possible for various reasons. 1) The AFROTC/JROTC nomination is only available for AFROTC and not NROTC or AROTC cadets. 2) The academy may question why you are in another ROTC program if an AFROTC program is available at your university. If AROTC is your only choice at the university you're at then it's better then no ROTC. Again I'm no expert, but it's what I've seen on here and experienced first hand as a college/AFROTC student.
 
Thanks Hodge. I was just awarded a 4 yr NROTC scholarship. I am still waiting to hear from AFROTC as well as 3 of the SA's. So worst case scenario is I use NROTC for a year and then reapply to USAFA the next :)
 
Bailey, it appears the USAF is what your top goal, is that correct? If you accept the NROTC scholarship make sure you really want to serve as a Navy Officer. Totally different worlds from the Air Force and Navy. Congrats on the scholarship and good luck on the rest of the decisions.
 
Bailey, it appears the USAF is what your top goal, is that correct? If you accept the NROTC scholarship make sure you really want to serve as a Navy Officer. Totally different worlds from the Air Force and Navy. Congrats on the scholarship and good luck on the rest of the decisions.
Yes; USAF is my top goal, however, I would be absolutely thrilled to serve the military in any branch, although AF is my favorite (I say this with incredible respect for all of the branches and no disrespect meant to Navy folks!). Although I do not know all of the ins and outs and nuances of each branch, I understand they are very different and service members in each lead very different lifestyles. This being said, do you believe it would be wrong to take NROTC even though I would reapply to USAFA the following year? Any insight is appreciated, and will be taken very seriously.
 
Bailey personally I do not think it's wrong but the bottom line is what is right for you? If you start down a path you need to be prepared 4 years from now to serve in that branch. If you hate boats and water, the Navy is probably not a great place. Regardless of scholarship it's always recommended that folks pick a school they can stay at without a scholarship because so many things can happen. So what happens if you hate it or you hate your major and a switch isn't approved?

I guess if I was your cadre at school and you asked for an endorsement to another service first question I would ask is, 'So explain why not USNA?' You don't want to be a Naval Officer, so why were you here for a year?' If your true goal is USAFA some might ask why not enroll in a school with AFROTC and reapply? If you enter into ROTC be prepared to be in 100%. Showing up and then giving an impression you are only there until you can reapply would be bad. I don't think you would do this, but something to be very cognizant about.

I am not naive to think that many kids just aren't sure what service they want and would be happy with any. I think that can be okay for some and others it ends up badly. Each service is unique. If you hate the dirt and outdoors the Army is not a great place. If you are dead set on Intel, the Navy isn't your place. Do what is best for you, but my advice is to be prepared to embrace whatever path you choose and be prepared for that be your future. Good luck.
 
Hypothetical question - If you attend Freshman year under a AFROTC scholarship and reapply to USAFA, and get in your 2nd attempt, what is your obligation to AFROTC ?

I just kind of skimmed the comments so I am not a 100% sure if this was stated but upon getting the AFROTC scholoraship or any ROTCY scholarship, you get more or less a grace period. I applied for NROTC and they briefed me on this because they new my heart was in the USAFA but I wanted as many Plan Bs,Cs,D's... As possible. Anyway the gentleman told me that ROTC scholarships give you kind of a trial year. You vet to go your whole year and decide if you want to stay or not, if you leave the first year you have no obligation, the second you start the first day of your second year, it changes that and you have an obligation. Now with you getting into USAFA they may wave it, you really just have to let your ROTC recruiter know. My recruiter knew from day one that I was on the path to USAFA but I was also qualified for NROTC.

To add on to this question... what if you are doing ROTC with one of the other branches? Do they let you give up ROTC to go to the SA of a different branch? Are they sometimes unwilling to "steal" from other branches?

As I stated above, you have a year to decide if you want to keep the ROTC scholarship after accepting. If you opt not to continue before that year is over, it doesn't matter what you do or what branch you go to afterwards because there is no obligation
 
NavyHoops brings up a great point! Honestly I kept going back and forth if I wanted to reapply in the late summer of 2014, but when I made the choice I knew I would still be happy if I don't get an appointment again this year. I made sure those around me including the cadre at the ROTC detachment knew this by not telling them, but instead showing them. They know after talking and proving it by showing this to them that USAFA is my dream although I am very very happy where I am now. Your plan B and C shouldn't just be a stepping stone to USAFA, but instead an actual plan B and C. I think a lot of people don't think about it that way, the problem is you have to be real. It's going to be very hard leaving here if I end up getting an appointment after making all the friends especially those within my ROTC detachment. I just know what the academy has to offer and would love to take advantage of it if I can.
 
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