I know that feeling, where they shut down, and as a parent it is hard to give them the space, because all you want to do is to make it better.
AFROTC always has had an alternate list for SFT, so the plan is in place and they can get it done.
Let him lick his wounds. The det will keep him informed. The good news is they didn't say it is over.
This is the hardest part, or so you think.
Trust me, when he is up for his AFSC board, this board will seem like AFROTC scholarship.
When he goes AD, attending his AFSC school, the fear remains. For a fliers, it is 2 yrs of fear.
When he is an O3, and up for what I call full commissioning...now ADAF, not tied to ADAF ROTC, fear will be there.
When he is an O3 for an O4 board, fear will be there.
O4 for O5 same thing.
It is constant fear regarding boards over and over again.
Each board is a higher risk regarding their future,
It gives you no security, that I get, but this is also why I say believe in fate. You will go insane when he gets a rated slot, and has to go to WPAFB for a 3 day physical. More so when they go to IFS. Much more when they are at UPT. Than when they are up for O4, ripe old age of 33, and they can be kicked out with a wife and a couple of kids, it is the worst.
This is what the AF future holds. Hate to say it, but this is going to be part of your life as a parent for at least 15 yrs.