When I was a cadet, things were much simpler. The active AF at the time was 600,000 strong though. There was a simple point system and if you scored 65 points, you went to SFT and were in the POC. There wasn't even PFT scoring. Just SAT, GPA, major, ROTC grades and a few miscellaneous points. CC ratings or OML's were unheard of to qualify for POC.
It appears AFROTC is trying to figure out how to deal with what amounts to greater competition for less positions. Active duty officers compete amongst themselves for promotion and it seems that philosophy is being extended to cadets. I think all cadets should ask themselves if the military is worth the effort the first place.
You may well find yourself being cut from the military at any point in time. Then what will you do? Keep in mind that your military job will not have much relevance in the private sector. Don't fall for the subjective arguments about leadership and personal type of skills that one theoretically develops from military service. The private sector doesn't even care if you were an officer or not. They care about your objective qualifications for the job, just like the ROTC demands from you now. The military likes to hide this reality. If you leave the military after, lets say 6 years, you may find yourself under qualified for private sector jobs, even if you were an engineer.
Engineering junior officers often fall behind in skill development compared to their private sector counterparts. A good example are Army engineers. I've seen ex-combat engineers with dated civil engineering degrees and absolutely no experience or skills in civil engineering. They end up going back to school for graduate degrees to qualify themselves for entry level jobs.
Military separation often marks the pinnacle of a working career. Military work can be great and satisfying. There are military jobs relevant to the private sector. It is possible to make a smooth transition out of the military. But, keep in mind that there are many who never make that transition and they often suffer for having been in the military. I'm not advising against military service, but I am advising that you have a well developed exit plan at all times. The same holds true for private sector workers. They should be planning for a new job all the time.
It appears AFROTC is trying to figure out how to deal with what amounts to greater competition for less positions. Active duty officers compete amongst themselves for promotion and it seems that philosophy is being extended to cadets. I think all cadets should ask themselves if the military is worth the effort the first place.
You may well find yourself being cut from the military at any point in time. Then what will you do? Keep in mind that your military job will not have much relevance in the private sector. Don't fall for the subjective arguments about leadership and personal type of skills that one theoretically develops from military service. The private sector doesn't even care if you were an officer or not. They care about your objective qualifications for the job, just like the ROTC demands from you now. The military likes to hide this reality. If you leave the military after, lets say 6 years, you may find yourself under qualified for private sector jobs, even if you were an engineer.
Engineering junior officers often fall behind in skill development compared to their private sector counterparts. A good example are Army engineers. I've seen ex-combat engineers with dated civil engineering degrees and absolutely no experience or skills in civil engineering. They end up going back to school for graduate degrees to qualify themselves for entry level jobs.
Military separation often marks the pinnacle of a working career. Military work can be great and satisfying. There are military jobs relevant to the private sector. It is possible to make a smooth transition out of the military. But, keep in mind that there are many who never make that transition and they often suffer for having been in the military. I'm not advising against military service, but I am advising that you have a well developed exit plan at all times. The same holds true for private sector workers. They should be planning for a new job all the time.